The American Revolution

1. The American Revolution 1775-1783

2. Standards: SSUSH4 The student will identify the ideological, military, and diplomatic aspects of the American Revolution. • a. Explain the language, organization, and intellectual sources including the writing of John Locke and Montesquieu of the Declaration of Independence and the role of Thomas Jefferson. • b. Explain the reason for and significance of the French alliance and foreign assistance and the roles of Benjamin Franklin and the Marquis de Lafayette. • c. Analyze George Washington as a military leader, including the creation of a professional military and the life of a common soldier, crossing the Delaware River, and Valley Forge. • d. Explain Yorktown, the role of Lord Cornwallis and the Treaty of Paris, 1783.

3. Essential questions: • What immediately precipitated the revolution? • What were the major events of the Revolution? • How were the colonists able to defeat the British, a much stronger adversary? • What sacrifices did the colonists make in order to win independence? • Why do we consider George Washington to be the “Father of his nation”? • How did personality play a role in America’s successful diplomacy during the Revolution? • What was the life of a common foot soldier like in the revolution? • What was Cornwallis role in the winning of the American revolution? • Why would European aristocrats want to fight in the American Revolution? • What did the Treaty of Paris 1783 attain for America?

4. Vocabulary • Militiamen, redcoats, Paul Revere, Gen Thomas Gage, Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill , Declaration of Independence , Thomas Jefferson, John Lock, George III, General Montcalm, William Pitt, George Washington’s Militia, Thomas Paine, Proclamation of 1763, Valley Forge, Battle at Trenton, Lafayette, Ben Franklin, Battle of Trenton, Delaware River, Cornwallis, Battle of Saratoga, Battle of Yorktown, General Benedict Arnold. Peace Treaty of 1783

5. VERSUS

6. Patriots • Rebellious colonists • Men like: • Alexander Hamilton • John Jay • George Washington • Thomas Jefferson • James Madison • Benjamin Franklin

7. Loyalists • Colonists who remained loyal to the King. • Men like: • Henry Clinton • Commander of British forces in America • William Franklin • Governor of New Jersey and son of Ben Franklin who no longer spoke to him

8. The Beginnings of the War

9. War in the North 1774-1776

10. On the Run • John Hancock and Samuel Adams escape from Boston and hide in Lexington, Massachusetts.

11. General Thomas Gage • April 18, 1775 • Commander-in-chief of British forces in North America and governor of Massachusetts. • Sends 900 Britishtroops to seize the towns of Lexington and Concord.

12. Paul Revere • Patriot • Had job of Watcher • First to spot the redcoats coming. • Rode horseback with a friend through Lexington warning people of the coming British army.

13. Soldiers • Minutemen- militia members who had promised to be ready for action at a minutes notice. • Redcoats- Patriot nickname for British troops.

14. Lexington and Concord • April 19, 1775 • “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” • Colonists and redcoats battle at Lexington. • 8 Americans killed. • Redcoats continue on to Concord. • Destroy the town • British retreat to Boston. • 73 British dead.

15. British Reinforcements • Patriot’s trap the British in Boston. • May, 1775 4,500 British reinforcements arrive.

16. Second Continental Congress • May 10, 1775 in Philadelphia, PA • Our second government that will govern throughout the Revolutionary war • George Washington appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.

17. Patrick Henry • Radical delegate from Virginia. • Radical=extreme action. • Wants to declare independence and seize British officials. • Wants to ask France and Spain for aid. • Delegate Lee does declare independence Give me Liberty or give me death!

18. Battle of Bunker Hill • June 17, 1775 • British advance on Breeds Hill near Charlestown. • Led by General Gage. • Patriots retreat • 450 Patriots killed. • 1000 British killed. • King George III hires professional German soldiers to fight the “rebel” colonists. • Hessians

19. Washington Organizes the Army • Demanded an organized army. • Tried to avoid guerilla warfare. • Felt that an organized army would get foreign aid. • Wanted to avoid direct conflicts with the British army.

20. The Declaration of Independence

21. Colonists fears about war Fear of mob rule without British control. Failure to win could lead to executions. Merely resisting specific acts would turn British friends against them. To offset the arguments of not going to war British govt. had committed acts that had violated their rights as English subjects. Colonial blood had been shed. Declaring Independence

22. Thomas Paine • Former British political writer. • Common Sense • As citizens of an independent nation, captured Patriots could be treated as prisoners not rebels. • Patriot govt. could seize all American land loyal to the King. • Foreign aid would be given • “Tis time to part!”

23. John Locke has the Key to our independence • 1600-1700’s European political philosopher. • Proposed new theories of govt. • Thomas Jefferson used many of his ideas in the Declaration of Independence. I said men have the right to life, liberty and property but I hear an American by the name of Tom has changed this !

24. Thomas Jefferson • Virginia lawmaker and plantation owner. • Writer of the Declaration of Independence. You have rights that can not be taken away . They are inalienable…Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness

25. Declaration of Independence • July 4, 1776 • 3 reactions • Patriots- cheered and celebrated. • Other Americans- not concerned. • Loyalists- feared to join and remained on England’s side • Whigs- American Patriots. • Tories- Americans that supported the King.

26. Preamble and reasons for separation 27 reasons Appeal to Europe and America as to the justice of our cause by stating A theory of govt. “All men are created equal.” Govt. exists to secure the rights of free men. People have right to change govt if they are treated unfairly. A formal declaration of war Leaders would be judged guilty of treason but we Pledge “our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor.” “unalienable rights”- Rights that cannot be taken away “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” “consent of the governed”- Right of the people to give govt. the authority to govern. The Declaration of Independence in a nutshell

27. The Revolutionary War

28. American Failures • 20,000 more British troops land on Long Island. • Washington divides his army of 20,000 equally between Manhattan and Long Island. • Howe drives American forces into New Jersey. • October, 1776. • Heavy losses in soldiers and supplies. • Continental Army shrinks from 30,000 to 3,000 • Men go home w/ theimpending winter. • Washington retreats into Pennsylvania.

29. General Lord Charles Cornwallis • British field general. • Commander of the British troops in New Jersey. • Chases Washington throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. • Washington flees across the Delaware River.

30. Crossing the Delaware • British troops scattered throughout New Jersey. • Washington and troops cross the ice-choked Delaware River on Christmas Eve. • Good time to attack as British troops were drinkingand celebrating. • 900 Hessians taken prisoner.

31. Battle at Trenton • December 26, 1776- Washington captures the town. • January 2, 1777- Cornwallis tries to retake the town. • Cornwallis traps Washington. • Americans slip away in the night, butleave their campfires burning to trick the British.

32. Battle of Princeton • January 3, 1777 • Washington attacks inland. • British think he is at Delaware. • Washington withdraws to Morristown, NJ. • Victories at Trenton and Princeton rally the spirits of the Americans. • British plans to end the war in the winter of 1776-77.

33. Valley Forge • Washington’s winter quarters for 1777-1778.

34. Quiz: • Who is commander-in-chief of the Continental Army? • Who warned the Colonists that the British were coming ? • During what years did the American Revolution take place? • Who are the Patriots? Who are the Loyalists? • What is the shot heard around the world and when did it occur? • What is the first official battle of the Revolutionary War? • Why did George Washington cross the Delaware? • Where were the 2 battles that rallied the American army’s spirits and spurred them on to fight? • Where did Washington spend his winters with his army? • What are the unalienable rights?

35. Saratoga Campaign(or the late great 3 prong plan that failed) 1777

36. General John Burgoyne would lead troops from Canada directly south into New York. Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger would lead troops from Lake Ontario to Hudson River. General Howe would lead troops north from New York up Hudson River. British Plan to Separate New England- 1777 All three would meet and defeat the American forces in Albany, NY.

37. Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger • Reaches Mohawk Valley on schedule. • Engages American forces at Ft. Stanwix. • Resistance led by Gen. Nicholas Herkimer and Gen. Benedict Arnold defeats British. • Arnold would defect to the British in 1780. • Indian allies desert the British and St. Leger retreats into Canada.

38. General John Burgoyne • Descends south from Canada via Lake Champlain. • Difficult to navigate the river and the forests. • Supply lines running low. • Battle of Saratoga • Engages the main American forces. • October 17, 1777- Burgoyne surrenders all 6,000 of his troops.

39. General Howe • Howe sails southward from New York. • Supposed to go North. • Leaves Burgoyne stranded. • Sails into Chesapeake Bay and marches into Philadelphia. • Engages Washington at Brandywine and Germantown. • No one is sure why Howe did not follow the plan.

40. We win at Saratoga • Turning point of the Revolutionary War • Huurrrrah!

41. French Support Benjamin Franklin sent to France to negotiate. • Arms • Favored matters of trade • Wage war on Britain • Marquis de Lafayette arrives in America to help lead troops- 1778.

42. Foreign Aid • Spain and the Netherlands • Some support • Prussia • Baron Von Steuben sent to organize the Continental Army. • Poland • Casimir Pulaski and Thaddeus Kosciusko • Planned American defense.

43. Change of Plans • Addition of France to war changes British war tactics. • General Howe resigns and is replaced by Sir Henry Clinton • Clinton orders the withdrawal of troops from Philadelphia.

44. Cornwallis in Yorktown • Cornwallis settles in Yorktown on the southern edge of Chesapeake Bay. • Able to use the port to supply troops. • American forces too weak to attack. • Lafayette and French troops watching and waiting. • Washington still in New York watching Clinton.

45. The French Arrive • Admiral deGrasse • Commander of the French fleet. • Stationed in the West Indies. • Lends French navy to America. • Asks Washington, “Where could my navy be used most effectively?” Washington says “Lets look at the geography of Yorktown” I hear I have a daughter Mowa

46. Washington’s Plan • Geography matters!!!!! The French fleet used to close off Chesapeake Bay and cut Cornwallis’ supply line. • Washington marches American army towards New York. • Clinton thinks city will be attacked. • Instead, Washington joins French and strikes Cornwallis at Yorktown.

47. Washington’s Plan British occupy Yorktown w/ 7500 troops Washington occupies area 6 miles outside Yorktown w/ a force of 5700 Continentals, 3100 militia men, and 7000 French troops. Washington has 28 French warships placed at the mouth of the York River.

48. Cornwallis Surrenders • Americans fire a large artillery barrage on Yorktown for 9 days. • Washington fired the first cannon. • British trapped. • French fleet to the east. • Entire American force plus 7,000 French soldiers to the north and west. • British fleet attempts to run through the French warships, but fails • October 19, 1781 • Cornwallis surrenders. I believe Cornwallis is crying in his tent but he sent his sword

49. America Small number of colonists willing to fight. Lack of effective central government. War Statistics 250,000 soldiers 4,435 battle deaths 6,188 wounded Britain Geography of an unfamiliar land. Mismanagement by the King at home. Hessians not loyal to the British or its colonies. Problems During the War and yet we won…….

50. Washington Resigns • December 23, 1783 • Washington resigns as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. • Returns to plantation at Mount Vernon. Men, I have not fought a King to become a King over you