You Say You Want A Revolution?

You Say You Want A Revolution? • In April of 1775, the Battles of Lexington and Concord spurred war to new level • Second Continental Congress met the next month • Still bent on making amends with Britain

General Washington • George Washington was chosen as the commander of armed forces • Mainly because he was from Virginia – pacify the South • Steadfast in his will to win • refused to be paid – there was no money

Common Sense • Fighting for over a year before it became a war for independence • Thomas Paine writes and sells “Common Sense” • Printed in 1776 as propaganda to fight for independence • He argued that the king was not worthy of loyalty • Also argued that America was more valuable to Britain, not other way • Also argued for a republican form of government – radical idea

Which Hill? • Battle of Bunker Hill in June of 1775 • British controlled Boston • Colonials took Breed’s Hill and fired on British • British tried to crush it and lost. • Olive Branch Petition written and delivered • George III refused it

Reaction to the Battle • George III closed door on reconciliation • Hired some 30,000 Hessians to go to America • The War is on and there is no turning back

Abortive Conquest of Canada • In response to burning of Falmouth in Maine • General Montgomery took Montreal • General Arnold and Montgomery failed to take Quebec • The had to retreat

Philadelphia Congress decided to take the plunge • June of 1776, Richard Henry Lee declared America’s Independence • July 4, 1776, Jefferson’s Declaration was adopted • It was an appeal to the world to back America • Opened the door for alliances

Loyalists and Patriots • Most of the aristocracy remained loyal to the king • Only about 20% of population were Loyalists • The South also had a large Loyalist population • Slaves and free Blacks joined the British to get their independence • Many fled America after the Declaration of Independence

Significant Battles • Washington defends New York and New Jersey • Loses most of his battles • In October of 1777, wins the Battle at Saratoga – wins alliances

France comes to the aid of America • Louis XVI doesn’t want a war with England – just embarrass • Franklin and others convince him to send troops and money • More importantly, France sent navy – Mainly to protect West Indies • Formal alliance formed in 1778 • Most of Europe aligned with America – Why? (Armed Neutrality) • Kind of like a world war at this point

The Frontier • The Frontier is often neglected in Revolutionary history. • Indians often sided with Britain in the frontier. Why? • George Rogers Clark helped secure that portion of the battle. • He is one of the original hero “Indian Killers”

Naval Power? • America had virtually no navy to speak of • Privateers (pirates) did most of the damage on merchant British ships • British merchants wanted the war over

Yorktown • Cornwallis was surrounded by French navy in Virginia • He was also surrounded by American and French armies • October 19, 1781 – Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown • Fighting went on for more than a year • This defeat forced a settlement

Paris Peace conference • Ben Franklin (PA), John Adams (MA), John Jay (NY) • Supposed to negotiate with the French • Jay knew French were trying to settle with Spain • Jay defied the Congress and met with England • Peace Treaty signed with London in 1782

Peace deal • America got more land than France wanted them to have • England gave up more than America asked for • England maintained trading privileges with America • France got nothing (less than nothing) • Spain got nothing • England got nothing

You Say You Want A Revolution?