The American Revolution
The American Revolution is the reason Americans celebrate the 4th of July. However, the revolution didn't begin with a war. It began far earlier, when ordinary people reacted to increasing pressure by a government all the way across the ocean, when they decided that enough was enough, and they began fighting back.
Events Leading up to the Revolution
No one thing caused the revolution. It was a series of injustices that led the American people to become less and less tolerant over time. Each of these events caused a tiny crack to appear in relations between the Thirteen Colonies and Britain, and when too many cracks appeared, relations shattered altogether.
- Pontiac's Rebellion: The battle that took place in Ohio in 1763.
- The Stamp Act: The Intolerable Act that forced every newspaper, pamphlet or letter to have a British stamp on it.
- The Townshend Acts: Description of the legislation that Charles Townshend passed.
- The Boston Massacre: The fight that killed five Americans in Boston.
- The Second Continental Congress: Detailed explanation of the actions of the Congress that signed the Declaration of Independence.
- The Declaration of Independence: Excerpts from the Declaration of Independence and talks about its signing on July 4, 1776.
Battles of the Revolution
No war can be won without battles. There were many battles that took place during the Revolution, and all of them were extremely important.
- The Battle of Lexington: The first battle of the Revolution.
- The Battle at Fort Ticonderoga: The battle where the British army managed to capture Fort Ticondereoga from the Americans.
- The Battle of Bunker Hill: Description of the battle where the British took Bunker Hill.
- The Battle at Saratoga: Devoted to the battle at Saratoga, where a British General surrendered his army of over 6,000 men.
- Battle of Yorktown: The battle that George Washington won and eventually forced General Cornwallis to begin negotiations to end the revolution.
Important Revolutionary War Figures
The driving force behind the Revolution was undoubtedly the men and women who inspired the colonies to come together in ways they hadn't before.
- Thomas Paine: The author of the pamphlet “Common Sense” which became the manifesto of the Revolution.
- George Washington: America's first President and one of its greatest generals.
- Benedict Arnold: One of America's most famous traitors.
- Thomas Jefferson: The third President of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence.
- Betsy Ross: The woman who sewed the first American flag. (Learn more about Betsy and the original American flag.
- Paul Revere: The Revolution's "messenger".
- King George III: The King who ruled England during the Revolutionary War.
- Charles Cornwallis: England's top general who was also the administrator the colonies before the Revolution.
Each of these battles was a small step towards freedom for the American people, and each of these men played a vital role in the war. Without them, America would still be considered a British colony, not the amazing country it is today, in its own right.
Learn More About Flags of the American Revolution
There are dozens of flags that are associated with the American Revolution. These flags have important historical significance, and are unique artifacts from the Revolutionary War era in the United States.
You can learn a lot more about the American Revolution by studying the flags that were designed and used during that time period. Browse our collection of Revolutionary War flags today for a glimpse into the American Revolution from a different perspective!
Have questions about Revolutionary War flags? Give us a call at 1-888-697-3524 or contact us online and we'd be happy to assist you!