American Revolution Podcast

The Continental Congress appoints a committee headed by Thomas Jefferson to draft a declaration while debate over independence continues. After Congress approves the Declaration with modifications, it is distributed to the world, then later signed. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendations of the Week: What Did th...

In the spring of 1776, the Second Continental Congress struggles to reach a unanimous vote on independence. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Signing Their Lives Away, by by Denise Kiernan and Joseph D'Agnese Online Recommendation of the week: Online Liberty Library oll.libertyfund.org   Learn...

Radicals in Philadelphia overthrow the conservative colonial government. They install radicals just in time to get Pennsylvania to support independence. For more text, pictures, maps, and sources, please visit my site at AmRevPodcast. Blogspot.com. Book Recommendation of the Week: The Revolution Is Now Begun: The Radical Committees of Philadelphia, 1765-1776, by Richard Alan Ryerson  Online Recomm...

General Henry Clinton and Commodore Peter Parker attempt to capture Fort Sullivan in the harbor of Charleston South Carolina. Although Continental General Charles Lee attempts to abandon the fort, the fort commander Colonel William Moultrie refuses. The British fail take the fort and must retreat back to New York without any military success. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for mor...

General Sullivan takes command in Canada, only to be overwhelmed by the British reinforcements commanded by Generals Carleton and Burgoyne. The Continentals attack the British at Three Rivers, only to be repelled. Even more devastating is smallpox still ravaging the army. With General Arnold's assistance the Army successfully retreats back to New York largely intact. Visit my site at https://blog....

Elements of the Continental Navy as well as a hoard of privateers harass and battle with the British Navy up and down the East coast. Naval Commodore John Barry emerges and an early naval hero. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

General Washington struggles to set up defenses in New York despite Tories all around him. The Continental army riots with NY Prostitutes after they murder two soldiers. The Army discovers and shuts down a plot to murder Washington ahead of the British invasion. One soldier is hanged and mayor David Mathews is taken into custody. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictu...

Following the Declaration of Independence, most of the remaining States adopt new Constitutions. We examine why Massachusetts took so long and why Connecticut and Rhode Island did not even bother with one. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1775 and 1776, even before officially declaring independence, the colonies begin adopting constitutions. We see many of the principles later found in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution showing up in these first attempts at self-government. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Learn more about your ad choic...

General John Thomas takes command of Continental forces around Quebec. Despite his efforts, the Continentals must withdraw as the British relief fleet arrives in spring 1776. An American force surrenders to an inferior force at an outpost known as the Cedars, leading to scandal and courts martial. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this to...

In the months between the time the British evacuate Boston and land in New York, Washington had plenty of time to work with his army to build up defenses around New York City and to confer with leaders in Philadelphia.   Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The North Ministry settles on a plan to send an overwhelming force. They will shock and awe the colonists into submission. General Howe will command an army of 32,000 regulars and Hessians supported by his brother Admiral Howe commanding over 10,000 sailors and Marines. A secondary force of 8000 under General Burgoyne will go to Quebec and fall under the command of General Carleton. The Howe broth...

Following the failed attempt to take Quebec City, the Continentals keep a token force around the city. General Benedict Arnold recovers from his wounds while he fights with his fellow officers over what to do next. General David Wooster pulls rank and takes command of Quebec, forcing Arnold to leave. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this...

After the Continentals capture Dorchester Heights, the British Army and Navy must leave Boston right away. Loyalists crowd onto ships and escape to Halifax. Gen. Howe spares the city in exchange for the Continentals not firing on the city or the fleet during the evacuation. Visit https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this week's episode. Learn more about your...

The Continental Army occupies Dorchester Heights overnight, surprising the British and forcing them to evacuate Boston. Visit https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Continental Congress builds a small fleet to take on the British Navy. The new commander of the Continental Navy begins his command by disobeying orders to confront the British Navy directly. Instead, he launches a raid on the Bahamas to collect needed arms and ammunition. Visit https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this week's episode. Learn more about y...

Delegates to the Continental Congress, including conservatives, begin to consider independence as a realistic option. Lord Drummond sails to Philadelphia in a well intentioned but poorly conceived attempt to broker a peace deal. Congress blames General Schuyler for the failures in Canada and moves around some of its generals. It sends Silas Deane to France to open up diplomatic negotiations with t...

General Henry Clinton leaves Boston to secure the southern colonies. His plan is to meet up with a fleet of regulars coming from Britain under the commend of General Cornwallis. These regulars will serve as a rally point for loyalists to enlist and reclaim the colonies for the King. The British send two recruiting officers to western North Carolina, where they raise several thousand recruits. The...

Thomas Paine arrived in America in 1774 with a head full of radical ideas: abolition, women's rights, republicanism, and independence. This British immigrant was more radical than most Americans. His publication of Common Sense in January 1776 is widely credited with pushing public opinion in favor of independence. Visit https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on...

General Washington appoints Henry Knox Commander of Artillery. His first mission is to find some artillery to command. Knox hauls 59 artillery pieces from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. These will prove instrumental in ending the Siege of Boston. Visit https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...

General Montgomery and Colonel Arnold make a desperate attempt to take Quebec City before their soldiers' enlistments expire at the end of 1775. Despite a brave attack, the attack fails, leaving the Continental Army in Canada in tatters. Visit https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...

General Arnold demands the surrender of Quebec, but the last minute arrival of local defenders gives them the courage to hold out. Arnold pulls back and links up with General Montgomery so that the combined force can assault the city together. Visit https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...

Virginia Governor Lord Dunmore proclaims that slaves who abandon their rebel masters and join the British army can earn their freedom. Dunmore attempts to recruit a loyalist army of both black and white Virginians. He fights a pitched battle at Kemp's Landing and Great Bridge. Unable to hold land, his forces retreat to ships offshore. At the end of 1775, the British also burn and abandon Norfolk....

Benedict Arnold leads a force across the New England wilderness to attack Quebec from an unexpected direction. More than half of his force does not make it through the deadly march. Visit https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress accepts that it is in for a long term fight. It creates a Navy and Marine Corps and a southern army. It explores diplomacy with France and sends a diplomat to work with the Iroquois. It also recommends that the colonies create forms of government based on the will of the people. To pay for all this, it prints lots more paper money. Visit https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictu...