The American Revolution in General
This Virginian, considered by many to be THE Founding Father, was easily nominated by John Adams to become the head of the Continental Army.
Who is George Washington?
Both Loyalists and leaders of the Sons of Liberty desired for the soldiers to be resprented and receive a fair trial, and so they sought out and hired this local lawyer, and future Second President of the United States.
Who was John Adams?
This Virginian 'farmer', really he owned farms worked by slaves, was an object of pure hypocrisy. An introvert who was the life of the party, a slaver who despised slavery, and a fool with money who admired frugality. If not for his genius and great writing, one wonders if our Third President would have written the Declaration of Independence, let alone served in Congress.
Who is Thomas Jefferson?
This distinguished British General would go one after the war to become the Governor of India, but during the war, he fought Washington to a stalemate in the North, and spent the rest of the war in charge of the British forces in the Southern Colonies chasing the Continental Army until he got trapped at Yorktown.
Who was Charles Cornwallis?
Interestingly, many of the details we have of the 2nd Continental Congress and their day to day debates and arguments that went from trivial (whether to open the windows) to the obsurd (whether to suspend Rhode Island's rum ration) come from the almost daily love letters between Abagail and her "obnoxious and disliked" husband.
Who is John Adams?
Serving at the Quartermaster General of the Continental Army sounds like a job for someone who likes to sit at a desk. However, when George Washington knew he needed someone to run circles around the British while keeping the Southern Continental Army intact, he knew he had to choose this man as Commander of the Southern Forces.
Who is Nathanael Greene?
Eleven men were shot. Three died instantly, Crispus Attucks, Samuel Grey, and James Caldwell. Samuel Maverick died the next day. Patrick Carr, an Irish immigrant, died of his wounds two weeks later. Leaving the remaining wounded at this number.
What is six?
The 2nd Continental Congress heard the full first draft of the Declaration of Independence on this date, four days before the final draft would be approved, and six days before the Declaration was signed by the President of the Congress, John Hancock.
What is June 28, 1776?
This French General would reinforce Washington in the North, as well as have his name be the codeword for the final assault at Yorktown that destroyed the last British fortifications.
Who is Rochambeau?
Okay, so what all the males are venomous? So what if they lay eggs? Did you know these creatures' fur glows in the dark under a black light?! And they don't have stomachs?! Seriously, what is this thing?
What is a platypus?
General Greene chose to divide his forces and then sent this man to take half of the Southern Forces and retreat into the wildlands and swamps of South Carolina. It was a good choice, as this New Jersey man was well known among his men as an agent of chaos on the battlefield.
Who is Daniel Morgan?
Rage against the British Crown rose as the Stamp Act was repealed, only to be replaced by these Acts that taxed tea, paper, lead, glass, and paint.
What are the Townshend Acts?
The Declaration of Independence is made of five distinct parts. The first is an introduction, with the second part serving as a Preamble or explanation of who is speaking. The fourth and fifth parts are dedicated to Congress declaring independence and explaining the steps they take in that cause. The heart, and longest, part of the document is the third part, where these negative actions of the King of England are listed.
What are grievances?
When Benjamin Franklin went to meet with Louis XVI of France, it was to demand guns and ships. When Jefferson and Adams arrived, it was to demand guns and ships. From 1776 to 1781, the same demand, guns and ships. So when Washington had cornered the British Fleet in New York, the French finally sent a fleet to attack this other target.
What is Yorktown, Virginia?
The Bone Street Krew were a behind the ring/scenes faction of professional wrestlers who did not want to cause trouble, improve on their performance, drink to excess, and play dominos (the bones). They were founded by Yokozuna and this other larger-than-life Phenom?
Who is the Undertaker?
The British military trusted General Cornwallis on the battlefield, and thus dispatched him to follow the 'hot spots' of the war post 1778. In his place, the Crown entrusted the northern forces and the largest portion of the British fleet to this other rising star in the British military tradition.
Who is Henry Clinton?
In the faerytale versions of the American Revolution, the 8 British Soldiers led by Captain Preston were only attacked by children and childish men throwing fluffy snowballs. In reality, the also were throwing ice and rocks, as well as these others.
What are oyster shells and clubs?
South Carolina threatened to vote against Independence and end any hope of creating a new nation if Thomas Jefferson did not relent and remove a lengthy grievance against the King of England's involvement in this historical atrocity.
What is slavery?
Many describe the 20 days of battle at Yorktown as barbaric and horrific. By the end of the 20 full 24 hour days of constant bomboardment, the buildings were nothing more than piles of bricks, powdered mortar, and burnt wood. Dead bodies of men, women, children, pets and working animals littered the streets. For those that survived, they faced this other great spectre of death.
What is disease?
In the early 2000s, the average Major League fastball was 89 mph. Due to training and better techniques, the new average is...
What is 94 mph?
Since the American Revolution, one General has been remembered time and time again, even though many do not know of his exploits or failures. The only thing everyone knows is this...He's a TRAITOR! His name now synonymous with betrayal! No one remembers he was a battlefield tactician extraordinaire, nor do they remember that he was the original right-hand man to George Washington.
Who is Benedict Arnold?
Having seen the events of the Boston Massacre, a silversmith went and printed a pamphlet with a large picture depicting the event. Of course the image is more anti-British propaganda, but that pamphlet became an icon of the coming Revolution. On April 18, 1775, this same silversmith would be sent to Lexington to warn John Adams and John Hancock that the British are coming!
Who is Paul Revere?
When they voted on July 2, 1776, it was 12 in Favor, None Against, and One Abstention. The issue was that this particular colony's legislature was very loud and very angry, and so never decided on any topic how their representatives to Congress should vote. Legend has it that shortly after the Declaration was read aloud in the city of Albany for the first time, this colony, now State finally sent instructions to vote for Independence.
What is New York?
The Battle of Chesapeake Bay was the largest naval battle of the entire American Revolution, and it crippled the British fleet in the Americas. Evidence that this was a long lasting effect was the slow decline in Britain's control of the Atlantic and the sudden rise of this French Emperor.
Who is Napoleon?
If we named the planets after the Greek gods rather than the Roman ones, Mercury would be Hermes and Venus would be Aphrodite. All the way to this planet would be called Poseidon.
What is Neptune?