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Early in the American Revolution. The Beginning. Early Battles. Vocabulary:. refugee – person who flees his or her homeland to seek safety elsewhere blockade – shutting off a port by positioning ships to keep people or supplies from moving in or out
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The Beginning Early Battles
Vocabulary: refugee – person who flees his or her homeland to seek safety elsewhere blockade – shutting off a port by positioning ships to keep people or supplies from moving in or out mercenary – soldier who fights merely for pay, often for a foreign country
War or Peace? May 10, 1775 – Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia. Most delegates hoped to avoid a final split with Britain. Meanwhile…
Battle of Ticonderoga • In May of 1775, Ethan Allen leads a group of Vermonters called the Green Mountain Boys in a surprise attack on Fort Ticonderoga (see map on page 162). • British surrender to Allen • Boys win supply of cannons and give Americans control of a key route into Canada.
Did You Know? Traitor? In 1775, when Ethan Allen tried to take Quebec, Canada, he was captured by the British and held until 1778. Back in Vermont, he tried to get the Continental Congress to grant Vermont statehood. When Congress refused, he talked to the British about making Vermont a British Province. Although accused of treason, his guilt was never proven.
Discussion Question #1 Why was the capture of Fort Ticonderoga so important? It was full of desperately needed artillery, gunpower, and cannons.
Back in Philadelphia… By June, the Second Continental Congress was busy figuring out what to do. Should they try to make peace with Britain or should they revolt? Despite some delegates objections, including that of John Adams, the Congress decided to try and make peace with Britain with a document called the Olive Branch Petition.
The Olive Branch Petition Written by Pennsylvania Quaker John Dickinson, the Olive Branch Petition asked King George III to repeal the Intolerable Acts. In it, the colonies also declared their loyalty to him.
King George Rejects the Olive Branch Petition. England’s King George III refused to even look at the Olive Branch Petition. He was furious that it was even sent at all. He saw the Continental Congress as a group of, “wicked and desperate persons.” He knew the colonies were beginning to strive for independence.
June 10, 1775 – John Adams refers to the men in Boston who fought at Lexington and Concord as a Continental Army, even though most of them were New England men.
To show the British that the colonies were united, Adams thought that the Congress should select a southern general to lead this Continental Army. It also helped solidify the support Adams was trying to gain from the most powerful and influential of all the colonies – Virginia, Washington’s home.
On June 15, Adams formally nominated George Washington as the Commander of the Continental Army Washington accepts the nomination on June 16th. The Battle of Bunker Hill begins on June 17, 1775.
Discussion Question #2 How did the Second Continental Congress pursue a peaceful settlement with Britain? They sent the Olive Branch Petition, which was rejected by King George III.
Discussion Question #3 What steps did the Congress take to prepare for war with Britain? They set up the Continental Army and made Virginian George Washington its commander.
The Opposing Sides
The American Patriots • Patriots opposed British rule, that they considered harsh and unjust. • DISADVANTAGES: • Poorly organized and untrained • Few cannons, little gunpowder, no navy • ADVANTAGES: • Many owned their own rifles and were good shots • Brilliant commander – Washington • Would fight very hard to protect their homes
The British • DISADVANTAGES • Army was 3,000 miles from home • Supplies took months to arrive from England • Risk of attacks by colonists once out of the cities • ADVANTAGES • Highly trained, experienced troops • Powerful navy • Easy movement of troops up and down coast (navy) • Many colonists supported the British • Loyalists or Tories • Made up about 20% of colonists • Many in the middle colonies • Many fled to England or Canada
The Fight For Boston The first major battle in the American Revolution was the Battle of Bunker Hillnear Boston, Mass.
June 16, 1775 – Colonel William Prescott commands the Continental Army up Bunker Hill and then to nearby Breed’s Hill.
British General William Howe orders his men up Breed’s Hill, but they are exhausted from carrying heavy backpacks (125 lbs.).
Patriots ordered to hold their fire, “until you see the whites of their eyes!” This was because they were low on gunpowder.
British retreat but try again two more times. The British succeed the third time and take both Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill.
The Outcome of Bunker Hill • 1,000 British dead or wounded • 400 American dead or wounded • British win, but suffer great losses • Americans prove they can fight bravely
“The British were unprepared for the ferocity of the colonial defense at Bunker Hill. Wrote one [British] Royal Commander, ‘A dear-bought victory; another such would have ruined us.’” * *Source: “Facts Are Stubborn Things”, John Adams, HBO Productions. 2008
Discussion Question #3 What was the first major battle of the American Revolution? The Battle of Bunker Hill/Breed’s Hill
After Bunker Hill… After the Battle of Bunker Hill, British Major General Henry Clinton told his Commander-In-Chief Thomas Gage that they should move to secure Dorchester Heights, an important area of high ground near Boston. Said Clinton, “[Dorchester Heights was] absolutely necessary for the security of Boston, as they lay directly on our water communications…” Gage would decide to do nothing about Dorchester Heights, but for the time being neither would the Continental Army.
A Rough Winter with a Successful Outcome The British were hoping to abandon Boston and head south to New York, where there was a strategic advantage and many more Loyalists. Approval did not come in time and the British ended up staying in Boston through a long, harsh winter. Washington, who arrived only a few weeks after Bunker Hill, began to take a ragtag army of inexperienced soldiers, and turn them into a proper fighting machine. In the meantime, Washington was hoping to secure a large supply of cannons and gunpowder from Fort Ticonderoga, which had been won by the Americans back in May 1775.
It’s Up to Knox It was the job of Colonel Henry Knox to go to Fort Ticonderoga and bring back the necessary mortars, cannons, and gunpowder to Boston. It was not easy. Knox and his men had to bring tons of very heavy equipment through all sorts of terrain, and through thick forest, in winter. Through tenacity and extremely hard work, Knox and his men were able to get the cannons to Boston by March 1776.
“Knox’s “noble train” had arrived intact. Not a gun had been lost. Hundreds of men had taken part and their labors and resilience had been exceptional. But it was the daring and determination of Knox himself that had counted above all. The twenty-five-year-old Boston bookseller had proven himself a leader of remarkable ability, a man not only of enterprising ideas, but with the staying power to carry them out. Immediately, Washington put him in command of the artillery.” Source: 1776 by David McCullough, 2005 [pg. 85]
Setbacks InCanada • Fall 1775 – American Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold move troops towards Quebec. • Dec. 31, 1775 – Americans attack Quebec during a snowstorm but fail to take the city. Montgomery killed, Arnold wounded. • Americans leave Canada to the British.
Dorchester Heights With his artillery from Ticonderoga available, George Washington has an ingenious plan to finally take Dorchester Heights. It was March, 1776, and the British still occupied Boston. Washington’s plan was to take Dorchester in one night without the British realizing it. Clearly this would be tough, especially since in order to get to Dorchester, the Continental Army would have to cross a low section of land in clear view of the British forces.
Washington screens his men’s movements with a long line of hay wagons. In near perfect nighttime conditions (mild and with a full moon), Washington distracts the British with a volley of cannon fire away from Dorchester Heights. Although warned by a spy that the Continental Army was taking Dorchester Heights, the British commanders think the idea is ridiculous and ignore the spy. Surely, they think, Washington could not take that hill with enough force in one night!
Amazingly, Washington completes an unheard of amount of work in just one night. He places his heavy guns and artillery on top of Dorchester Heights. Now his guns are able to hit just about any British target in Boston, including the British ships in the harbor. Washington gave an added appearance of strength by filling barrels with dirt and placing them atop the hills as well. These barrels could also be rolled down the hill in the event that the British try to take the hill from them.
The British Leave Boston At first, British General Howe wanted to attack the Continental Army. But, after realizing that there is no way to his troops can hold Boston, Howe decides to moves his troops out of town. In only a matter of days the British are boarded up and ready to sail out. This left Boston Loyalists with little protection. Many became refugees and fled with the British or to other towns, leaving their homes in Boston.
Where would the British go? Washington was certain the Howe would be heading for New York. He was so sure in fact, that he sent five regiments in that direction. But Howe was not headed for New York – he was headed for Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada). • The British might have left New England, but King George III was not about to give up. • He ordered a blockade of all colonial ports. • He hired German mercenaries to help fight the colonists.
Discussion Question #4 How did Washington force the British to leave Boston? Washington ordered guns placed on Dorchester Heights, overlooking Boston Harbor. General Howe realized that he could not hold Boston.
What were the weaknesses of the colonial forces at the start of the Revolution? • They were poorly organized and untrained • Few cannons, little gunpowder, • no navy
What were the weaknesses of the British? • Army was 3,000 miles from home • Supplies took months to arrive from England • Risk of attacks by colonists once out of the cities
LOYALIST Or PATRIOT?
The Loyalist Argument:Be a Loyalist because… *Common Heritage and Culture with England *Benefit from the trans-Atlantic trade *Many were first generation or had close relatives in England *Strong sense of duty to British Crown *Farms and Farm products could be greatly reduced in value *Separate government could degenerate into anarchy *Actions taken by revolutionary committees were “illegal”
The Patriot Argument:Be a Patriot because… *Individual liberty threatened by greater government *A series of acts and laws passed by the British *Government is oppressive and indicative of a decline in colonial rights *No representation in British Parliament *The Quartering of British troops *Closing of the Port of Boston & British control of trade
