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British General Thomas Gage led a force of British soldiers from Boston to Lexington, where he planned to capture colonial radical leaders. But American spies got wind of the plan, and confronted them with 77 American militiamen.

The British lost 73 dead, with another 174 wounded and 26 missing in action. The bloody encounter proved to the British that the colonists were fearsome foes who had to be taken seriously. It was the start of America’s war of independence.

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In September 1620, a merchant ship called the Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, a port on the southern coast of England. Normally, the Mayflower’s cargo was wine and dry goods, but on this trip the ship carried passengers.

The pilgrims of the Mayflower were a group of around 100 people seeking religious freedom from the Church of England. These “Separatists” did not want to pledge allegiance to the Church of England, which they believed was nearly as corrupt and idolatrous as the Catholic Church it had replaced, any longer. The Separatists hoped that in Holland, they would be free to worship as they liked.

The Mayflower was intended to land in Virginia, but storms shifted the ship’s course north. As a result, they landed in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. After exploring the area, the Mayflower pilgrims eventually decided to stay, partially due to harsh seas and dwindling supplies. In order to establish themselves as a legitimate colony (“Plymouth,” named after the English port from which they had departed) under these dubious circumstances, 41 of the Saints and Strangers drafted and signed a document they called the Mayflower Compact. This Compact promised to create a “civil Body Politick” governed by elected officials and “just and equal laws.” It also swore allegiance to the English king. It was the first document to establish self-government in the New World and this early attempt at democracy set the stage for future colonists seeking independence from the British.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Thanksgiving is an annual national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Philippines. It is to celebrate the harvest and other blessings of the past year.

The holiday dates back to November 1621, when the newly arrived Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians gathered at Plymouth for an autumn harvest feast, an event regarded as America’s “first Thanksgiving.”

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It was the first act that imposed direct taxes on documents, newspapers and dice in the American colonies. Although it was later repealed, Parliament asserted its right to impose laws on the American colonies, thus inciting increased opposition.

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It was the culmination of resistance against the British Tea Act, and by extension, the British government, becoming a major escalation of tensions that led to the eventual American Revolutionary War.

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A polymath who drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence, campaigned for the unity of the 13 colonies, and went on to helm important positions for the newly founded USA, including being the first US Postmaster General and US ambassador to France. He also contributed widely to the scientific discipline and civil society.

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The principal author of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson was a key proponent of the independence movement, both ideologically and legislatively. He went on to helm important positions for the newly independent nation, including being its secretary of state, second vice president, and third president.

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An influential political activist and theorist who authored works such as “Common Sense” and “The American Crisis”, which reflected ideals of independence and freedom that resonated with and motivated the revolutionary efforts.

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A leading opponent to British rule in Virginia, he was appointed commander in chief of the revolutionary forces at the outbreak of the Revolution, and the first president of the U.S.A. in 1789.

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https://www.fpri.org/article/2017/07/geopolitics-american-revolution/

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https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/americas-revolution-economic-disaster-development-and-equality

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https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/american-revolution-history#:~:text=The%20Revolutionary%20War%20was%20an,rule%2C%20resulting%20in%20American%20independence.