The War for Independence

1. The War for Independence Overview

2. Home: Interactive Menu Diagrams • Causes of the Revolution • Terms of the Treaty of Paris Charts • Strengths and Weaknesses: The Colonists • Strengths and Weaknesses: The British • Key Battles in Brief Historical Connections • Financing War • Veterans’ Benefits

3. *Click titles for further explanation

4. Effects of the French and Indian War BACK to Causes

5. The Proclamation of 1763 • Britain adopted this proclamation to secure peace with angry American Indians who were willing to fight to keep their lands. • It forbid colonists from crossing the Appalachian Mountains and settling the Ohio River Valley. • From the colonists’ point of view, access to that territory was the reason they fought the French in the first place! • Thousands of settlers simply ignored the proclamation, and settled the Ohio Valley anyway. BACK To Causes

6. New Taxes • Beginning with the Sugar Act of 1764, the British imposed a series of new taxes. • Many colonists believed that these taxes were harsh, punitive, and a threat to their rights and liberties. • Colonists resisted in various ways including written petitions, economic boycotts, blatant defiance of the law, and crowd actions such as the Boston Tea Party. • The more the colonies resisted, the more the British government tried to enforce the new laws. Check Point (?)

7. Check Point Question • The British believed these taxes were fair and reasonable- Why? Answer

8. Check Point Question • The British believed these taxes were fair and reasonable- Why? From the British perspective, the French and Indian War was fought to protect colonists and colonial interests. In addition, colonists had contributed very little tax revenue compared to those living in England. For many in England, it was about time the colonists began contributing to their own protection and administration! Back to Causes

9. End of Salutary Neglect • Before 1760, Colonial governments enjoyed a great deal of local autonomy. So when the British began to assert their authority, colonists resisted, pointing to a history of self-rule. • In addition, most colonists viewed themselves as loyal British subjects; They believed, therefore, that they were entitled to the rights listed in Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights and protected under English Common Law. They argued that Britain’s new colonial policy infringed upon those rights. Back to Causes

10. Enlightenment Ideas • By the 17th century, a new political philosophy had emerged in Europe. • The ideas expressed during this period, known as the Enlightenment, soon spread to the New World. • The work of Enlightenment thinkers was quoted, and/or referenced in many revolution-era documents including the Declaration of Independence. America’s Founding Fathers were greatly influenced by the writings of philosophers such as Algernon Sidney, John Locke, and David Hume. Back to Causes

11. John Locke1632 – 1704 A.D. • When drafting the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson found inspiration in the words of John Locke, an English physician and philosopher. • According to Locke, God gave man: • Rights to life, liberty, and property (which he calls Natural Rights) • the Earth: to use to preserve life • the ability to reason

12. John Locke1632 – 1704 A.D. • In order to defend their “life, health, liberty, or possessions,” people entered into a social contract, forming governments that existed • to protect individual rights and • to help resolve conflicts between citizens. • If a government failed in its duties to protect the natural rights of life, liberty, and property, Locke believed the people had a right to overthrow it.

13. John Locke1632 – 1704 A.D. • In this way, the power of the government does not come from God, but from the consent of the governed. • For Locke, all other political rights (free speech, free press, freedom of religion) depended on a government that guaranteed secure property rights. Back to Causes

14. Colonial Publications & Propaganda • Printed accounts of events such as the Boston Massacre and persuasive pamphlets and essays played a major role in rallying support for American independence. • Examples include Paul Revere’s engraving of the Boston Massacre and Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense. Back to Causes

15. What is wrong with this picture? The Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in King StreetPaul Revere (1770) NEXT

16. What is wrong with this picture? The Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in King StreetPaul Revere (1770) This incident occurred on a cold winter night. The crowd hurled ice and snowballs at the soldiers. In this engraving, however, there is no snow or ice on the ground. NEXT

17. What is wrong with this picture? The Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in King StreetPaul Revere (1770) According to testimony at the trial, no one ordered the soldiers to shoot. However, the commander shown here appears to be giving that order. NEXT NEXT

18. What is wrong with this picture? Links to more info The Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in King StreetPaul Revere (1770) A black man named Crispus Attucks was one of the five colonists killed that night. However, all of the dead shown here are white. Back to Colonial Publica-tions Back to Causes Diagram

19. Common Sense • Common Sense was written anonymously in January 1776. • At a time when reconciliation was still considered a viable option, Common Sense was the first work that openly called for independence from Britain. • Using language that most colonists could understand, it sold nearly 500.000 copies and sparked debate in taverns and on street corners throughout the colonies. • This pamphlet demonstrates the enormous power of the colonial press to influence public opinion. • Later, George Washington would read Paine's stirring words from The American Crisis --"these are the times that try men's souls"--to rally his troops at Valley Forge. Link to Full Text Back to Public-ations Back to Causes

20. The Colonists The British

21. The Enemy of My Enemy . . . • The colonies received much needed aid from Britain’s enemies: • Holland sent money and supplies. • Spain sent money and supplies and fought Britain on the Mississippi. • France, however, was probably the colonies’ most important ally.

22. The Enemy of My Enemy . . . • France was the first nation to send money, supplies, troops, and warships. • The French fleet played an important role in the Patriot’s victory at Yorktown. Extra Credit Opportunity: Even before his nation was willing to commit, the Marquis de Lafayette, a French noble, offered his assistance. You can research Lafayette and write a one-page biography to earn up to 20 extra credit points! Back to strengths and weak-nesses Back to Battles

23. The Siege at Yorktown Link to Article Link to animated Map Back to last slide viewed

24. The British

25. NEXT * =Colonial victory =British Victory =Draw =Major turning point for the colonies

26. * =Colonial victory =British Victory =Draw =Major turning point for the colonies Back to Early Battles

27. Terms of the Treaty of Paris

28. Financing War American Revolution (1775 – 1783) World War II (1939 – 1945) Although America did not enter WWII until late 1941, it supplied the allies with arms through the Lend Lease program. By 1940, defense spending skyrocketed and factories that produced military supplies began hiring at a feverish pace. After the US officially entered the war, the nation’s automobile plants were retooled to produce tanks, planes, and boats. • When Congress ran out of gold and silver, it sold bonds to American investors and foreign governments. • It also printed paper money called Continentals. • With each Continental printed, the value plunged and prices rose (a situation known as inflation). • At the same time, arms and other supplies were scarce. NEXT

29. Financing War American Revolution (1775 – 1783) World War II (1939 – 1945) To fight inflation, the government set price controls, raised income taxes, and urged Americans to use any extra cash they had to buy war bonds. The government also set up a system for rationing to conserve goods deemed essential for the military. By the end of the war, the US had not only come out of an economic depression, it had entered an economic boom. • Some government officials and corrupt merchants took advantage of the situation through profiteering. • In 1781, a rich Philadelphia merchant named Robert Morris was appointed superintendent of finance. • Morris and his associate, Haym Salomon, were able to raise funds to pay soldiers. • However, by the time the war ended, the new nation owed $80 million in war debts.

30. Veterans’ Benefits Post Revolution Land Grants (1770) Under this bill, veterans returning from World War II were eligible to receive: paid compensation for one year after they were discharged; a tuition-free education from a college, university, or trade school; low-interest loans to start a business or to buy a home. The benefits had to be used within ten years of the soldier’s military discharge or his removal from active duty. G.I. Bill (1944) • In the late 1700s, there were vast tracts of “unclaimed” land in the United States. • To recruit more soldiers, the Continental Congress promised to award land to those who fought for the revolution. • Veterans would be able to claim their land after the war, provided that the British had been defeated. • Many enlisted in the American military, lured by the prospect of landownership. NEXT

31. Veterans’ Benefits Post Revolution Land Grants (1770) G.I. Bill (1944) For most of America, the G.I. Bill was very effective: 51% of World War II veterans chose to pursue higher education; Over 2 million took advantage of the no-money down, low interest home loans; The bill helped America avoid the economic downturn that had occurred after World War I. Sadly, racial attitudes during this time prevented many African American veterans from taking full advantage of the benefits available to them. • Thousands of land grants were distributed to veterans, but few were redeemed. • One problem was that some of the land granted to soldiers was inhabited by American Indians who refused to simply hand over their homelands. • After repeated delays in claiming the land grants, many former soldiers sold their claims to speculators for a far lower price than the land’s true value.

32. Glossary • Autonomy – n. the power or right of a group to govern itself. • English Common Law – n. the laws that developed from English court decisions and customs and that form the basis of laws in the U.S. • Profiteering – v. selling scarce or defective goods for a profit. • Propaganda – n. ideas or statements that are often exaggerated or false and that are spread in order to help a cause, a political leader, a government, etc. • Salutary Neglect - n. an English policy of relaxing the enforcement of regulations in its colonies in return for the colonies’ continued economic loyalty.