Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

american revolution

22

Colonial america

Constitution

Declaration of independence

Franklin, benjamin

United states, history 0f

Washington, george

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molly pitChers

many women served on the battlefield, carrying

pitchers of water to cool the cannons. they were

known as “molly pitchers.” one, mary hays, took

her dead husband’s place behind the cannon.

patriots

in the early days of the revolution,

most patriots simply sought a voice

in the British parliament. But others

saw the opportunity for a united, self-

governing nation. patriots boycotted

British goods, including tea, and rallied

to the stirring speeches of rebels, such

as patrick henry and sam adams.

loyalists

as many as one-third of the people living in the

colonies wanted to remain British subjects. some

had relatives in england whom they did not want

to endanger; others were afraid of the British

soldiers. many of these loyalists joined the British

army. the army also recruited Native americans,

who did not like the colonists for taking their

land, and slaves, who were given their

freedom in return for serving in the army.

sUrreNDer

at yorktoWN

Great Britain fought a

massive campaign on

land and sea to crush

the colonial army.

early battles were

fought in the

northern colonies,

but after France

entered the war, the

British army moved its

attention to the south.

it captured key southern

ports, but the patriots

rallied. With the French

navy blocking escape by

sea, the British army was

trapped. in october

1781, a large British

force surrendered to

George Washington

at yorktown, Virginia.

american revolution

1767 Britain imposes high

taxes on the 13 colonies.

1773 Boston tea party

protests against taxation.

1774-75 Continental

Congress meets to protest

against taxation and prepare

the 13 colonies for war.

1775 Battle of lexington

marks start of revolution.

1775 British win the Battle

of Bunker hill, ma, the

bloodiest conflict of the

entire war.

1776 Declaration of

independence.

1777 Colonists win key

battle at saratoga, Ny.

1778 France signs

alliance with the colonies.

1781 General Cornwallis

surrenders at yorktown,

Va, in the last major

battle of the war.

1783 Britain recognizes

american independence

in the peace of paris.

Just over 7 ft (2 m) long and

made of wood, the american

Turtle (right) launched the

world’s first submarine attack

on september 7, 1776. its

designer, David Bushnell, hoped

his invention could steal up

alongside a British warship and

attach a cask of gunpowder to its

hull, slipping away before a timer

made the cask explode. however,

the Turtle’s attack on hms Eagle

in New york harbor failed.

Thayendanega

was a Mohawk

leader loyal to

the British.

A patriot rings

the Liberty

Bell, symbol

of American

independence.

Major General Lord

Cornwallis, the

British commander

Commander-in-chief,

George Washington

Mary

Hays

TurTle

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