The Revolutionary Era

            My decade is the Revolutionary Era from 1775-1783. In this era there were many important events, people, and movements. But the most important of these are the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary War, George Washington, and the Enlightenment movement. These are the things that affect the country's future. These people, events, and movements are the things that will never be forgotten.

Events during the Revolutionary Era are countless, but the major events all led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War. The start of the fight was the battles of Lexington and Concord on April 20, 1775. These battles were British raids on the cities in search of weapons. Then there was the 2 nd Continental Congress in which a general for the Continental Army was chosen.   The Declaration of Independence came about because of Thomas Paine's publishing of his pamphlet Common Sense. Then in 1776 on the 4 th of July the Declaration itself was signed. These events make up the Revolutionary Era.

            A major person during this era was George Washington. He was the one who got elected General of the Continental Army on June 15, 1775. In the latter part of the Revolutionary War he was able to rally up 16,000 soldiers, on his own, to march to Yorktown. After the conclusion of the war and my era he was elected the first President of the United States of America. George Washington was a very wise and influential man during this era and to the future.

            The main movement during this era was the Enlightenment ideas. These ideas consisted of individual rights, freedoms, and liberties. This is the time when John Locke had great influence on American life. His ideas and his beliefs help to develop the Constitution. These ideas that he was famous for include freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the rights to property, life and liberty. All of these went into the Constitution or later added to the Bill of Rights. This movement was very important to the survival and future of the United States of America.

            This decade was all about the US achieving their independence. This time was the most important in this country's history because this was its foundation; this was the time that decided our future. This time will always show us the strength that this country was built on and the strength we have improved on all this time. This decade shows us that this country has worked hard for what we have and what we will get.

Sources:

Cleveland HS U.S. History class notes

The American Vision: Modern Times. Joyce Appleby, Ph.D. McGrawHill, New York, 2006