James Monroe

James Monroe was born April 28, 1758 in Westmoreland County, Virgina to Spence and Elizabeth Monroe. James Monroe passed away July 4, 1831. Monroe was the the fifth president of the United States, he served from 1817- 1825. James Monroe Represented the state of Virginia. James Monroe attended college and began studying at the college of William and Mary. The next year after in 1775 when the Revolutionary war fever was spreading around, James dropped out of school to join the Williamsberg Militia. Monroe married Elizabeth Kortright on February 16, 1786. Elizabeth Kortright(1768-1830) and James had three children Eliza Kortright(1786-1835), James Spence (1799-1800), and Maria Hester (1803-1850). Monroe was a lawyer before he was the fifth president of the United States. While James was the President he also shared the office with Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins.James Monroe was preceded by James Madison and Succeeded by John Quincy Adams. James was the last president of the Virginia Dynasty of the United States presidents, which also included James Madison and Thomas Jefferson.

In 1776 James enlisted himself in the Third Virgina Regiment. When James was at the young age of 18 he was crossing the Delaware River with General George Washington in the December of 1776. James was later hurt at the Battle of Trenton, and he camped out during the next winter of 1777, at Valley Forge. Monroe had an excellent military career as he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Not only did Monroe fight in the battle of Trenton he also fought in the battles of Harlem Heights, White Plains, Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth. James was elected to the Virgina House of Delegates which also consisted of Thomas Jefferson at that time. Monroe also served in the Constitutional Congress from 1783- 1786, James Madison was also in the Constitutional Congress at this time. As a politition James joined the anti Federalist in the Virginia Convention which ratified the Constitution. In 1790 James was elected the United States Senator. When Monroe was done with the term of being Senator he became the Minister of France from 1794 to 1796. Once James was done with the office he went back to Virginia and was practicing law before he got elected to Governor there from 1799 to 1802 . Under the first Jefferson Amendment, James was sent to France to assist Robert R. Livingston to discuss them Louisiana Purchase. James Monroe also helped Thomas Paine from getting executed.

The Revolution was something that many men in this time wished to be in. James Monroe joined the Revolution because he felt he owed his colonists to do so. Monroe felt like he should fight for his rights and his family so he joined the Revolution. He felt he needed independence and should fight for his right to have independence. Monroe also disliked the ways of England.

Even though James Monroe did many things during his life he is not recognized as well as George Washington or Samuel Adams. I think that the recognition that James Monroe has is suitable for what he did. He may deserve a bit more recognition but what he has is fair. James did do many things during his life but they weren't as important as many other people did. I realize he fought for what he believed in but and did things such as fought in the battle of Trenton, etc., but many people don't recognize him because he didn't do many major things.

Boston Massacre

To the Gentlemen of the Jury,

I stand here before you today to proclaim that Captain Preston and his solders are innocent. During the day of March 5, 1770 five men from the mob were killed. The reason that this happened was because of the taxes and how they increases on everything. The sentinel had punched a young man in the face and then rang the bell for help. Captain Preston and his solders went to help the man who was punched in the face. Captain Preston and his men were facing an angry mob of protesters. Some people from the mob started trowing snowballs and hitting the solders with sticks. The angry mob members started yelling "FIRE!" and some of Captain Preston men thought it was their captain so they proceeded to fire. After one of the solders started to fire the others did also so all of the solders were then firing at the mob. When this was over 5 civilians were and 6 of them were hurt.

I believe that the mob should be blamed for this nonsense. The crowd was the ones that were threateningng the solders by hitting them with sticks and throwing snowballs at them. I think that the blame is on the mob because they were the ones who shouted "FIRE!" and then the solders did what they thought they were told. Some people say that they saw and herd the captain say "FIRE" when it was really a member from the crowd. So as I still believe the mob should be at blame.

Captain Preston should not be punished for anything as he didn't do anything wrong. Captain Preston actually said not to fire. So if Captain Preston is punished then that does not serve anything. I also believe that the civilians cant be punished because we cant punish everyone if only one or two yelled fire. I think that everyone should be let free because you cant punish everyone for someones stupid mistake. Also Captain Preston's Solders cant be punished for something they were taught to do.

Revolution and War

1763-1789

Revolution Notes

1763—Proclamation Act- The proclomation act was a line that stated the indians land from the americans land it was the aplation mountains.

1764—Grenville Acts (direct tax)- The grenville acts were the things that they taxed.
Sugar (molasses, wine)
Stamp

Quartering

Currency

Virtual/ Direct Representation

1765—Stamp Act Congress- This is the late act of the parlament. An act for granting and applying certain stamp duties.

• Sons of Liberty
  
• Samuel Adams


• Paul Revere


• John Hancock


• Propaganda


• Boycotts


• Lobsters (Lobster-backs, Thomas Lobster)
  

1766—Declaratory Act- Britan will take the taxes away but they can tax them on what ever they want.

1767—Townsend Acts (indirect tax)- The townsend act is where taxes are put on the common products imported into America. This was the second attack.

• Charles Townsend


• Writs of Assistance (search warrants)


• Revenue used to pay Royal officials in the colonies


• Tea Act (glass, paper, paint) support British East India Company

1770—Boston Massacre- The Boston Massacre was a clash between the British and the Colonists. They used it as propoganda.

• March 5, 1770


• Local reaction (primarily)


• 5 dead colonists


• John Adams defends British soldiers/5 exonerated-2 convicted


• Convicted men discharged and thumbs branded

1773—Boston Tea Party - The Boston Tea Party was an act of direct action protest by the American Colonists against British Government.

• November 30, 1773--Dartmouth sails into Boston Harbor
• December 16, 1773--Tea dumped into harbor
• 340 chests of tea dumped (value of 10,000 British pounds)
  

1774—Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts in Britain)-formed britains punishment over britain and massachesettes.

• Close the port of Boston
  
• Shut down Provincial and Town Governments


• All offices appointed


• Named General Thomas Gage as Governor


• Gave all western lands north of the Ohio R. to Quebec, allowed Catholic Church to practice

1774—1^st Continental Congress- The First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia's Carpenters Hall on September 5, 1774. The idea of such a meeting was advanced a year earlier by Benjamin Franklin, but failed to gain much support until after the Port of Boston was closed in response to the Boston Tea Party.
Twelve of the 13 colonies sent delegates. Georgia decided against roiling the waters; they were facing attacks from the restive Creek on their borders and desperately needed the support of regular British soldiers.

• September to October (7 weeks)


• Carpenter’s Hall, Philadelphia
  
• New England—John Adams, Paul Revere, Silas Deane


• Virginia—Washington, Patrick Henry, Peyton Randolph, Richard Henry Lee
  
• Pennsylvania—John Dickenson, Joseph Galloway (Plan for American council under Parliament, to avoid war)


• New York—John Jay, James Duane
  
• Maryland—Samuel Chase (future Supreme Court Justice), Charles Carroll (richest man in Maryland, Catholic)
  
• Declaration of Rights—rejects Parliamentary authority over internal colonial affairs, colonies manage own defense, united aid to Boston if Intolerable Acts continue, absolute boycott of British goods to be enforced rigidly
  

1775— January

• William Pitt urges Parliament to withdraw troops from America because the idea of managing the colonies through force was “too ridiculous to take up a moment of your lordships’ time”
  

1775—April 19 Lexington and Concord - On April 19, 1775, British and American soldiers exchanged fire in the Massachusetts towns of Lexington and Concord.

• Gen. Gage sends 700 men to Concord to seize the powder supplies


• Paul Revere and William Dawes raise alarm the night before


• Town of Lexington is on the way to Concord


• Minutemen are assembled on the town common


• “Shot heard round the world”


• 18 colonials killed and the rest run away


• British march on to Concord and find the munitions were moved overnight


• Minutemen ambush the British the whole way back to Boston


• 430 Redcoats make it back to Boston


• 30,000 Colonists surround Boston
  
  

1775—May

• Gen. Howe, Gen. Clinton, Gen. Burgoyne


• 5,000 British troops


• Ethan Allen, “Green Mountain Boys” seize Fort
  
• Henry Knox uses canon to lay siege on Boston


• Benedict Arnold (Connecticut) takes Fort Crown Point to impede an invasion from Canada
  

1775—May 10, 2^nd Continental Congress- The Second Continental Congress was presided over by John Hancock, who replaced the ailing Peyton Randolph, and included some of the same delegates as the first, but with such notable additions as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Joseph Galloway, the Pennsylvania conservative, was not in attendance. All of the colonies sent delegates, although the Georgia delegation did not arrive until fall. As time passed, the radical element that included John Adams, Samuel Adams and Richard Henry Lee began to eclipse the more conservative faction represented by John Dickinson. Nonetheless, many of the delegates expected at the outset, that the rupture between colony and mother country would be healed.

• Sam Adams pushes for Independence


• John Dickenson (Penn.) urges restraint
  
• Delegates unanimously agree to Washington as Commander of Continental Army (John Adams suggestion)

1775—June 17, “Battle of Bunker Hill”-On June 17, 1775, American troops displayed their mettle in the Battle of Bunker Hill during the siege of Boston, inflicting casualties on nearly half of the British troops dispatched to secure Breed's Hill (where most of the fighting occurred).

• Actually fought on Breed’s Hill


• Gen. Howe leads assault without canon support (his canon had been matched with wrong-sized cannonballs [Amherst at Ticonderoga])


• Militia waited to within 30 yards (some say 15 yards)


• Militia target British officers


• Militia ran extremely low on ammunition


• On the third assault, led by Gen. Howe, British troops overtake the colonial position


• Britain losses almost 1000 men (about half the attacking force)


• Colonials lose about 500 men

1776—January, Common Sense -pamphlet written by Thomas Paine to convince the colonists that reconciliation with England was not possible.

• Written by Thomas Paine
  
• 120,000 copies sold in three months
  

1776—March

• Gen. William Howe evacuates Boston


• July 2, lands in Staten Island, New York (Loyalist base)
  

1776—Declaration of Independence -An act of the Second Continental Congress, adopted on July 4, 1776, which declared that the Thirteen Colonies in North America were "Free and Independent States" and that "all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved."

• 
  

• June 7, Richard Henry Lee (Virginia) introduces legislation to declare independence from Britain


• Before voting on Lee’s proposal Congress appoints five-man committee to draft a formal Declaration of Independence (Thomas Jefferson, 33, does most of the writing)


• June 28, Declaration presented to Congress


• July 2, Congress approves Lee’s legislation to declare the United States of America independent of Great Britain


• July 4, Congress officially adopts the Declaration of Independence


• The Declaration intended to:
  
  

1. Undermine loyalty to King George III
   
2. Outline basic principles of representative government
   
3. Establish the “right” of rebellion
   
   

War

1776—August, Brooklyn Heights, New York

• Largest Naval group Britain will launch until the 20^th century
  
• British victory, city falls to England


• As winter came “sunshine patriots” left the American Army


• Initial colonial enlistments due to expirence
  

1776—December, Battle of Trenton

• Howe believes war almost won


• 1,400 Hessians stationed at Trenton


• Colonel Rall (Hessian) builds no fortifications


• Washington “Crosses the Delaware” Christmas night


• 2,500 men; 18 artillery guns


• Surprise attack at dawn


• 106 Hessians killed, 918 captured


• No colonial casualties


• Washington retreats in secret to avoid Gen. Cornwallis counter-attack
  

1777—January, Princeton

• Washington ambushes British troops


• Colonial victory establishes this will not be a quick war for Britain
  

1777—September-October, Saratoga

• Gen. Burgoyne plas a three-prong attack on colonials at Albany


• Plan does not consider the terrain, forcing British troops to march through swamps, lakes, hills and forests full of rebels


• Two of the three “prongs” never arrive (Howe goes to Philadelphia instead, St. Leger retreats to New York afraid of Benedict Arnold)


• Sept. Burgoyne crosses Hudson River


• Oct. 17, Burgoyne surrenders


• Establishes American Army as real threat


• Helps secure open French Alliance


• Turning Point of the War
  

1777-1778—Winter at Valley Forge

• Under-funded troops


• Low morale


• 10,000+ troops


• 4,000 troops listed as “unfit for duty” due to poor supplies (boots, blankets, coats, etc.)


• 2,500 troops die of disease (typhus, typhoid fever, dysentery, pneumonia)


• George Washington mentioned a lack of shoes so severe that the men's "marches might be tracked by the blood from their feet”


• Local farmers would sell produce to Brits who could pay cash
  

1779—February, Vincennet

1780—August, Camden

1780—October, Kings Mountain

1781—October, Yorktown

• British Gen. Cornwallis


• American Gen. Washington (also “Mad” Anthony Wayne, Baron von Steuben)


• French Gen. Rochambeau (also Marquis de Lafayette)


• Essentially a French Naval victory


• Last significant battle of the war
  

1783—Sept. 3, Treaty of Paris

• Britain recognizes American independence


• America gets all land from Atlantic coast to Miss. River, Great Lakes to Florida


• Fishing rights to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and off the coast of Newfoundland


• America must pay debts to Britain


• American congress would “earnestly recommend” all Loyalist property returned (States ignore this request