Although you’ve probably read the basics about the Revolutionary War back in school, there’s a lot more to it than what you thought. These are 25 Things About The Revolutionary War You Might Not Know.
25
Between 1650 and 1770 the economy of British North America (today the United States) grew 25 times
Source: wikipedia, Image: pixabay 24
Because of this the colonists may have had the highest standard of living in the western world
Source: mountvernon.org, Image: pixabay 23
This colonial wealth eventually led to the tax related tensions with Britain and thereafter to the Revolution
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 22
There were actually two Boston Tea Parties with the one you know about being on December 16, 1773. The Bostonians repeated it, however, several months later on March 7, 1774
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 21
The two events together cost the British $3 million (today's equivalent)
Source: factmonster.com, Image: pixabay 20
Benjamin Franklin actually wrote the first Declaration of Independence. Eventually, however, Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the final draft
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 19
John Adams successfully defended the British soldiers responsible for the Boston Massacre because he believed in the "right to counsel" and "protection of innocence"
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 18
The first submarine attack in history took place in New York Harbor in 1776. The colonists attempted to attach gunpowder to the hull of the British ship HMS Eagle using a submersible they called The Turtle.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 17
At first George Washington was hesitant about enlisting black men into the continental army but when he heard they fought well at Bunker Hill he changed his mind.
Source: state.de.us, Image: wikipedia 16
The all black First Rhode Island Regiment consisted of 33 freedmen and 92 slaves who were guaranteed their freedom if they stuck out the war
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 15
Unfortunately they were all wiped out in a British attack before the war ended
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 14
By 1779, however, 1 in 7 soldiers in the continental army were black
Source: history.com, Image: wikipedia 13
The continental army also had numerous women serving as cooks, nurses, and a few who even saw combat
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 12
The most famous was Mary Ludwig Hays aka "Molly Pitcher" who replaced her injured husband at his cannon during the battle of Monmouth
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 11
George Washington was one of the greatest spies/spymasters in American history.
Source: mountvernon.org, Image: wikipedia 10
Although he is now known for his legendary honesty, he was in fact a genius at deception and would constantly leak "information" to the British that made his army seem much stronger than it was
Source: mountvernon.org, Image: wikipedia 9
By 1779 there were more Americans fighting in the British Army than in the Continental Army
Source: state.de.us, Image: wikipedia 8
Washington's army consisted of only 3,468 men in its entirety while nearly 8,000 Americans alone were in the British army
Source: state.de.us, Image: wikipedia 7
In fact, nearly 1/3 of Americans opposed the Revolution
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 6
At Yorktown, the battle that won the war, the French outnumbered Americans almost 3 to 1 (they were both fighting the British)
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 5
Washington only had 11,000 men while the French had almost 30,000 along with nearly 40 ships
Source: factmonster.com, Image: wikipedia 4
Because King George III had vowed to continue fighting even after Yorktown, he ended up writing a letter of abdication when parliament objected to his plan
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 3
He then withdrew his letter and consoled himself with the hope that Washington would become a dictator and the colonists would once again desire British rule
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 2
George Washington, however, surprised everybody (including King George III) when he stepped down in 1783 with these words to Congress - "Having now finished the work assigned to me...I retire from the great theatre of action"
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 1
When King George heard about it he even gasped, "If he does that, sir, he will be the greatest man in the world."
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Lists Going Viral Right Now
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