Revolutionary History

American Revolution occurred between 1776-1789
13 British colonies emerged as United States of America
Fighting started in 1775 between colonial militias and British Army
Declaration of Independence issued on July 4, 1776
Articles of Confederation ratified in 1781 to form Congress of Confederation
General George Washington led Continental Army and Navy to defeat British military
Confederation period ended in 1789 with the Constitution of the United States
Economic downturn in the 1780s due to debts from Revolutionary War, inability to levy taxes and inflation
American Enlightenment period saw growth of Age of Enlightenment ideas and scientific advancement
Signers of Declaration of Independence were highly educated and wealthy, largely Protestant and of British descent.

The American Revolutionary War ended with the surrender of Cornwallis in Yorktown, Virginia in 1781.
The Treaty of Paris recognized the United States as an independent country and ended the hostilities on December 5, 1782.
The Articles of Confederation were ratified on March 1, 1781, which granted certain powers to the Congress of the Confederation but also imposed restrictions that made governance difficult.
Most governing was carried out by state governments during the Confederation Period, leading to civil conflict within the states.
Congress oversaw foreign policy, but the states had the final say in their own foreign relations.
Economic conflict grew between the states, leading to the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan were proposed, and the dispute was resolved with the Connecticut Compromise, which created a bicameral legislature.
The final draft of the Constitution was delivered by Gouverneur Morris on September 12, 1787.
The Constitution established the procedures and powers relating to Congress, the presidency, the courts, and how these offices related to the states.
The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists emerged during the campaign for ratification, with the former advocating for a strong central government and the latter for strong state governments.
The Constitution was ratified by the states, with some states ratifying quickly and others more slowly.
The United States Electoral College unanimously voted for George Washington in the first presidential election.
Westward expansion led to conflicts with Native American tribes and the creation of the Northwest Territory.
The economy of the early United States was heavily agricultural, with limited manufacturing.
The lack of a centralized currency and economic policy led to economic turmoil during and after the American Revolution.
American culture developed separately from Britain, with a proliferation of newspapers, political essays, and poetry.
Drama and theater were controversial in the early United States.
The Bank of North America was established as the country's first bank.
The revolution caused a labor shortage and a reduction in immigration.
The Treaty of Paris allowed British creditors to call in debts from the American market, triggering a depression.

The American Revolution was a time of significant change in American society.
Literature during this time was heavily influenced by European writers, with Mercy Otis Warren and Hugh Henry Brackenridge being prominent American playwrights.
Visual art was also influenced by European aesthetics, with many American artists traveling abroad to learn under Benjamin West.
The American Revolution was part of a broader American Enlightenment, which saw a shift away from religious groundings in philosophy.
Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were prolific philosophical writers during this time.
The scientific community was centered in Philadelphia, with astronomy and taxonomy being the most prominent fields.
The population of the Thirteen Colonies was 2.5 million in 1776, with New York City being the largest city with 33,131 residents.
Many churches and ministers took vocal stances on the American Revolution, with Anglican clergy associated with the Loyalists being harassed or exiled.
The issue of slavery was brought up during the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, with Southern delegates having language condemning the slave trade removed.
The Three-fifths Compromise was established at the Constitutional Convention, with slaves being counted as three-fifths of a person in the United States census.