American Revolution

1. American Revolution Becker US History

2. Lexington and Concord • Colonies store up weapons in Concord • English get word of these stockpiles • English march on Concord, MA to seize • (Paul Revere’s Ride) • Pass through Lexington, militia blocks road • English order militia to disperse • Someone fires, confusion follows, militia run • Most weapons saved • English harassed all the way back to Boston

5. 2nd Continental Congress • Convenes on May 10, 1775 • Direct Response to Lexington/Concord • Decision to raise army/navy • Appointment of George Washington • Olive Branch Petition • Directly addresses King George • Blames Parliament for colonial problems • Does have supporters in Parliament

6. Bunker Hill/Breed’s Hill • June 1775, British surrounded in Boston • Running low on supplies, try to break out • Attack 20K militia entrenched on Breed’s Hill • Frontal assault up a hill- clear disadvantage • 3 attacks, militia defend but low on ammo • Militia retreat, British take the hill: a draw • British lose 1000 casualties, militia lose 400 • Observer mistakenly labels hill “Bunker Hill”

8. Preparing for War • After Bunker Hill, King rejects Olive Branch Petition • Hessian mercenaries hired to crush violence • May 1775 Ethan Allen and Green Mountain Boys capture Fort Ticonderoga • October 1775 colonists launch invasion of Canada • Expected the French-Canadians to support • French in Canada disliked Anti-Catholic colonists • Montreal captured, Arnold’s attack on Quebec fails • Canadian invasion ends a failure • British burn Norfolk, but forced to pull out of Boston

9. American Ideals • Widespread disunity in 1775: 30/30/30% • Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense • Roman concept of republic: senators, governors • Emphasis on “consent of the governed” • Logic: Small group of English nobles should not control the entire American continent • Paine is an English commoner • Appeals to average American colonist • Uses simple Biblical allusions: strikes a chord

10. “Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.”

11. Declaration of Independence • 1776 2nd Cont Congress votes to leave England • Thomas Jefferson asked to write document • Quiet, poor speaker, but an eloquent writer • Borrows heavily from John Locke: natural rights • Locke: Life, liberty, property • Jefferson: Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness • “All men are created equal” • Who is he talking about? • Document listed grievances of colonies • Explained logic for a break with England • Signed and presented on July 4, 1776

13. Battle of Long Island • British have set up their headquarters in NY • Troops and supplies land on Long Island • Washington believes he can’t win long war • Hopes for quick victory over British at LI • August 1776 attacks, horribly defeated • Continentals lose 1400, British lose 375 • Battle shows Washington’s inexperience

15. Battle of Trenton • Winter 1776: Continental enlistments expire • Washington needs victory to get reenlistees • Attacks Trenton, NJ night of December 24 • Hessians, not English troops: mercenaries • Germans: Partying it up on Xmas Eve • Washington crosses Delaware River, attacks • Complete surprise, the victory Wash. Needed • British (Hessians) lose 1200, US loses 4/6

17. British Strategy • Burgoyne is appointed British commander • Decides to cut off New England from other colonies • 3-Prong attack • Burgoyne from north, down St. Lawrence River • Howe from east (NY), up Hudson River • St. Ledger from east, from Ohio River Valley • Arnold stops Burgoyne at Lake Champlain • Howe attacks Philadelphia before the Hudson • St. Ledger also delayed in reaching Hudson

18. Battle of Saratoga • 1777 British Burgoyne meets US Gates • Brits expecting reinforcements: Howe, St. Ledger • Numerous engagements, British surrounded • Burgoyne runs out of supplies- finally surrenders • Americans capture 5800 British troops • French observers at Saratoga are watching • Saratoga is KEY TURNING POINT in war • French observers have been watching • Convinces France US can win vs England • 1778 Treaty of Alliance signed with France

20. Why France? • Traditional English/French hatred, revenge • After Saratoga, Parliament offers home rule • France has already been selling US supplies • British offer pushes Louis XVI’s hand, forces action • If Britain regains control, France could lose possessions • 1778 Treaty of Alliance offers supplies, military, and recognition of American independence • Americans are reluctant but have few choices • French are Catholics, traditional enemies • Britain is more immediate threat

21. Valley Forge • Saratoga was KEY- but few realize it then • 1777 Washington goes into winter quarters • Poor shelter, little food, no shoes/uniforms • 3000 die, 1000+ desert during the winter • Baron von Steuben- strict Prussian officer • Teaches discipline, unity, fighting skills • Continentals leaves Valley Forge a confident and capable Army

23. A Traitor in Our Midst • Benedict Arnold is classic American entrepreneur • 1780 French Rochambeau arrives • Arnold resents Washington’s reliance on French • Arnold is passed over for promotion 3 separate times • Arnold feels responsible for Saratoga • Does not feel appreciated: looks elsewhere • Major Andre offers Arnold money, commision • In exchange, Arnold agrees to turn over West Point • Word gets out, Arnold forced to flee • Dies a man without a country: no one wants him

25. Native Americans • 1777 sees rise in Indian involvement • Majority of tribes support Britain • Geopolitics 101: who’s your closest enemy? • Bacon’s Rebellion, Proclamation of 1763, etc. • Mohawks and Chief Joseph Brant in NY/PA • Iroquois Confederacy also sides with British • Disastrous results after the war for Indians • Treaty of Fort Stanwix leaves Iroquois landless • All tribes treated harshly for wartime alliances

26. Battle of Yorktown • 1781 British Cornwallis entrenches in VA • Gates has been playing a cautious game of cat/mouse • Frustrated Washington is now in pursuit from NY • Conrwalliswaiting for Royal Navy to evacuate him • Washington and Rochambeau race to trap • Washington from North, Rochambeau from South • Admiral de Grasse traps by sea with French fleet • Lasts 1 month, then Cornwallis out of supplies • British Royal Navy is dealing with world war now • French, Spanish, Dutch, and Russians allied vs. England • October 1781 Cornwallis surrenders 8000 men • Attempt to save face and surrender to French • Battle effectively ends American Revolution

28. 1783 Treaty of Paris • Jay, Adams, and Franklin travel to Paris • Britain is willing to negotiate with world against her • Britain recognizes American independence • Britain will remove all troops from US soil • Border between colonies, Canada/Spanish Florida set • Debts owed British citizens will be paid • Debts owed American citizens will be paid • Seized property will be returned to loyalists • US is given fishing rights off Newfoundland/Nova Scotia • POWs are returned to their countries • Americans are in right place at the right time

30. Loyalists After the War • Voices of reason in idealistic time • After the war, found themselves unwelcome • Property often not returned, businesses fail • Many relocate to Canada, W. Indies, or England • Most blacks abandoned by British after the war • Promises of freedom replaced by punishment • Freed slaves often returned to life of slavery • Native Americans lose land, rights

31. Ideological Change • Revolutionary War vs. American Revolution • Religious Change • Anglican Church replaced by Episcopal Church • Congregational Church remains state church in NE • Slavery issue comes to define America • Quakers are first anti-slavery group • 1st Great Awakening raised moral objections to slavery • 1st Continental Congress tried to abolish slavery • Rights/responsibilities for women • “Republican Motherhood” • Responsibility of mothers to raise good citizen-sons