This painting by Alonzo Chappel displays the significant incident in the American revolution, the Boston Massacre, which occurred on March 5, 1770. During this massacre the six privates of the British 29th Regiment of Foot, under the command of Captain Thomas Preston, killed 5 male civilians and injured 6 others. This massacre marked the beginning for high tensions in the colonies against the British. This painting reflects an important mark in American identity for it displays the first steps in resistance to the crown.
On May 10 of 1773, the Tea Act was established. This act, implemented by the Parliament of Britain, aggravated many of the colonists. This act led to the Boston Tea Party which was another form of resistance to the royal crown through a political protest held by members of the Sons of Liberty, an organization of separatists from the colonies. On December 16, 1773, the Sons of Liberty, some dressed as Native Americans dumped a whole shipment of tea from the East India Company into the harbor. This event marks a very important time for American identity and the revolution because it drew attention to the increasing resistance and dislike of the British rule. The British responded to the protest by implementing the intolerable acts which essentially ended local government and Boston's commerce which only sparked more hatred towards the crown.
This painting by William Barnes Wollen, depicts the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the first military engagement of the American Revolution. The first shots were fired in the morning in Lexington. By who? The British or the militia? It is unknown, however, the militia had to retreat due to being outnumbered. After much fighting in many colonial towns, the fighting led to a colonial win thus marking not only the first battles, but also that the colonies were not to be taken lightly.
On the night of December 25–26, 1776 General George Washington, commanded and led 2,400 men of the Continental Army across the Delaware River. There they captured Trenton and nearly captured all of the Hessian soldiers which was a huge risk, high reward situation. Then, on January 3rd in 1777, Commander in Chief George Washington attacked and defeated the British garrison near Princeton, New Jersey. This battle established George Washington as a strong military leader and also gave a big shift in momentum for the patriots making many soldiers to serve longer and new soldiers to join the Continental Army.
This painting by Benjamin West displays the historical event of the Treaty of Paris of 1783. Signed on September 3rd, this treaty essentially ended the American Revolutionary War. The American representatives were Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens, and John Adams. The British representatives were David Hartley and Richard Oswald. This treaty was important to American Identity and the revolution for it ended the war and made the British recognize the United States to be free from the royal crown, which is exactly what the colonies were fighting for. The painting, only portrays the American's for the british would not pose for the artist.