The history of the U.S.A?

Question

I know the history of the U.S.A. is long. But if anyone could give me a brief summary of how Americans got our independence, that would be awesome.

Answer 1

In British North America there developed a large, well organized society which regarded itself as an extension of the Home country rather than as a mere colony.

This was unlike, for example, the Caribbean sugar islands where a handful of Whites ran colonies with populations that were almost all slaves, or, later, in India, where a tiny white minority administered a vast native population.

Britons in the Caribbean or India would go "home" to Britain and use the wealth they accumulated in the colonies to get elected to Parliament and to build themselves mansions in London. But the American colonial population saw the colonies as home. Its there they built their homes, their cities, their churches, established colleges and their own society.

They expected that they would either be more or less self governing and/or that they would be given representation in the British Parliament.

But the Seven Years War, called the French and Indian War in America, produced a financial crisis in Britain. To pay for the war, Parliament pushed thru a series of taxes which affected the American colonies. While the taxes were not particularly burdensome, the colonists, who had been agitating for the aforementioned self government or representation in Parliament, chose to make an issue of them.

At this moment the British government could have sought compromise but instead chose to react harshly. The result was a quick escalation from protest to outright rebellion, centered on Massachusetts.

There was considerable doubt amongst the colonists that rebellion was a wise course of action. At first those who called for independence were in a distinct minority and many of those who would later be identified as Revolutionary leaders still counseled compromise and sought only representation in the British Parliament.

But London remained obdurate and stubbornly refused to reach any accommodation. Eventually, those colonists who hoped to negotiate were either won over or shouted down by those calling for rebellion.

Patrick Henry summed it up as he addressed the waiverers in the Virginia Assembly on March 23, 1775.

"Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle?"

What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!

I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

What had started as protests against a tax on tea and on legal documents (The Stamp Tax) had blossomed into full fledged war.

The war went badly at first. The American colonials were ill equipped to battle what was arguably the greatest military power of the age.

Defeat followed defeat and the Rebels were driven back again and again. Colonial cities fell and were occupied and the tiny army led by George Washington seemed on the verge of dissolution on several occasions.

But at the same time it became apparent that the Rebellion would not die no matter how many defeats were inflicted on it. Colonial attitudes had hardened and in July of 1776 the "continental congress" declared Independence.

Of course, declaring and achieving are two different things but the Rebel cause attracted positive attention from abroad, mainly from England's enemy, France.

With foreign assistance, Washington built a proper European style army. While American mythology likes to talk about frontiersman shooting at Redcoats from behind trees, it took am army capable of fighting like professionals to defeat the British.

The Americans began winning some victories and the French were emboldened to openly intervene on their behalf. A French Fleet and a French Army were dispatched.

It was at this moment that the British sought to strike at the Southern colonies where, they believed, Tory (or pro-British) sentiment was strongest. A British Army under Lord Cornwallis landed but soon discovered that Tory sentiment, though strong, did not translate into substantial material aid or a general disposition to end the rebellion.

Coordinating with the French, Washington marched south and a surprised Cornwallis found himself confronted with a well organized Rebel and French army. Needing to resupply he fortified himself at Yorktown to await the British Fleet. But the French Fleet drove off the British and Cornwallis found himself surrounded and out of supply. His surrender soon followed.

While Britain might well have continued the fight, public sentiment at home convinced the government to abandon it.

Negotiations followed and the Treaty of Paris, signed September 3, 1783 and ratified by the Continental Congress January 14, 1784, formally ended the war and created the new nation.

Answer 2

Briefly...King George decided to tax colonists without their consent or approval...When the King wasn't willing to negotiate, the colonies decided to fight for independence. The colonists lost many times, but then the French showed up and blocaded the harbors so the English ships couldn't get through, we won two battles, and English General Cornwallis sent his second in command to surrender at the battle of Yorktown.

If you want more easy to digest information, watch the movie "1776" (about the creation of the Declaration of Independence), or the cartoon series "Liberties Kids" Thursday mornings on FOX.

Answer 3

Well actually its not long... all i know and can tell you is that the Americans true and hidden history is that they are BORN DIRTY PIGS.And that's how they got their independence.

Answer 4

american colonies fight with british over taxes. british pay lots of money to send people over. americans think they don't have to pay because they went to the new world. fighting ensues. america eventually wins with their farm boys and slaves even though britain has better soldiers. that's basically it

and bastard applies to guys. i've never heard a girl being called a bastard

Answer 5

watch the history channel at 8ET and 9 ct on Sundays they have a show called the Revelation lol

Answer 6

We won the fight over an law to make it OK to drink Tea in Boston, and then we signed it into law

Answer 7

You fought a war with England, and won.

Answer 8

A bunch of rich white guys who didn't want to pay their taxes.

Answer 9

lazy bastard!