The America Revolution, 1775-1783

1. The America Revolution, 1775-1783 Theme: When hostilities began in 1775, the colonists were still fighting for their rights as British citizens within the empire, but in 1776 they declared their independence, based on a proclamation of universal, “self-evident” truths. Inspired by revolutionary idealism, they also fought for an end to monarchy and the establishment of a free republic. Theme: A combination of Washington’s generalship and British bungling in 1776-1777 prevented a quick British victory and brought French assistance, which enabled the Patriots to achieve victory after several more years of struggle. Theme: American independence was recognized by the British only after the conflict has broadened to include much of Europe . American diplomats were able to secure generous peace terms because of the international political scene: Britain’s recently reorganized government that favored peace and France’s inability to make good on its promises to Spain.

2. Early Colonial Efforts of Reconciliation • 2nd Continental Congress, May 1775-1776 • Continental Army a. G. Washington • Early Battles 1775-1776 • Fort Ticonderoga & Crown Point • Breed’s Hill • Dec. of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms • Olive Branch Petition • Hessians! • Boston Evacuated • Moore’s Creek and Charleston

3. II. Turning Point, 1776 • Declaration of Independence • Loyalty to England • Transanlantic community • Lack colonial unity • Common Sense (500,000 copies!) • Independent republic governed by popular consent • Richard Henry Lee’s Resolution • Authorship • Impact • Foreign Aid • Loyalists (“Tories”) • Patriots (“Whigs”)

4. Declaration of Independenceby John Trumbull

5. III. War in the North • General Washington, 1776 • Long Island • Trenton and Princeton • British Offensive, 1777 • Battle of Saratoga • Burgoyne v. Benedict Arnold • Battles of Brandywine & Germantown a. Howe v. General Washington • Valley Forge • Diplomacy at Work • A Model Treaty • Benjamin Franklin (Anglo-American reconciliation or American-Franco alliance?) • Armed Neutrality, 1780 • Battle of Monmouth, 1778

6. IV. War in the West • Native American Support • Chief Joseph Brant • Treaty of Fort Stanwix • George Rogers Clark • Privateers • John Paul Jones • Capture merchant ships

7. V. War in the South, 1778 • New British Strategy • Capture of Georgia • Capture of Charleston • Capture of SC • American riflemen and Nathanial Greene • Cornwalis at Yorktown

8. IV. Building a Republic A. Treaty of Paris (1783) • American Impact • British recognition • Huge boundaries • British Impact • Loyalist treatment • Pay back loans • French Impact • Relieved but perturbed • Revolution

9. Map QuestionsUse the maps and charts in Chapter 8 to answer the following questions (answers are on next slide) • Revolution in the North, 1775-1776: Which two British strong points in Canada did the American generals Arnold and Montgomery attack in 1775? • New York-Pennsylvania Theatre, 1777-1778: When Washington recrossed the Delaware River before the Battle of Trenton on Dec. 26, 1776, which state did he come from, and which state did he go to? • New York-Pennsylvania Theatre, 1777-1778: Which of the three British generals who were supposed to meet near Albany, New York moved in the opposite direction and failed to get to the appointed gathering? • Britian Against the World: Besides france, which two European nations directly declared war on Britain during the America Revolution? • War in the South, 1780-1781: Name three cities in the South occupied at one time or another by General Cornwallis. • Georg Rogers Clark’s Campaign, 1778-1779: Which river did George Rogers Clark moved down as he went to conquer western forts from the British? • George Rogers Clark’s Campaign, 1778-1779: Which three British posts did Clark capture? • Using maps on p. 144 and 154 as a basis, explain why control of the Hudson River-Lake Champlain Valley was strategically crucial to both the British and the Americans in the war.

10. Answers • Montreal and Quebec • From Pennsylvania to New Jersey • General Howe • Spain and Holland • Any three of the following; Charleston, Wilmington, Charlottesville, Jamestown, and Yorktown. • Ohio • Cahokia, Vincennes, and Kaskaskia • British would have cut radical New England off from rest of the colonies. Americans needed the supply route from Canadian frontier.