America

Despite King George III wishing to continue the struggle, Parliament voted against further war efforts in February 1782. In April, peace negotiations began in Paris with representatives present from Britain, France, the United States, Spain, and the Dutch Republic—the latter two having declared war on Britain in 1779 and 1780. No representatives from Native American tribes were invited. In the treaty signed on September 3, 1783, Britain granted all the tribal lands between the Appalachians and the Mississippi to the United States.

Revolution! America – Chapter 8

America, Revolution / By Elbe Spurling

While the British solidified their hold on the South, the French finally landed six thousand soldiers on American soil at Newport, Rhode Island, establishing a naval base there. After years of supplying crucial military aid, France was now actively engaged in a mutual struggle against British power. Washington traveled to Connecticut to meet the French general, Count Rochambeau, and the two discussed the feasibility of a joint recapture of New York, with Rochambeau agreeing to move his army to join Washington’s within striking distance of the city.

Revolution! America – Chapter 7

America, Revolution / By Elbe Spurling

General Washington was desperate to take any action that might reverse the seemingly unending series of misfortunes he and the rebel army had suffered. In a brazen move that flouted the European custom of suspending military actions during the winter, he summoned what forces he had still with him, and on the frigidly cold and stormy Christmas night of 1776, Washington crossed the icy Delaware back into New Jersey with 2,400 men and nearly 400 tons of artillery.

Revolution! America – Chapter 6

America, Revolution / By Elbe Spurling

Washington rode his horse into the thick of the fighting and issued commands to his officers, but to no avail. Overwhelmed with fury at the cowardice of his men, he threw down his hat, brandished a pistol, and lashed at retreating officers with his riding crop, shouting, “Are these the men with which I am to defend America?” With a column of Hessians quickly bearing down on them, Washington’s own aides had to pull his horse by the reins to drag him out of harm’s way.

Revolution! America – Chapter 5

America, Revolution / By Elbe Spurling

The six hundred who survived included nineteen-year-old Aaron Burr, who was sent to meet with Major General Richard Montgomery, whose rebel forces from Ticonderoga had recently captured an undefended Montreal. The two combined forces of 1,400 men assaulted Quebec City during a blizzard on December 31, 1775. Fighting their way through the streets of the lower city, they then attempted to scale the walls of the upper city on ladders.

Revolution! America – Chapter 4

America, Revolution / By Elbe Spurling

In Boston, on December 16, 1773, a group of fifty colonists dressed themselves as Native Americans, shouted war whoops, and boarded three docked cargo ships. Over three hours, they methodically hauled up 342 chests full of tea from the holds, split them open, and dumped them into Boston harbor as hundreds of citizens silently looked on. The tea destroyed that night was valued at one million dollars in today’s currency.

Revolution! America – Chapter 3

America, Revolution / By Elbe Spurling

In 1768, the Boston legislature issued a letter to the other colonies denouncing the legality of the Townshend Acts. When the royal governor of Boston demanded the letter be revoked, the legislature voted 92 to 17 against revocation. The governor responded by dissolving the legislature completely. Now fearing he had lost control of the city to mobs, at his request, four thousand Redcoats were sent to Boston to restore order.

Revolution! America – Chapter 2

America, Revolution / By Elbe Spurling

Sunrise on a spring morning in 1754. A twenty-two-year-old British colonial officer, who has never seen combat, has led his band of forty militiamen on an eight-hour march through a pitch-black rainy night deep into the rich Native American forestland along the Ohio River—dominion over which is claimed by both France and Britain.

Revolution! America – Chapter 1

America, Revolution / By Elbe Spurling