Essential Question : What factors caused the British to fail in what should have been an easy campaign to subdue the Am

1. Essential Question: • What factors caused the British to fail in what should have been an easy campaign to subdue the American rebels? • RQ 7A (202-217)

2. The Decision to Fight For Independence

3. The Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill) demonstrated that Americans were willing to stand up to a pitched battle Decision for Independence In early 1776, both Spain & France began shipping war supplies to colonists Despite growing calls for independence, the congress issued the Olive Branch Petition to King George in July 1775 • The Lexington & Concord skirmish was the 1st of a series of conflicts from 1775 to 1776 before the American call for independence: • Fighting erupted around Boston, NY, Charlestown, & Quebec • The 2nd Continental Congress met to organize a war plan • King George declared the colonists in “open rebellion” King George rejected the Olive Branch Petition in August 1775

4. With over 1,000 casualties, the British suffered their greatest losses of the Revolution at Bunker Hill Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill); June 17, 1775 “A few more such victories would have shortly put an end to British dominion in America” —British General Henry Clinton

5. Decision for Independence • Challenged “royal infallibility” • By 1776, the 2nd Continental Congress served as an informal national gov’t for the colonies • But the majority of colonists were undecided about independence • Thomas Paine’s Common Sense proved to be the key factor in convincing Americans to support colonial independence Persuaded ordinary people to sever ties with England & its “royal brute”

6. On June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee of VA introduced a resolution to the Continental Congress: “that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States...” After several days of debate, Congress appointed a committee to draft a declaration of independence By 1776, colonial sentiment had changed

7. Declaration of Independence (1776) Committee to draft the Declaration: Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, & Roger Sherman

8. Decision for Independence • On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted for independence • On July 4, the Declaration of Independence was signed; The Declaration’s purpose was to: • Justify the Americans’ desire to separate from England • Articulate the principles on which the new nation would be established Democratic ideals (republicanism) Natural rights & individual liberty

9. Independence Hall at the Second Continental Congress The Declaration of Independence was NOT signed like this!

10. The Decision for Independence • The colonists were divided about this decision for independence: • Supporters of independence were called “Patriots” or “Whigs” • Colonists that opposed independence were called “Loyalists” or “Tories” • There were many “neutral” colonists who were conflicted by the prospect of independence

11. Patriots vs. Loyalists • Where are the Loyalists? • Why are Loyalists near cities? • Why is the backcountry so contested? • Why are Indians loyalists?

12. Fighting the Warfor Independence

13. The Outbreak of Revolution • The British entered the war confident of a complete victory: • Their army was 400% larger; well-trainedsolders,experienced officers, & Hessian mercenaries • Strong manufacturing base • The world’s most dominant navy • Believed the 1776 battles were a “police action” & the show of force would force rebels to submit

14. The Outbreak of Revolution • In reality, England faced an impossible task: • Their long supply lines across the Atlantic would not be able to provide timely provisions • The American terrain was large • To win, the English had to find & defeat the Continental Army • Underestimated the colonial commitment to independence

15. The American Revolution, 1775-1781 Where was the American Revolution fought?

16. Building a Professional Army As long as England did not defeat the Continental Army, England could not win • Washington’s task was to defend as much territory as possible: • Relied on guerrilla tactics & avoided all-out-war with Britain • Washington’s Continental Army served as the symbol of the “republican cause” • But, colonial militias played a major role in “forcing” neutrals to support the Revolution

17. Slaves & Indians in the War • Black slaves supported whoever seemed likely to deliver freedom: • Northern slaves supported the colonists who offered freedom for any slave who fought • Southern slaves typically supported Britain • Native Americans feared colonial expansion & overwhelmingly supported Britain

18. The Continental Army had 2 all-black regiments composed of Northern slaves The Variety of Colonial Soldiers

19. Women in the War • Women’s role in the revolution: • Supported their husbands & sons in enlisting in militias • Ranbusinessaffairs&continued boycotting English goods while men fought (i.e. Abigail Adams) • Created propaganda (political satires by Mercy Otis Warren) • Some helped in the battlefield (“Molly Pitcher”)

21. Differing Military Strategies Win a war of attrition England had long supply lines Colonials did not have to “win” just had to wear down the British Guerilla tactics Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies “Divide & Conquer” Use Loyalists Encourage slave revolts Seize property Break the colonies in half by dividing the North & South Blockade the ports to prevent trade with American allies The Americans The British

22. The Early Years: 1776-1777 • The initial battles of the revolution went badly for Americans: • British General Howe forced Washington to retreat at New York putting the Americans on the run • Gen Howe issued a “general pardon” to all Americans who swore an oath of allegiance to George III; thousands did so Colonial militias retaliated against those who deserted the patriot cause

23. Howe captured New York The Early Years: 1776-1777 Captured Philadelphia Washington’s army almost starved at Valley Forge • The British strategy remained to fight a “major & decisive” battle; but Continental Army was elusive • Despite British victories & 1,000s of colonial “oaths of allegiance”, Washington kept fighting • Won small victories that renewed American wartime morale • “Won” at Saratoga in 1777 Took Trenton Took Princeton

24. Crossing the Delaware in route to a surprise attack at Trenton & Princeton, 1776 The “Turning Point” of the Revolution: The Battle of Saratoga, 1777 Near Starvation at Valley Forge, PA in 1778 British Seizure & Burning of New York, 1776

25. A lot of these points were negotiated by none other than Ben Franklin The French Alliance And…England now has to worry about a possible (yet remote) invasion of England by France The turning point of the war!! • Since 1775, the French covertly aided Americans with supplies • But after the “victory” at Saratoga: • France recognized America as a new, independent republic • France promised to pressure England to agree to American independence after war’s end • France relinquished all of its claims to territory in America In 1778, England offered to remove all parliamentary legislation & vowed never to impose revenue taxes on the colonists again The Continental Congress refused the offer

26. The Final Campaign • By 1781, Washington pushed the Redcoats towards Yorktown (VA) where General Cornwallis was caught between the Continental Army & the French navy • On October 19, 1781 Cornwallis surrendered; the English still controlled NY & Charles Town but the fighting virtually ended

27. American Victory at Yorktown Cornwallis’ surrender was the “day the world turned upside down”

28. The Loyalist Dilemma • Loyalists believed in liberty too, but feared that independence would breed anarchy in America • Loyalists were treated poorly: • The English never fully trusted the Loyalists • Patriots seized their property; imprisoned & executed others • More than 100,000 Loyalists left America when the war ended

29. The Treaty of Paris, 1783

30. The Treaty of Paris (1783) • The Treaty of Paris in 1783 was negotiated with England by Franklin, John Adams, John Jay • The terms included: • Full American independence • All territory east of Mississippi River, between Canada & FL • The removal of the British army from U.S. claims in America • Fishing rights in the Atlantic

31. North America after the Treaty of Paris, 1763

32. North America after the Treaty of Paris, 1783

33. Preserving Independence • After 176 years of British rule, the American Revolution began the construction of a new form of government • But...will the new United States be a government of the elite or a government of the people? • HW: To what degree did 1776 bring about a social revolution?