The American War of Independence: Causes, Victories, and Results

1. Political Change: Revolutionary Movements 14 The American War of Independence • WHAT YOU WILL LEARN • At the end of this chapter you should understand ... • The causes of the American Revolution/War of Independence. • The role of George Washington. • The reasons for the American victory. • The results of the American victory.

2. The American War of Independence More Taxation The Navigation Acts No Taxation without Representation Tom Paine and Common Sense Causes Boston Massacre Lexington and Concord: The first shots Boston Tea Party

3. The American War of Independence – Causes Causes of the American War of Independence Seven Years War – more taxes Sons of Liberty – no taxation without representation Boston Tea Party Battles of Lexington and Concord Declaration of Independence DISCONTENT WITH BRITISH RULE WAR Tom Paine – Common Sense Boston Massacre – 5 killed Stamp Act – tax on newspapers and documents Navigation Acts – British control of trade ‘Intolerable Acts’ CANADA NEW HAMPSHIRE Montreal MASSACHUSETTS R.I. Boston NEW YORK CONN. NEW JERSEY New York PENNSYLVANIA Philadelphia DELAWARE VIRGINIA MARYLAND NORTH CAROLINA SOUTH CAROLINA French Louisiana GEORGIA Spanish Florida

4. The American War of Independence – Causes What happened in each of these scenes to cause the American War of Independence?

5. George Washington and the American War of Independence • Background • Mount Vernon, Virginia • Continental Congress • Commander-in-Chief

6. The Declaration of Independence An edited extract from the American Declaration of Independence, 1776 We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, … with certain unalienable rights, … among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness … Whenever any form of Government destroys these, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute [set up] new Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries … all having the direct aim to establish absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be known: Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us and protecting them from punishment for any murders committed on the inhabitants of these States. Cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world. Imposing Taxes on us without our Consent. Depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury. For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences … We, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, do, in the Name and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are, and of Right, ought to be Free and Independent States. What was the importance of the Declaration of Independence?

7. Washington as Commander • The Continental Army • Problems and advantages • Washington was faced with some problems: • The Continental Army was largely made up of part-time militia fighters who sometimes went back to work on their farms. • There were problems of thieving, drunkenness and smallpox disease amongst his soldiers. • But he also had an important advantage: • The American use of guerrilla tactics – they used the cover of the wooded countryside to attack and retreat. • The British Army • Problems and advantages • The British had some advantages: • Professional (full-time) army and navy. • Four times more soldiers. • A much stronger navy. • Some Americans (colonists) favoured remaining with Britain. • But they also had problems: • British soldiers had little knowledge of the countryside. • The British army had to use mercenaries, mostly German, who often deserted. What advantages and disadvantages had Washington’s army?

8. The American War of Independence Major events of the American War of Independence 1776–78 Washington wintered at Valley Forge 1783 The Treaty of Paris 1770 Boston Massacre 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord 1776 Declaration of Independence 1777 Washington’s victory at Princeton 1775 Washington appointed commander-in-chief of Continental army 1776 Washington’s victory at Trenton 1781 Washington’s victory at the Battle of Yorktown 1773 Boston Tea Party 1777 Battle of Saratoga

9. The American War of Independence – Progress of the War CANADA Saratoga (1777) Boston Bunker Hill (1775) New York Valley Forge Philadelphia Yorktown (1781) What were the key battles?

10. The American War of Independence – Progress of the War Why were these events important?

11. The American War of Independence – Progress of the War What happened at Yorktown?

12. The American War of Independence – Results Example to other countries USA founded CANADA Impact on Britain BRITISH CESSION 1818 Oregon Country 1847 Louisiaa Purchase 1803 (bought from France) United States in 1783 Won from Mexico 1848 Alaska (not on the map) was bought from Russia in 1867 Republican form of government Impact on Ireland Texas Annexation 1845 Results Florida 1819 (bought from Spain) MEXICO Impact of ‘all men are created equal’ Impact on the American economy Impact on the French Revolution