Declaring Independence & Fighting the Revolution

1. Declaring Independence & Fighting the Revolution

2. Why did Americans declare independence?

3. Continental Congress #2 • May 1775, Philadelphia • Disagreement • John Adams • wanted Continental Army • Olive Branch Petition • July 8, 1775 • return to “former harmony”

4. Common Sense • Initially anonymous, 47 pgs • Thomas Paine of Virginia • attacked King George III • Time for colonists to proclaim independence • America’s destiny • create better society

5. The Declaration • 2nd C.C. urged each colony to form its own govt • NC already declared independence & VA favored • Committee to write formal document • Franklin, Adams, Jefferson

6. John Locke • Enlightenment thinker • people enjoy natural rights to life, liberty, and property • people come together willingly in a social contract for government • people have right to resist tyrannical government

7. The Declaration 2 • Unalienable rights to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness • Government’s just powers derived from the consent of the people • If government threatens unalienable rights, people have right/duty to rebel

8. Taking Sides 2 • Loyalists (aka Tories) • held positions like judge, governor • lived too far away from cities to know • thought Britain would win • Crown would protect rights better than new govt

9. The Declaration 3 • All men are created equal • free citizens political equals • Originally included attack on slavery • Unanimously passed on July 2, 1776 • Philadelphia State House renamed Independence Hall

10. Taking Sides • Patriots: Colonists supporting independence • saw economic opportunity in independent America • farmers, artisans, merchants, landowners, elected officials • 1/2 of population

11. Taking Sides 3 • Quakers: generally supported Patriots but wouldn’t fight • African-Americans fought on both sides (Britain promised freedom to slaves who fought for crown) • Native Americans supported English because colonists were threat to their land

12. Question??? • What was this war? • War for independence? • Civil War?

13. The Revolutionary War

14. The battle for NY • British retreat from Boston in March 1776 • Moved to NY in attempt to isolate New England • Sailed into NY harbor summer 1776 • 32,000 soldiers including German mercenaries (Hessians)

15. The Battle for NY 2 • Intent to humiliate colonials • Carried instructions to discuss peace terms and offer amnesty • G. Washington had 23,000 • recruits untrained • poor weapons/equipment

16. The battle for ny 3 • Ended late August 1776 • heavy losses and colonial retreat • By late fall, British pushed colonials across the Delaware River in PA • Less than 8,000 men still under Washington’s lead

17. Battle of Trenton • Colonial enlistments ended 12/31/1776 • Christmas night, GW led 2,400 men across the Delaware River in row boats • Next morning, march 9 miles to Trenton

18. Battle of Trenton 3 • Surprise attack on Hessians • captured 918 • took 6 cannons • Victory stunned colonists into reenlisting • Another victory 6 days later • Wintered near Morristown

19. Philadelphia • British sailed up Chesapeake • Continental Congress fled • GW’s troops tried to block English at Brandywine Creek • Colonists lost to English • General Howe entertained by Philadelphia’s loyalists

20. Saratoga • Group of British marching from Canada to Albany • had to travel through forest wilderness • 4,000 redcoats • 3,000 mercenaries • 1,000 Mohawks • 30 wagons with 138 artilleries

21. Saratoga 2 • Bogged down by terrain • Colonials sniped • Ethan Allen & Green Mountain Boys • Bennington (VT) • Defeated at Saratoga • Surrendered 10/17/1777

22. Enter France • Colonial victory at Saratoga encouraged French support • Since 1776 secretly sent weapons and ammunition • Feb 1778 officially recognized independence, signed alliance & treaty of cooperation

23. Valley Forge • Washington’s winter camp • Congress basically ignored their needs • 10,000 soldiers -- more than 2,000 died from harsh conditions

24. Battle of Cowpens • January 17, 1781 • Colonials led by Daniel Morgan • Southern South Carolina • Stunning British defeat—one of the most famous of the war • Considered to be a turning point that changed the psychology of the war. • Colonials encouraged to fight more. • Loyalists and British discouraged.

25. The Cowpens Flag, flown at the Battle of Cowpens. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cowpens

26. Battle of Yorktown • October 6-19, 1781 • British General Cornwallis disobeyed orders and marched his troops into Virginia. • Took over command in Virginia from Loyalist Benedict Arnold. • Did not proceed to New York as ordered. • Stayed on Virginia peninsula • French navy helps blockade British with ships.

27. Battle of Yorktown, 2 • Cornwallis, outnumbered, surrenders to George Washington on 10/19/1781. • Limited casualties on both sides. • Basically ends the fighting in North America. • British basically “lost the will to fight”. • British Prime Minister Lord Frederick North resigns. • Treaty of Paris ends the war. • September 3, 1783

28. Colonial Economy • Financing war a problem • Inflation • Printed more paper money • Profiteering • selling scarce goods for huge profit • goods gotten through smuggling

29. Colonial Economy 2 • 1781 Congress appointed • Robert Morris superintendent of finance • Haym Salomon • Begged and borrowed on own personal credit • Set up supply system • paid soldiers in “specie”

30. Women • stepped in to fill men’s roles at home • made ammunition from household silver • followed men to battle to wash, cook, etc. • even stepped in during combat

31. African-Americans • Thousands escaped to freedom during war • cities/free men • frontier/joined Native Amer. • 5,000 served in the Continental Army • PS: Native Amerians stayed on the fringes