The American Revolution

1. The American Revolution

2. Philly- 1775 Still not ready for independence Raise funds to create an army and navy 2nd Continental Congress

3. Select George Washington to head army 43 years old Strong leadership skills, poor military skills Why selected Sectional differences South already jealous of New England’s massive army forming in Boston Ironic? 2nd CC

4. American forces led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold Capture Tinconderoga 1775- colonists capture Bunker Hill (Breeds) British stubbornly march up the hill, colonists inflict many causalities, but run out of ammunition Bunker Hill

5. July 1775 We are still loyal, please King George stop hostilities George III- ignores it, in August formally declares colonies in state of rebellion Olive Branch Petition

6. “Hessian Flies” Germany mercenaries Guns for hire Colonists are outraged, considered this a “family” affair Good soldiers but only their for money Many actual desert and become Americans The Hessians

7. Americans believed that the French Canadians would basically become the 14th colony Also prevent British from using Canada as a base for striking colonies Problem- American is taking offensive stance Canadian Conquest?

8. Two Pronged Attack General Richard Montgomery- captures Montreal Benedict Arnold and men meet him in Quebec Assault on Quebec 1775- RM is killed, Arnold gets injured Why weren’t the French receptive to Americans? Canadian Conquest

9. Colonists still consider themselves apart of England Don’t want “rebel” status Aware of how England treats rebels Still Nervous

10. 1776 Thomas Paine 120,000 copies sold after a few months Points made- why should a tiny island control a vast nation Independence not reconciliation Why? Sets ideals of American independence, but also foreign policy Common Sense

11. Wants a republic- where power comes from the people Colonists are very receptive to message NE already had town meetings Citizen’s virtue is a most for a republic to survive- since no central authority, need citizens willing to make sacrifices for the public good Paine and Republicanism

12. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia 1776 Lee’s Resolution Technically enough to cut ties with Britain, but still have to convince other colonies (and the rest of the world) the justification of their cause Can we be independent already?

13. Thomas Jefferson Approved on July 4, 1776 Inalienable rights Statement of grievances Document will be used by many countries to justify independence When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Declaration of Independence

14. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands. He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers. He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance. He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature. He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation: For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states: For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world: For imposing taxes on us without our consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

15. Patriots= rebelling colonists Loyalists- colonists loyal to the King Patriots get label Whigs Loyalists get label Tories Who’s who

16. Many colonists are neutral, taking sides when it benefits them British can only influence areas with massive military force Militiamen- great at spreading revolutionary ideas, and guerilla warfare Who’s who

17. Roughly 16% Most wealthy and educated Older generations Anglican Church Members Aristocracy NYC, Charleston – Penn NE- least amount of loyalists Loyalists

18. Tarring and feathering turns to hanging and violence 80,000 leave or forced out Several hundred thousand “mild” loyalists allowed to stay Loyalists lands are sold- help finance the war effort 50,000 serve in army Many help by being spies, or inciting Indian rebellions Loyalists Fate

19. 1776- Brits arrive with 35,000 professional soldiers Washington has 18,000 Washington barely escapes embarrassing battle General Howe does not want to travel during the winter months, lets Washington Retreat American morale is low Battle of Long Island

20. Battle of Trenton- 1776 (December 26) captures Hessian post 1777- Battle of Princeton Known as New Jersey campaign HUGE moral boost Dirty Tactics

21. General John Burgoyne comes down from Canada to meet Howe in New York Smaller force led by Barry St. Leger would meet the two forces from the west Want to separate the colonies British Aims

22. Benedict Arnold is able to slow down Burgoyne and men and force them to wait until winter’s end to move on Even when moving, Burgoyne's army move slow Failure

23. Howe, rather than going up the Hudson river and meeting Burgoyne, goes to Philly Washington in Philly area losses at Brandywine Creek and Germantown Lazy Howe

24. Winter camp for militiamen Starving, cold, miserable Get professional training from Prussian Soldier- Baron von Stuebon Valley Forge

25. 1777 Benedict Arnold stops Burgoyne's men Force them to surrender to Horatio Gates Huge battle Moral is up French can now give us foreign aid Battle of Saratoga

26. France wants to make sure Britain loses Colonists have a very idealistic approach to diplomacy Model Treaty- John Adams 1. No political connection No Military Connection Only commercial connection Allies?

27. BF- does opposite of old world ways No ceremonial sword No wig or royal robes Allies

28. 1778 France accepts military alliance, will help the colonies until they reach independence Huge- a country officially recognizes them as a sovereign nation Allies

29. Armed Neutrality Passive hostility towards British France huge military support for US, also Spain and Holland Members of AN Russia Denmark/ Norway Sweden Holy Roman Empire Prussia Portugal Who doesn’t hate Britain

30. 1780- 6,000 troops arrive in Newport Some quarrels among them and colonists Preparing for an attack on NY French Arrive in RI

31. Benedict Arnold- feels unappreciated Plans to offer key intelligence and hand over West Point to British Plot is stopped Traitor

32. Loyalists influence is huge Georgia fell in 1779 Charleston fell in 1780 Carolina Campaign Colonists win battles at King’s MTN and Cowpens Nathanael Greene (Fighting Quaker) fights and runs, exhausting the British Army British Southern Campaign

33. Natives generally sided with Brits, hoping they would step western expansion 1784- Treaty of Fort Stanwix- Iroquois give most of their lands up George Rogers Clark- takes 175 men, sails down Ohio River and takes out Forts – Kaskaskia, Cahokia, Vincennes British forced out of Ohio River Valley area The War Out West

34. John Paul Jones- leads “navy” never makes dents in British fleets, but severely hurts British Merchant ships Privateers- legalized pirates- Provide many victories Brought much needed gold to colonies British Merchants began to beg Parliament to end war honorably The War at Sea

35. Colony government is bankrupt Cornwallis goes to Yorktown to wait for supplies French navy arrives off coast French troops join Washington Yorktown

36. BF, John Adams (NE), and John Jay (NY) Make no separate peaces, and follow French guidance Fearful that the French cannot please both America and Spain’s interest Peace at Paris

37. Colonies = independent, get land to Mississippi River, and parts of New Foundland Loyalist property shall be restored America will not interfere with British debt collection Large land areas given to Colonies in order to sway them from French Treaty of Paris 1783