Abigail Adams

Abigail Adams was born in November 22, 1744 and died October 28, 1818. She was born in Weymouth, Province of Massachusetts Bay. She was the wife of John Adams, who was the second President of the United States, and the mother of John Quincy Adams. She was the first Second Lady of the United States, and the second First Lady of the United States. Abigail is remembered for the many letters she wrote to her husband while he stayed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the Continental Congresses.

When John Adams met Abigail he was 27 and he was a lawyer. Abigail Adams is mostly known for her husband John Adams. When John Adams was working on the Declaration of Independence she was there to help him. She saw that women were nit treated as good as men and that women had less rights. She decided to increase women rights. She always helped her husband John.

She was the First Second Lady of the United States. She fought for women rights and was remember for writing many letters to her husband reminding him of the women rights, when John Adams was serving in the Continental Congress. Her letters were of intellectual knowledge of government and politics. In one of the letters she wrote to her husband, she wrote him to remember the ladies, to be more generous to them and have equality. Many of the times her husband took into consideration her letters. John and Abigail both didn't approved slavery, they thought is was evil.

The British Invade the South

The British wanted support from the farmers, but they unused this support and continued with the conventional war. They wanted more supporters so they went to the south looking for more people to go on their side. During this times the British had many victories. In the late 1778's the British seized Savannah, Georgia. On this day the British Lieutenant Colonel Archibald and his force of 2500 and 3600 troops which included the New York Loyalists and Hessian Mercenaries launched a surprise attack to the American troops. The American troops commanded by Robert Howe went outnumbered, they only had between 600-900 men.

In Spring of 1780 the British captured Charleston, South Carolina. Americans suffered the worst defeat of the Revolution, with the surrender of Major Benjamin Lincoln to British leader Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton and his army of 10,000 at Charleston, South Carolina. With this victory the British captured 3000 patriots, and many munitions and equipment, losing only 250 wounded and killed british soldiers during the process.

In summer of 1780 the British captured Camden, South Carolina. The continentals led by General Horatio Gates chose to engage the British on August 16, 1780. He overestimated the number of soldiers against his troops, it was to late to withdraw when he realized his mistake. He was outnumbered by the numerous British troops, and he realized he had just made a big mistake and there were gonna be many killed people. Continental forces numbered around 4000 to General Charles Cornwallis some 2200 Redcoats. After the disastrous loss at Camden, Gates was removed from command and replaced by Nathanael Greene.

With the help of the Spanish Forces commanded by Bernardo de Galvez, he attacked several forts in the Gulf of Mexico. During 1780 he captured a British fort in Mobil, Alabama. Then in 1781 he captured Pensacola, Florida. It became a war between Patriots and Loyalists. It was a total devastation, both sides were stealing and killing each other.

The War Ends

The Patriots won the war. 4 factors that contributed to the patriots success were: British made tactical mistakes,British misunderstood the political native of the war, Patriots were highly motivated, and patriots received crucial assistance from the French. Later on on summer 1781  G. Washington took his army to York Town. Cornwallis had surrender the battle of York Town. He wanted to reach York Town and waits for ships with supplies from New York. Cornwallis falls into a trap, Washington expects the French to arrive to fight with Cornwallis, when they arrive Cornwallis is surrounded so he send somebody to surrender.


The British arrived on September 5, French arrived on August 30.On October 10, 1781 Cornwallis send another person to surrender to G. Washington. on July of the same year Washington expected backup from the French and Cornwallis expected backup from New York. Later on came the Treaty of Paris. it was in early 1782 a new administration in England, they negotiated a treaty in September 3, 1783. They recognized American Independence. French weren't included in the treaty, thy were left out.

The revolutionary war ended because Cornwallis was waiting for supplies in New York. G. Washington arrived to York Town, This ship was stopped by the French and Cornwallis surrendered because they were surrounded. But the Revolutionary war ended officially until the Treaty of Paris. Only treaties can end wars.

The Revolution Impacts Society

After the Patriots won the war in 1781 with the help of the French. British were struggling and paying high taxes to pay the war. In 1782 a new prime minister appeared that made peace and by 1783 they recognize American's independece and signed the Treaty Of Paris. Leaving left behind The Natives Americans, Women, loyalists and black slaves. The Revolution made a big impact in society. The British after the revolution tried to protect the loyalists. They were approximayely 90,000 loyalists, 20,000 of them were formers slaves and 45,000 left to Canada and find refuge.

The Revolution not only affected society in a bad way, it expanded the United States and The Dominion Of Canada increasing the population. Benjamin Frankling in the Treaty Of Paris had negociated the West Appalachians land. Forcing the Native Americans to leave their massive tracks of land in exchange for Peace and Freedom. By 1790, in Tenesse and Kentuky they were approximately 100,00 americans living in the west. Now in day Native Americans live in reservations with problems of unemployment, and alcoholism.

After the war ended women got a little bit of respect and were called the "Republican Mothers" but it wasn't enough. John Adams' wife Abigal Adams fought for womens rights. She wrote him a letter to her husband to remind him of womens rights, but he didn't took it seriously. Women by that time were not allowed to vote, only widows could vote in New Jersey and could not have properties, everything belong to their husbands. On the other hand they were a lot of changes for the African Americans. Patriots viewed slavery as natural. Lincoln in the south signed at the south slavery as ilegal in the Emancipation Proclamation to free a slave from bondage. At the South many americans would sell the slaves to the North. In Maryland and Virgina they voluntary free their slaves by manumission. By 1810, 20,000 southern slaves had been free.

Valley Forge

In 1777 at outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, The Continental Army were facing a hungry and harsh winter. They had lack of food and supplies, they were about 10,000 soldiers without shoes and coats. In the other hand, General George Washington who was very concerned reported to Congress about the problem. If a big change didn't happen the army would dissolve, dispear, or starve. By December 23 1777,a big character joined the army to help, it was Colonel Baron Steuben. He tought the soldiers discipline and encourge them to be organize.


In June 1778 the British evacuated Philadelphia into New York City under the leading of Sir Henry Clinton, they fought the Monmouth battle. The Battle of Monmouth took place in Monmouth, New Jersey in June 28,1778. American general George Washington ordered Charles Lee, cimmanding the advance guard to attack the British rear. At the end both sides claimed they have won victory but the British claims seem more valid since Clinton was able to complete his march wihtout molestation.


Washington then marched to the Hudson River to join the Continental Army, while Clinton returned to New York. At the end the war was generally taken as a draw.There were 10,000 British Troops against 11,000 Americans. Afterwards General Charles Lee demanded and recieved trial by court for his performance on the battle. He was convicted and sentenced to 1 year suspension from duty. They categorise Lee as a traitor, he was known as "boiling water" by the Iroquois due to his temper.

Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine was an English author, political and revolutionary. He was born in January 29 1737, Thedford and died in June 8 1809, New York. He was a very important men during The American Revolution because his writing was inspirational for others. Since he had many visions and brilliant ideas for the colonies. In January 1776, a really powerful book came out named "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine. The book consisted of a radical proposal , it was a simple but directed language. The proposal consisted of: First to declare independance from Britain, second a Republican State Government and third one to united the 13 Colonies.

The English Revolutionary Thomas Paine denounced the King and Aristocrats as frauds and parasites. He also thought people should elect all the government and hated social structures.
Later on they found out that the real enemy was the King not Parliament. He started being a journalist in Philadelphia. Thomas Paine was also part of the Continental Congress, but he didn't succeed being a soldier. During that time of his life he wrote another inpirational book named "The American Crisis". It was a really strong book, George Washington used to read the book to his soldiers for them to get insipiration and get strong as an army.

Later on he returned to Europe and wrote another book named "The Rights Of Man". In response for the French Revolution. His proposals and books were not being supported in England and they decided to arrest him. When he was going to be arrested, he fled to France to join The National Convention. By 1793 he was arrested inf France for not supporting Louis XVI. While he was imprison he wrote another book called " The Age Of Reason". He was free in 1794. In 1802 he returned to America.

The Colonists Declare Independence

Everything started in 1776 in Philadelphia. After the levy of taxes and the lack of liberty and opinion colonists decided to declare the independence. The book ''common sense'' help them defeat the British. It tells the major ideas that the Founders had about government. The Declaration also contains the Founders' complaints against the British king. The british began to pass new laws that taxed the colonists, colonists started to get angry and didn't want the British to control them.


In 1774, the colonists sent representatives to a meeting called the First Continental Congress for them to  make a solution for the problem. Some of the delegates of the meeting wanted to stop trading with Britain. Others wanted to fight with the British. Some ideas that were expressed in the declaration of independence were that all men were created equally, the king is a Tyrant, the unalienable rights. Colonists were used of their way of living that they ere their own bosses. Colonists thought that the British parliament and the King were taking away to much of their freedom.



 On July 2 they voted for Independence and in july 4 it was approved. It was drafted between June 11 and June 28 by Thomas Jefferson which was the third president of the United States . The text of the Declaration can be divided into 5 sections. The original Declaration of Independence is located in Washington in the Capitol. The Declaration of Independence contains the ideals or goals for the nation. It expressed freedom.

Patriots and Loyalists Disagree

Most colonists supported and were on favor to the Patriots, but a large minority of Loyalists preferred British rules, who favored the king. They were afraid of the Patriots, they called them vermin. One loyalist said they were lawless.
Loyalists feared disorder. They didn't like taxes, but they thought the Parliament and King should be obeyed. Loyalists feared that a war was coming.
In Summer 1774 a loyalist called Jonathan Sewell, warned John Adams who was a Patriot that if they didn't obey what they imposed they would get in trouble.

And John Adams said he would continue to his determination, and that his ideas and opinions wouldn't change. Loyalists often opposed to Patriots demands. They were rich people, but most of them were ordinary people. They feared the oppression of Patriots. Loyalists hated the militia drafts, they disliked patriots taxes, the oath of legion, they also shut down the newspaper, and they were furious because the Patriots demanded more taxes than the Parliament.

Loyalists opposed to Patriots demands because of everything they have done, they took away many rights and important things to them, so they were furious. They joined or went in favor to the British Parliament, because their propositions were in favor to the Loyalists, and they thought it was going to be a good change if they joined them, and it was going to be better for them and their future.

The Native Americans thought that if the colonist won they would take over their land. And the slaves in the South united to the British cause they promised liberty to the slaves, and Patriots didn't.
Loyalists seek for their liberty back, they didn't like what the Patriots took away from them.

The Second Continental Congress

Everything started in May,1775. The 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia. They formed  a continental army that had blue uniforms , and their commander was George Washington. Virginia was one of the richest and powerful colony,and the army needed their help. The colonists were not ready for war, but they were brave enough to go against England. They assume responsibility for the war, they wanted to fight for their liberty in society.

By July 1775 the Continental Congress sent an Olive Branch Petition to the King. The petition consisted of a letter that represented peace hoping the King would side with them to fight against Parliament. Patriots thought that Parliament was the enemy not the king. The King rejected the Olive Branch Petition and instead he sent more troops to the colonies.  Most colonies supported the Continental Congress but a majority of called the Loyalist would prefer the British Laws. They view the patriots as illegal, brutal and would called them vermin.

Loyalists feared disorder cause they didn't like taxes, but they believed that the king and the Parliament should be obeyed. They feared that resistance would led to a war and cause death. They also doubted that the colonists would fight with the British cause the British were potentially powerful. And the colonists were a lot less powerful than the British. In Summer of 1774 John Adams had a loyalist friend called Jonathan Sewell, and he warned John that if they didn't obey what they imposed they would get in trouble. And John Adams said he would continue with his determination.

The Boston Tea Party

 King George ||| and Lord Townshed needed to raise money for their government, there were debts to be pay, a royal lifestyle to be maintained, and the England population had no more money. After the Stamp Act that was repealed in 1766. The British passed the Townshend Act in 1767, creating new import dutties on everyday items, like glass, paint, lead, paper and tea.The colonits were discontent with the heavy taxes that were being levied on them. So they decided to do a boycott of all British goods.

 Later on they relent and drop the tax except for tea. They decided it was a brilliant idea to tax the colonits again but this time Parliament passed a law to sell the tea directly to the colonists and cheaper. The colonits wouldn't buy it and also protested. In December 16, 1773, the British East India Company sent a ship loaded with tea to Boston Harbor. Boston Patriots dressed as Mohawk indians took control of the Boston harbor through all the tea from the ships into the ocean. They were 342 trucks in all. The British were unable to indentify the guilty ones.

This act of rebellion cause many problems with the British king and the Parliament. They didn't accepted the act of disobedience from the colonists and were furious. So they set some new rules for the colonists called the Intolerable Acts. Parliament passed the Boston Port Act. They closed the harbor until colonists payed the taxes from the Boston Tea Party. The Intolerable Acts lead to the unification of the colonists and started their first continental congress.

Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry was born in May 29, 1736. He was born in Hanover County, Virginia. He was a lawyer and a polititian. He was elected to Virginia House of Burgesses in 1765; Admitted to the Bar of the General Court in Virginia, 1769; Elected to the Continental Congress, 1774; Virginia Militia Leader, 1775; Governor of Virginia, 1776-1778, 1784. He died in June 6, 1799. Henry's reputation as a passionate orator exceeded even Samuel Adams. His Stamp Act Resolutions were the first shot fired in the Revolutionary War.

Young Patrick was a very intelligent person, with a curious personality, everyone knew he was bright but he simply wouldnt lift a finger except for his own pleasure. By the age of 10 his parents knew that he wouldn't be a farmer and they tried to train him toward academic studies.
He would not apply himself to studies either. At age 21 his father set him up in a business that he bankrupted shortly after. He was very pressured by his family, and that maked him get married at 18 years old that caused him to study for six weeks and take the bar exam, which he passed, and begin work as a lawyer. In 1764 he moved to Louisa county, Virginia, where, as a lawyer, he argued in defense of voting rights before the House of Burgesses.

The following year he was elected to the House and soon became its leading radical member. It was that year that he proposed the Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions. Few members of the Burgesses, would argue openly for defiance of Great Britain. Henry argued with remarkable fervor in favor of the five acts. In 1774 he represented Virginia in the First Continental Congress where he continued in his role. At the outbreak of the revolution, he returned to his native state and lead militia in defense of Virginia's gunpowder store. In 1776, Henry was elected Governor of Virginia. He was re-elected for three times and then he was succeeded by Thomas Jefferson. He was again elected to the office in 1784.

Patrick Henry was a strong critic of the constitution proposed in 1787. He was in favor of the strongest possible government for the individual states, and a weak federal government. He was also very critical of the fact that the convention was conducted in secret. President Washington appointed him Secretary of State in 1795, but Henry declined the office. In 1799, President Adams appointed him to France, but failing health required him to decline this office too. He died on June 6, 1799 at age of 63.

Samuel Adams

Samuel Adams was born in Boston on September 27,1722. He died in october 2, 1803. Everybody thinks that Samuel Adams is brother with John Adams but no, they are cousins. John Adams who became the second President of the United States.Samuel Adams graduated in 1743 from Harvard College. He got a Master of Arts degree. After college he entered private business, and throughout this period was an outspoken participant in Boston town meetings.

He was a leader of the fight against British colonial rule, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.Samuel Adams was the leader of the Sons of Liberty, which was formed by patriots. The Sons of Liberty made a torture called Tarring and Feathering to the tax-collectors. This cruel act was done by throwing tea to them and later on feathers.They also grabbed them and put tea bags in their throats.Samuel thought the it wasn't fair that the colonist were taxed like that.The colonists believed that their own elective officials had the right to levy taxes on them.

The colonists didn't wanted one thing, which was representation in parliament. The British opposed to that so that's how everything's started.The British Parliament responded to the Boston Tea Party by passing a set of laws known as the Intolerable Acts. These laws included the closing of Boston Harbor and the restriction town meetings. Adams then urged a general boycott of British trade by the American Colonies. The colonists didn't buy British things anywhere and that was called the economic boycott. Samuel Adams created all this,you just need one person to change a lot of thoughts.

The Boston Massacre

The royal governor made the rules for the colony but only with the approval of the king, to make sure the rules were being followed he sent british soldiers. By early 1765, Parliament had passed a law named the "Quartering Act". The colonists would provide housing and supplies to british soldiers. The troops were there to protect the colonists and the land, but the colonists realized that the presence of the soldiers were to spied on them and meant to keep them from disobeying the king and the laws. Some soldiers would stayed at the colonists home. In cities like Boston they built encampments for the british troops. The colonists were not particular content with the soldiers presence.

The soldiers didn't got enough money because part of their money was sent to their families in England. So they had to look for jobs in the New World and the colonists didn't like that because they took job opportunities form them. In March 5, 1770  the Boston Massacre occurred, 5 colonists were killed. The colonists were drunk and went to throw snowballs and rocks to a soldier, the soldier ran to the camp for help. The colonists followed him and attacked the other soldiers, Their captain told them not to shoot at them but one of them didn't obey him and shoot at the colonists.

A day after, this murder was called the Boston Massacre. The colonists of Boston were horrified and shocked that such a horrible massacre took place at their city. They all wanted justice. One man had the thinking that these soldiers were not going to be treated fairly under all the circumstances and things they've all done. This man was John Adams, this man was a lawyer who thought that the laws of lands were made for equality and fairness for all the citizens. He was able to persuade the jury of citizens that the soldiers were only self defending against the mob. All the charges were dismissed except on two soldiers. These two soldierseach had a brand placed on their thumbs so everyone could know they comitteda crime.

Stamp Act

Stamp Act

On March 1765 the Stamp Act was starting. It require colonist to pay taxes on almost all printed materials. For example newspaper,documents,books,contracts,land deeds. The colonists had to buy he newspaper every single day to know the news. That was part of the American Revolution beacuse it was the first time they gave a direct tax to the colonists. The british impose new taxes to the colonies because they needed to raise more money to pay depts, protection for the land after the french and indian war. The colonists didnt think it was correct for them to pay something they have received free for years.All this was started by George Grenville who was the prime minister. The stamp documents or papers mean that the tax was already payed.

The Stamp Act also helped covering the cost of the maintanence of the troops in the colonies. The American colonists also opposed the Stam Act because they were not capable of paying the tax, and because it violated the principle of NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. Colonists did not have representation ig parliament.The colonists started to call themselves patriots beacuase they though they were equall too.In 1776 the Stamp Act was repeled.The actual cost of the Stamp Act was relatively small, the Stamp Act, however, was viewed as a direct attempt by England to raise money in the colonies without the approval of the colonial legislatures. Few colonists thought they couldnt do aything about it amd just pay.


The apparent purpose was to raise £60,000 yearly in the colonies in order to help support the cost of maintaining British troops there, a cost totaling £350,000 annually.In those times King George lll was the ruler of England, he said that the colonists deserved ti be taxed because the British protected them. King George reasoned that if money was being spent on the colonies,then the colonists needed to be paying for these services. The colonists never give up and they fighted for their rights and thats what we have to do. We need to fight for our rights in life.Here i will show you a picture of a stamp act.

Thomas Hutchinson

Thomas Hutchinson was born on September 9 1711 and died June 3 1780. He was a business man, historian, and a loyal politician of the Province of Massachusetts Bay in the years before the American Revolution. And a succesful merchant and polititian. He was born in Boston, attended Harvard earning a Master of Arts before entering business. Young Thomas entered Harvard College at twelve, graduating in 1727, his father showed him the business world early. He had deep American roots, he was a descendant of Anne Hutchinson who was expelled from Boston for her religious, his parents were both from well merchant families. His father was involved in the family mercantile trade, but was also active in political, military, and charitable circles and served on the provincial council.

He was a member of Boston Selectmen in 1737, and was popularly elected to the Legislature where he served almost continuously until 1749. He served as a member of the state council, was Chief Justice of the Superior Court, and eventually Lieutenant Governor.
He resisted Boston's drift away from England and percieved the Revolution. Hutchinson was very radical and held an rivality for the revolutionary radicals. They returned this feeling, when in 1765, as a mob they attacked and looted his personal residence.

After his attack Hutchinson began to secretly advise England to move to forcefully restrain the Colony. As the town filled with English troops, he entreated them to take the greatest care, eventhough the slightest tragedy would spread like wind.
Exactly that happened in March 5, 1770 when a group of unarmed mean threatened English soldiers. The soldiers shot and killed 5 of them.
The morning after what would later be called the Boston Massacre, Boston's selectmen demanded that Hutchinson order the English to see more "blood and carnage"

The French and Indian War

    The French and Indian War(1756-1763) also known as the 7 year war, was a battle between the French and Indians against England. The war first took place in the Ohio River Valley and it spread worlwide to Europe, Asia, Africa and the West indies. Was also one of the most violent wars during the 18th century.
The causes of the war were the tensions between the French and the British over colonial territory and wealth. Since each side wanted to spread and increase their land holdings and power. By November 1753, young major George Washington and group of men deliver and message demanding the French troops to retreat from the territory. In 1754 the demand was rejected, so major Washintong was authorized to build a fort near Pittsburgh but he was unsuccesful because of the strong French troops. That created  small battles between them. In 1755 the British sent General Edward Braddock, on his way the French surrender the general ending with his life.

 
  A year and half later, the French And British formally declared war in May 1756. During the first years(1756-late 1757) the French dominated the battlefield and were winning. The French had an advantage, they had formed allies with many indians, for exchange they would support them with supplies and food. But in 1758 and 1759 the british managed to capture forts, stopping trading and disserting the French. Since the French were not getting any supplies and trading they couldn't support anymore the indians, so the indians abandoned them. In September 1759 the British captured the stronghole of Quebec.
In 1760, the British had another victory, captured Montreal and controlled all of the North American frontier surrending the General and taking over control Of Canada.


  By 1763 they signed the Treaty Of Paris that declared that the war had ended. England had won the war gaining massive amounts of land, but that created a conflict between the British and the Indians. The seven year war was not only a victory for the British. Later on it genarated many economical problems and debts. When England started sending people to the colonies they  needed protection to protect their people from the Indians and to protect their  lands. They started levy heavy taxes on the colonits so they could payed all of their debts and that lead to the break out  of a revolution.

About Us

Hello, we are making a new blog for our US History class. We are Anna, Dominique and Maria.