v1] CAUSES OF AMERICAN REVoL UTION. 35 
7. The war of the “American Revolution” once com- 
Menced, was carried on with more bitterness than any 
that had been fought before in America, It was very sad, 
because it was between people of the Same blood and 
language; even families were divided, fathers and sons 
fighting against one another, What made it so bitter was, 
‘hat each side claimed to be doing right—the Rebels in 
not paying the tax, and resisting what they called tyranny 
—Wwhile the Loyalists were Teady, not only cheerfully to 
submit to the law, but also to die in the defence of the 
mother country. 
8. The contest began with the skirmish at Lexington, 
in 1775, In the. same Year the Americans invaded 
Canada, and got Possession of Montreal. On the last day 
of the year they attempted an assault upon Quebec ; but 
were defeated with the loss of their leader, General Mont- 
Somery, During 1776 they were driven out of Canada, 
and tried no more to take it while the war lasted. In 
1778, General Haldimand became Governor of Canada, 
For six ycars tho fierce strife went on in the thirteen 
States, until it was ended by the surrender of the British 
Army under Lord Cornwallis, at Yorktown, in 1782. 
9, Great Britain acknowledged the independence of the 
*hirteon United States by the Treaty of Versailles, in 
1783, and the boundaries of British America were re. 
Auced to their Present limits. 
10. The party in the States which had remained loyal 
to England during the Iate War were now left in a very 
unpleasant position. England asked the Congress to show 
them leniency, and Congress did recommend the govern- 
ments of the several States to treat the loyalists with kind- 
ness ; but Congress hıd not much influence then, and, 
wherever these E21 hived, their neighbors looked upon 
heim wit“ greift Pate and treated them often wich