November 4

Spy System in the American Revolution by Anthony

Spying during the American Revolution consisted of a complicated system of hidden networks, interpersonal relationships, scientific knowledge, personal cunning, guile and risk taking. They used ciphers and codes in letters so that if the letter was intercepted, the British or the colonists, (whomever intercepted the letter) would have to try to decipher it which would take forever. The ciphers  would represent and replace existing letters in the alphabet. Sometimes they would use invisible ink, which is ink that you can’t see, and it was made from ferrous sulfate and water at the time because those were the most abundant supplies they had. The secret writing was placed between the lines of an innocent letter and could be discerned by treating the letter with heat or a chemical substance. The recipient placed the paper over the flame of a candle or treated it with a chemical reagent, such as sodium carbonate, which would reveal the letter’s hidden contents.

That’s just some about the spy system in the Revolutionary war, but there is a lot more!

November 3

The Quartering Act, by Ella

The British passed many Acts that caused tension between Britain and, the colonies and, eventually this caused the American Revolution. The Quartering Act was passed by Parliament in 1765. The Quartering Act was an act that made the colonists give housing to the British soldiers. This Act also made the colonists provide food and water for the soldiers.The reason why the colonists had to share their homes and food was because the British soldiers didn’t have a place to stay after the French and Indian War. The British soldiers chose to stay in the colonies after the French and Indian War because they feared that the French and the Indians would try to take the colonies that belonged to the British.The colonies did not like this Act and it made them mad with the British. It also made the colonists scared that the government was trying to control their freedom.This was one of the many acts that led to the American Revolution.