About: On December 1, 1640, John IV of Portugal declared his country’s independence from Spain.
Belem Tower in Lisbon, Portugal
Qatar (Asia)
Qatar flag
Capital: Doha
Population: 2.7 Million
Size: 4,471 sq. miles
Currency: Qatari riyal
Tallest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 338 feet tall
Main religion: Islam 67.7%
Main languages: Arabic and English
About: On September 1, 1971, Qatar declared its independence from the British Empire.
Dallah Qatar monument in Doha, Qatar
Romania (Europe)
Romanian flag
Capital: Bucharest
Population: 19.3 Million
Size: 92,046 sq. miles
Currency: Romanian Leu
Tallest point: Moldoveanu Peak 8,346 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 92.3%
Main languages: Romanian, Albanian, Amerian, Bulgarian, and Croatian
About: In 1989, after the Berlin Wall fell, Romania became independent from the Soviet Union.
Peles castle in Sinaia, Romania
Russia (Europe)
Russian flag
Capital: Moscow
Population: 146.7 Million
Size: 6,612,073 sq. miles
Currency: Russian Ruble
Tallest point: Mount Elbrus 15,554 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 73%
Main languages: Russian, English, German, French, and Turkish
About: In 1991, the Soviet Union was dissolved and the Russian Federation was formed.
Red Square in Moscow, Russia
Rwanda (Africa)
Rwanda flag
Capital: Kigali
Population: 12.3 Million
Size: 10,169 sq. miles
Currency: Rwandan Franc
Tallest point: Mount Karisimbi 14,787 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 93.2%
Main languages: English, French, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili
About: On July 1, 1962, Rwanda became independent from Belgium. It was formerly part of the Belgian Congo.
Mount Kibuye, Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis (North America)
Saint Kitts and Nevis flag
Capital: Basseterre
Population: 52,441
Size: 101 sq. miles
Currency: East Carribean Dollar
Tallest point: Mount Liamuiga 3,792 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 94.6%
Main languages: English
About: On September 19, 1983, Saint Kitts and Nevis became independent from Great Britain.
Brimstone Hill Fortress in Middle Island Parish, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia (North America)
Saint Lucia flag
Capital: Castries
Population: 184,751
Size: 238 sq. miles
Currency: East Carribean Dollar
Tallest point: Mount Gimie 3,145 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 90.4%
Main languages: English and Saint Lucian Creole French
About: Saint Lucia gained full independence from Britain on February 22, 1979.
The Pittons, Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (North America)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines flag
Capital: Kingstown
Population: 110,211 people
Size: 150 sq. miles
Currency: East Carribean Dollar
Tallest point: La Soufriere 4,049 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 82.1%
Main languages: English and Vincentian Creole
About: On October 27, 1979, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became independent from Great Britain.
Fort Charlotte in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa (Australia and the Pacific)
Samoa flag
Capital: Apia
Population: 202,506
Size: 1,079 sq. miles
Currency: Tala
Tallest point: Mount Silisili 6,069 feet tall
Main religion: Christianity 100%
Main languages: Samoan and English
About: On June 1, 1962, Samoa became independent from New Zealand.
Sopoaga Falls on Savai’i, Island, Samoa
San Marino (Europe)
San Marino flag
Capital: San Marino
Population: 34,232
Size: 23 sq. miles
Currency: Euro
Tallest point: Monte Titano 2,425 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 97%
Main languages: Italian and Emilian-Romagnol
About: San Marino became an independent city-state in 301 AD. Since then it’s been independent.
Landscape of San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe (Africa)
Sao Tome and Principe flag
Capital: Sao Tome
Population: 211,028
Size: 386 sq. miles
Currency: Dobra
Tallest point: Pico de Sao Tome 6,640 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 82.2%
Main languages: Portuguese, Forro, Angolar, and Principense
About: On July 12, 1975, Sao Tome and Principe became independent from Portugal.
Pico de Sao Tome
Saudi Arabia (Asia)
Saudi Arabia flag
Capital: Riyadh
Population: 34.2 Million
Size: 830,000 sq. miles
Currency: Saudi Riyal
Tallest point: Jabal Sawda 10,279 feet tall
Main religion: Islam 100%
Main languages: Arabic
About: After WW1 and the breakup of the Ottoman Empire, Saudi Arabia was formed in 1932.
The Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Senegal (Africa)
Senegal flag
Capital: Dakar
Population: 15.8 Million
Size: 75,951 sq. miles
Currency: WAF Franc (Western African Franc)
Tallest point: Unnamed Location 2,126 feet tall
Main religion: Islam 95%
Main languages: French and Wolof
About: On April 4, 1960, Senegal became independent from France. Four months later on August 20, 1960, Senegal withdrew from the Mali Federation, and became completely independent.
Gorre Island, Senegal
Serbia (Europe)
Serbian flag
Capital: Belgrade
Population: 6.9 Million
Size: 29,913 sq. miles
Currency: Serbian Dinar
Tallest point: Midzor 8,720 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 90.6%
Main languages: Serbian, Hungarian, Bosnian, Albanian, and Croatian
About: In 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell, Serbia became independent. It gained full independence after the Yugoslav wars in 2006.
Saint Sava Cathedral in Belgrade, Serbia
Seychelles (Africa)
Seychelles flag
Capital: Victoria
Population: 98,462
Size: 177 sq. mile
Currency: Seychellois Rupee
Tallest point: Morne Seychelles 2,969 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 89.2%
Main languages: English, French, and Seychellois Creole
About: On June 29, 1976, Seychelles became independent from Great Britain.
Unity monument in Victoria, Seychelles
Sierra Leone (Africa)
Sierra Leone flag
Capital: Freetown
Population: 8 Million
Size: 27,700 sq. miles
Currency: Leone
Tallest point: Mount Bintumani 6,381 feet tall
Main religion: Islam 78%
Main languages: English and Krio
About: On April 19, 1961, Sierra Leone became independent from Great Britain.Â
Freetown, Sierra Leone
Singapore (Asia)
Singapore flag
Capital: Singapore
Population: 5.7 Million
Size: 281.2 sq. miles
Currency: Singapore Dollar
Tallest point: Bukit Timah Hill 537 feet tall
Main religion: Buddhism 33.2%
Main languages: Malay, English, Mandarin, and Tamil
About: On June 3, 1959, Singapore became independent from Great Britain but was still part of Malaysia. On August 9, 1965, Singapore became independent from Malaysia.Â
Gardens by the bay, Singapore
Slovakia (Europe)
Slovakian flag
Capital: Bratislava
Population: 5.4 Million
Size: 18,933 sq. miles
Currency: Euro
Tallest point: Gerlachovsky stit 8,711 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 85.9%
Main languages: Slovak
About: When the Berlin wall fell and the dissolution of the Soviet Union was happening, Slovakia became independent on January 1, 1993. It was formerly known as Czechaslovakia.Â
Bojnice castle in Bojnice, Slovakia
Slovenia (Europe)
Slovenia flag
Capital: Ljubljana
Population: 2.1 Million
Size: 7,827 sq. miles
Currency: Euro
Tallest point: Triglav 9,395 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 77.8%
Main languages: Slovene, Italian, and Hungarian
About: On June 25, 1991, Slovenia became separate from the rest of Yugoslavia.Â
Bled Island tower in Bled, Slovenia
Solomon Islands (Australia and the Pacific)
Solomon Islands flag
Capital: Honiara
Population: 652,857
Size: 11,000 sq. miles
Currency: Solomon Islands Dollar
Tallest point: Mount Popomanaseu 7,661 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 97.4%
Main languages: English
About: On July 7, 1978, the Solomon Islands became independent from Great Britain.Â
King Solomon Hotel in Honiara, Solomon Islands
Somalia (Africa)
Somalia flag
Capital: Mogadishu
Population: 15.8 Million
Size: 246,201 sq. miles
Currency: Somali Shilling
Tallest point: Mount Shimbiris 8,071 feet tall
Main religion: Islam 100%
Main languages: Somali, Arabic, English, and Italian
About: During WW2 Italy invaded Ethiopia and Somalia and conquered it. After the war Great Britain kept Somalia as its own until its independence on July 1, 1960.Â
Hadful mosque in Mogadishu, Somalia
South Africa (Africa)
South Africa flag
Capital: Pretoria, Capetown, and Bloemfontein
Population: 59.6 Million
Size: 471,445 sq. miles
Currency: South African Rand
Tallest point: Mafadi 11,306 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 78%
Main languages: English, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, and Sepedi
About: In 1910, South Africa was unified into the Union of South Africa. In 1934, it gained independence from Great Britain, but the British monarch was still the head of the state. On May 31, 1961, it gained full independence from Britain.Â
Capetown, South Africa
South Sudan (Africa)
South Sudan flag
Capital: Juba
Population: 12.7 Million
Size: 239,285 sq. miles
Currency: South Sudanese Pound
Tallest point: Kinyeti 10,456 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 60.5%
Main languages: English, Arabic, Otuho, Acholi, and Dinka
About: On July 9, 2011, after a civil war, South Sudan gained independence from Sudan.Â
In 1651, the first trade regulation was imposed on the thirteen colonies and later more and more were imposed. In 1765, the stamp act was placed and which was where every paper document, no matter what it was, had to get a stamp. This stamp notified that you would have to pay an extra amount of money.
Join or die flag, made by Benjamin Franklin
The colonies had no seats in the British parliament and didn’t have any representation to whether or not the taxes and regulations were passed. Lots of people got mad about this. The reason they were mad was not because they had to pay money, it was because they had no representation in the parliament. Many militia groups were formed such as the sons of liberty to protest and boycott the taxes. After these taxes many more were to come. In February 1775, Massachusetts Bay Colony was declared a state of rebellion and was put under military occupation. After this the battles of Lexington and Concord were the first two battles in the war.
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
The Patriots knew that Fort Ticonderoga had lots of guns and ammunition and they knew that their armies didn’t have lots of guns and ammunition. So they decided to take it. General Benedict Arnold set out to take the fort but he ran into Ethan Allen and his militia known as the Green Mountain Boys.
Flag of the Green Mountain Boys
They had an argument over who would be in charge, but eventually Ethan Allen threatened to go home so Arnold gave in. On May 9, 1775, they were ready to cross the Ticonderoga river. They were approaching the fort when one of the soldier’s muskets misfierd so they rushed into the fort but all of the British were sleeping and they had to surrender. There was only one casualty. A patriot was slightly wounded by one of the sentrys who was guarding the fort.
Fort Ticonderoga present day
All of the British troops were captured inside the fort and it was a victory much needed by the Patriots. After the battle Fort Crown Point and Fort Saint-Jean were also captured. All the guns and ammunition that was inside the fort was eventually transported to Washington’s army in Boston.
Battle of Bunker Hill
At 3 p.m. on June 17, 1775, the British under Brigadier General Pigot marched into the city of Charlestown, Massachusetts. They intended to march up nearby Breed’s Hill and take it. They were taking bullets from patriot snipers on the hill. British Admiral Graves fired incendiary shells on the Patriot snipers on the hill, knocking them out. The British also called for a force to set fire to the town of Charlestown which they did. General Howe sent light infantry and grenadiers up the hill. General Pigot marched up the hill with the 5th, 38th, 43rd, and 52nd infantry also.
British marching up the hill
The American positions were soon reinforced with artillery. As they advanced up Breed’s Hill, there was long grass, zigzagging fences and uneven terrain. This made it hard for them to effectively get up the hill. Once they got farther up the patriots unleashed volleys of musket fire, inflicting heavy casualties on the British. The field commander of the grenadiers James Abercrombie was killed in action.
Death of Lt. Col. James Abercrombie
When they got close enough they could shoot back but were in even more exposed positions and suffered heavy casualties again. After this Pigot ordered a retreat. Most of the grenadiers were either killed or wounded, some companies only had three or four soldiers left. On the second charge they were also beat back, similarly to the first. On the third attack, most of the patriots had run out of ammunition so they had to retreat. Although they won the battle, the British suffered 1,054 casualties whereas the patriots only suffered 450. 62 British officers were wounded and 19 were killed during the battle. The Battle of Bunker Hill was the worst battle in the American Revolution.
Battle of Quebec
After the capture of Fort Ticonderoga the Patriots led small attacks in Quebec. On June 27, 1775 authorization was made for the invasion of Canada. In September of 1775 the patriot army began their advance into Quebec province of Canada. In Quebec a large part of the French Canadian population rose in revolt against the British. General Guy Carleton was the commander of the forces defending the city of Quebec and was also the Governor of the province of Quebec.
General Guy Carleton
On September 25, there was a failed attempt made by Ethan Allen to ambush the British in Montreal. The Americans tried to recruit some French Canadians in revolution but this proved to be unsuccessful. On November 3 Benedict Arnold’s men had reached the city. On December 1 general Montgomery of the Americans arrived and finally on December 30, the day of the attack began. The British strength was around 1,800 men whereas the patriot strength was around 1,200. On December 30 a blizzard came to Quebec, and Montgomery led his men through the snow to the outer defenses. Montgomery and his men rushed down the street and he was instantly killed by a volley fire. He was struck in the head and fell to the ground. His men fled back after his death.
Fighting in the streets of Quebec
Benedict Arnold led his men and once again went down a narrow street. Arnold was shot in the leg but was still able to lead the attack. Meanwhile American General Morgan and his men were able to place ladders onto the walls when bullets were raining down on them. They had got into the center of the city when they were encircled by British reinforcements. The only thing Morgan could was surrender but he refused to surrender to a British general so instead he gave his sword to a Catholic priest.
Battle of Long Island
In the first stage of the war the British had been trapped in Boston but eventually retreated to Halifax, Nova Scotia. On June 28, 1775 General George Washington got word that the British had set sail from Halifax to New York. The British ships landed in New York Bay. The populace of New York was enraged and took down a statue of King George III and melted it into musket balls. On August 22, British troops landed on Long Island, but no fighting ensued. On August 24 some fighting between the Americans and the British happened but not much. That day the Hessian mercenaries that the British had hired started to bombard the American lines.
American troops engage with British at Long Island
As the fighting continued for hours as the Americans were weakened. Most of the Americans were killed or wounded but the remaining ones retreated back to Brooklyn Heights. In the battle 300 Americans were killed, 800 were wounded, and 1,079 were captured. 64 British were killed, 293 were wounded, and 31 went missing. Washington’s army was now completely surrounded in front of them, to the left, and to the right were the British, and behind them was the East River. Instead of attacking the British laid in for siege and they dug trenches.
American troops evacuating Long Island
On August 30 all of Washington’s troops had evacuated by a ferry and the army was saved from destruction.
Battle of Harlem Heights
After the American defeat at Long Island, George Washington evacuated his men to the shores of Manhattan Island. On September 16, 1776, the British advanced toward the American lines. Lt. Col. Thomas Knowlton and his men were spotted by the British and General Alexander Leslie of the British decided to attack. A mild skirmish ensued, Knowlton had to retreat and the British pursued him. Members of Washington and Knowlton’s army stopped retreating and engaged the British. The Americans started to push the British back on were advancing but Knwolton was killed in the fighting. The British flank was in danger so they fell back to occupy a fence line. The British once again fell back from the fence line and ran across an open field but then were reinforced with heavy artillery.
Battle of Harlem Heights
Washington decided to pursue the British. Fighting started in the Buckwheat field between Washington and the British. The Americans still outnumbered the British but by not much. For 2 more hours the battle raged on. The British artillery started to run out of ammo, so they retreated. This was the victory that the Americans needed. 30 Americans were killed and 100 were wounded whereas 14 British were killed and 157 were wounded.Â
Battle of Trenton
On December 22, 1776, Washington got word that the Hessian guard was down so he decided to do a surprise attack. It started to rain, then it started to sleet, and then it started to snow. The continental army made preparations to cross the Delaware river on Durham boats. Fortunately, no one died during the crossing and even the artillery made it over safely.
Washington crossing the Delaware River
One group of men were sent north of Trenton, New Jersey and the other went south. In the early hours of December 26, the army started to march to Trenton. The Americans also had to cross Jacob’s creek on their way to the city. Two men died of exposure during the march to Trenton. At 8 in the morning they reached the enemy that were all Hessian mercenaries. Fighting broke out between the Americans and the unready Hessians. Both of the Hessian detachments ordered retreats farther back. Then north of the city the other American groups also engaged more Hessians there. They pushed them back into the city and they also cut off any route of escape. The Americans pushed into downtown and took over important streets. The US artillery also started to fire on the fleeing Hessians. The Hessians tried to advance but were again pushed back. The Hessian defenses broke, and they scattered running in any direction.
Battle of Trenton
The enemy was trapped and they ordered terms of surrender. In the battle, 2 Americans were killed from exposure, and 5 were wounded. 22 Hessians were killed, 83 were wounded, and 900 were captured. This was a small battle yet it was one of the most important battles in the war.Â
