Before the Boston Tea Party, there was the Gaspée Affair (1772)—a daring act of defiance where Rhode Islanders burned a British customs schooner.

This was one of the earliest organized rebellions against British authority. Let’s dive in. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev After the French and Indian War, Britain cracked down on smuggling to enforce trade laws. The HMS Gaspée, a British customs schooner, patrolled Narragansett Bay, aggressively targeting smugglers.

The American Revolution wasn’t just fueled by Enlightenment ideals. Its roots lie deeply in the Reformation, a movement that challenged centralized authority and birthed grassroots governance.

Here’s how Reformation ideas inspired the Revolution. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev The Reformation sparked the creation of small, self-governing congregations across Northern Europe. These communities became “schools of practice” for decentralized governance, paving the way for later political revolutions.

The American Revolution didn’t just start in New England. Southern colonies were also hotbeds of unrest and resistance.

From grassroots movements to political defiance, here’s how the South helped lay the foundation for independence. Let’s dive in. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev Led by Patrick Henry, Virginia declared that only colonial assemblies had the right to tax their people. These Virginia Resolves (1965) became a rallying cry against the Stamp Act and a model for other colonies asserting their rights.

Long before the American Revolution, colonial resistance was brewing in the backcountry of North Carolina.

The Regulator Movement (1766–1771) was a grassroots uprising against corruption and exploitation that culminated in the Battle of Alamance. Let’s dive in. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev In the mid-1700s, North Carolina’s backcountry settlers faced high taxes, corrupt officials, and exploitative fees imposed by the colonial government. These small farmers and tradespeople felt ignored by the elites in the coastal regions who controlled the colony.

The American Revolution wasn’t just a rejection of monarchy, it was the result of centuries of political & religious experimentation.

From Cromwell’s England to the Dutch Republic to Christian movements like Presbyterianism, these influences shaped independence. Let’s dive in.🧵 In the 1640s, the English Civil War overthrew the monarchy, leading to the temporary Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. This era questioned the divine right of kings and emphasized the power of the people’s representatives—ideas colonists later embraced.

On March 5, 1770, British soldiers killed 5 colonists in what became known as the Boston Massacre. But this event didn’t happen in isolation—it was the result of growing tensions, including the death of 12-year-old Christopher Seider just days before.

Let’s dig in.🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev On February 22, 1770, Christopher Seider was killed by Loyalist Ebenezer Richardson during a protest. Seider became a martyr for the patriot cause, and his funeral, attended by thousands, inflamed anti-British sentiment in Boston

The American Revolution wasn’t just a war for independence, it was a revolution of thought.

At its core, it was fueled by the Enlightenment, an intellectual movement that reshaped how people thought about government, rights, and human potential. Let’s dive in. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev The Enlightenment (late 17th–18th century) championed reason, science, and individualism over tradition and religious authority.

Key thinkers like John Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire laid the groundwork for revolutionary ideas that inspired the Founding Fathers.

Samuel Adams wasn’t just a name on a beer bottle—he was one of the most influential leaders of the American Revolution.

A master organizer, propagandist, and agitator, he helped turn discontent into rebellion. Let’s explore his life and legacy. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev Born in 1722 in Boston, Samuel Adams came from a prominent Puritan family. His father, a merchant and politician, instilled a strong sense of community and resistance to tyranny. But Sam struggled early on—he failed as a brewer and businessman.

Before the Continental Army and the Declaration of Independence, there was the Sons of Liberty—a secretive, radical group that fought for colonial rights and lit the spark of revolution.

Who were they, and how did they shape history? Let’s dive in. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev The Sons of Liberty formed in 1765 in response to the Stamp Act, Britain’s first direct tax on the colonies. Born in Boston, their name came from Irish politician Isaac Barré, who praised the colonies as “Sons of Liberty” in a fiery speech.

The American Revolution wasn’t just born out of battles—it was fueled by taxes. The Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and Townshend Acts sparked outrage and united the colonies against British rule.

Here’s how these infamous taxes ignited a movement for independence. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev The Sugar Act (1764) taxed sugar, molasses, and other imports. While it lowered the tax on molasses, it enforced strict penalties for smuggling. Merchants were furious, especially as violators faced trial without juries in vice-admiralty courts—an insult to colonial rights.

At the end of the French and Indian War, Britain issued the Proclamation of 1763, a decree that banned colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.

What seemed like a practical measure became one of the sparks for revolution. Let’s dive in. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev Britain’s goal with the Proclamation was to stabilize relations with Native American tribes by curbing westward expansion. The Pontiac Rebellion, a series of Native uprisings after the war, highlighted the dangers of unchecked settlement.

In 1754, decades before independence, the colonies considered a radical idea: uniting under a central government.

Known as the Albany Plan of Union, it was the first formal proposal to unify the American colonies. Let’s explore its story. 🧵🇺🇸 AmRev The Albany Plan emerged during the Albany Congress of 1754, where representatives from 7 colonies met in Albany, New York. The primary goal? To coordinate defense against French and Native American threats as tensions escalated before the French and Indian War.

Colonial militias were the first line of defense in the American colonies, rooted in necessity. Long before the Revolution, these part-time citizen soldiers played a crucial role in defending settlements & shaping the colonies’ military traditions.

Let’s explore their story.🧵🇺🇸 The concept of the militia dates back to the early 1600s. The first organized militia in America was established in 1607 at Jamestown to defend against Native American attacks. Similar militias quickly spread to other colonies.

Israel Putnam was one of the most daring and colorful figures of the American Revolution. From escaping a fiery death to leading troops at Bunker Hill, “Old Put” embodied the courage and grit of the Patriot cause.

Let’s dive into his incredible story. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev Born in Salem Village (now Danvers), Massachusetts, in 1718, Putnam moved to Pomfret, Connecticut, around 1740, becoming a prosperous farmer.

Before leading the charge for independence, many key Patriot leaders gained invaluable experience in the French and Indian War.

These formative years shaped their military skills, leadership, and resilience. Let’s dive into their stories. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev At just 22, George Washington’s command at Fort Necessity ended in surrender in 1754, marking his first major leadership test. His boldness and determination during the war, including his role in General Braddock’s ill-fated expedition, honed his ability to adapt under pressure.

Before the American Revolution, another conflict set the stage for rebellion—the French and Indian War (1754–1763).

Fought over control of North America, it reshaped colonial life and planted the seeds of revolution. Let’s dive into how. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev The war was part of a global conflict known as the Seven Years’ War, pitting Britain against France and their Native American allies. At stake? Control over territory in North America, especially the resource-rich Ohio River Valley.

Winning the Revolutionary War wasn’t just about battles—it was about keeping an army fed, armed, and moving across a sprawling and contested landscape.

The Patriots relied on ingenious and risky supply routes to sustain their fight for independence. Let’s dive in. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev The Hudson River (NY) was the lifeline of the northern colonies. It connected New York and New England to the mid-Atlantic.

Fortifying West Point helped prevent the British from cutting the colonies in two—a move that could’ve ended the war.

Without Rochambeau, America’s fight for independence might not have succeeded. The French general led a critical expeditionary force that worked hand-in-hand with George Washington to secure victory at Yorktown.

Let’s explore his pivotal role. 🧵🇫🇷🇺🇸 #AmRev Born in 1725, Rochambeau came from a noble military family in France. He rose through the ranks of the French Army during the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years’ War, earning a reputation for discipline and strategy.

The Battle of Saint Kitts (Jan 25–26, 1782) was a critical naval clash during the American Revolutionary War, fought between Britain and France.

While far from the colonies, its outcome shaped control of the Caribbean and disrupted British strategy. Let’s dive in. 🧵🇫🇷🇬🇧 #AmRev The Caribbean was vital for European powers during the 18th century, filled with lucrative sugar islands like Saint Kitts.

By 1782, with the American war in full swing, France sought to weaken British dominance in the region by capturing key islands.

Daniel Boone is one of America’s most legendary frontiersmen, known for his daring exploits and role in opening Kentucky to settlement.

But his contributions during the Revolutionary War and his life afterward are equally fascinating. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev Boone was born in 1734 in Pennsylvania. As a young man, he gained fame as a hunter, explorer, and surveyor, blazing trails through uncharted wilderness. By the 1770s, he helped establish Kentucky as a critical frontier settlement.

On August 19, 1782—10 months after Yorktown—the frontier of Kentucky saw one of the most tragic defeats for the Patriots: the Battle of Blue Licks.

This devastating clash showed the Revolutionary War was far from over in the West. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev It all began with raids. A force of 50 Loyalists and 300 Native American warriors, primarily Shawnee and Wyandot, raided Kentucky settlements, plundering supplies and killing settlers. The Kentucky militia rallied about 182 men to respond.