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APUSH CHAPTER 8

APUSH CHAPTER 8. The Revolutionary War. The Two Continental Congresses. 2 nd Continental Congress vowed to keep fighting in the hope that Britain would redress the colonists ’ grievances Selected George Washington as head of the Army. George Washington ’ s strengths

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APUSH CHAPTER 8

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  1. APUSHCHAPTER 8 The Revolutionary War

  2. The Two Continental Congresses • 2nd Continental Congress vowed to keep fighting in the hope that Britain would redress the colonists’ grievances • Selected George Washington as head of the Army

  3. George Washington’s strengths • Strong leader and strength of character • Mortal force • Courage • Since of justice • Patient • Did not have a great military mind • People trusted and were willing to follow him • Already wealthy and aristocratic • A political decision not a military one

  4. April 75 To July of 76 An Inconsistent War • Americans claimed loyalty to king while also raising armies and fighting British soldiers • May 1775 Ft. Ticonderoga (NY) victory by Ethan Allen • June 1775 Bunker (Breed’s) Hill in Boston (a loss but also a win) they were winning until they ran out of gunpowder

  5. July 1775 – Olive Branch Petition • Sent by Continental Congress to the king • Americans professed loyalty to crown and asked for an end of fighting • After Bunker Hill, the London government, King George III officially declared the colonies in rebellion

  6. September 1775 – King hires German mercenaries ( Hessians) to fight colonists • Colonists shocked because the king was bringing in foreign troops to a “family” disagreement • Hessians good soldiers, although many deserted to stay in America and get land • Fall 1775 Colonists attack Canada, led by Arnold and Montgomery, but the plan fails (wanted 14th colony)

  7. January 1776 – Common Sense published • Thomas Paine, had just come from England • One of the most influential pamphlets ever written • Sold 120,000 copies in only few months • Called separation from Britain “common sense” • Called for a democratic republic • “How can a smaller body (like Britain) control a larger body (like America)” • Argued that Gov. Officials should derive their authority from popular consent

  8. Continental Congress: towards independence • On June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee of Virginia pushed resolution calling for independence • On July 2, 1776 resolution passed after much debate • Declared “all men are created equal” • Spoke of “natural rights” that all had • Because King George III had violated the colonists’ natural rights, they were justified in rebelling

  9. Jefferson writes declaration as part of committee of 5 • Abigail Adams wants women’s rights included but they are not • Argument for freedom of slaves is dropped • Formally adopted on July 4th • Was delayed until the 4th because fear of British reprisals, support for the tradition of loyalty to the empire, belief that America was part of the transatlantic community

  10. Impact of the Declaration of Independence • Established colonists as independents, not British subjects seeking reconciliation • Explain to the rest of the world why the colonies were revolting • Allowed America to realistically request foreign aid (THIS IS KEY TO ANY CHANCE OF VICTORY) • Influenced many other struggles for freedom in the future

  11. Loyalists (“Tories”) • People in America loyal to the crown • Well educated • Older generation • Anglican church members • Wealthy • Were least numerous in New England • Patriots (“Whigs”) • People who fought for the revolution • Revolution only supported by a minority of the population; many stayed neutral

  12. Patriot and Loyalist Strongholds

  13. Military disasters for Americans during the summer and fall of 1776 • At the Battle of Long Island (NY) against Gen. William Howe • Americans retreated in panic (aka Battle of Brooklyn) • Washington escaped to Manhattan Island, then to White Plains, then crossed the Hudson and Delaware Rivers with the British close behind

  14. Two Victories in NJ Give Hope • Washington sneaks into New Jersey, across the Delaware River From Pennsylvania, on two different occasions • On December 26, 1776 Americans captured 1,000 Hessians sleeping (Battle of Trenton) • Restored confidence in Americas military • Eight Days later, Jan. 1777 the Americans defeated British at Princeton and again retreat back across the river

  15. Burgoyne’s invasion in 1777 at Saratoga • 7,000 British troops moved slowly south from Canada because of heavy baggage and many women • Instead of moving north Gen. Howe goes to Philadelphia and camps there while Washington freezes at Valley Forge and his troops train under Baron Von Stueben

  16. Burgoyne was forced to surrender at Saratoga in Oct. 1777 to American General Gates • 1777 British strategy was to isolate New England • After Saratoga Parliment passed a bill that offered Americans home rule • The importance of Saratoga, N.Y. • Allowed France to enter the war on the side of the Americans because now they could believe America would win (before were hedging their bets)……Treaty of Alliances negotiated by Franklin and signed Feb. 1778

  17. War starts to involve many world powers • In 1778 France declared war on Britain • In 1779 Spain and Holland entered the war against Britain • War spread from just North America to Europe, South America, the Caribbean, and Asia

  18. The British Lion Engaging Four Powers(Spain, France, America, Netherlands)

  19. Importance of France • America would not have achieved independence by itself • Supplied us with equipment, money, a naval force, doubled our number of troops • Came to Americas aid because they wanted revenge • The fighting in America became secondary for Britain to fighting the European powers after 1778 • From 1778 to 1783 France provided Americans guns, money, equipment, 1/2 of all troops and basically all of the navy

  20. Before 1778 Britain’s basic strategy had been to blockade and control the coast with navy • After 1778 the French navy threatened the blockade • The British evacuated Philadelphia and concentrated on base in New York • From mid 1778 until Yorktown (in 1781), Washington used the American army to hold the British in New York

  21. June 1778 – Monmouth (New Jersey) • Washington attacked British troops retreating from Philadelphia • Heat of the day led to many soldiers collapsing • The battle was indecisive, but about 1/3 of the British Hessians deserted • Molly Pitcher helps out

  22. The westward pioneer movement continued during the war • For example, in Kentucky: • Lexington named for the Massachusetts town where the fighting began • Louisville was named for the French king Louis XVI

  23. War is Important but Money Matter More • Privately owned ships (basically pirates) are Authorized by Congress to attack English merchant shipping • Captured hundreds of British merchant ships • They brought in gold, hurt the enemy, and raised American morale with victories • Insurance rates and losses of ships led to British merchants pressuring Parliament to end the war

  24. 1780 to 1781 was the darkest period of the war for America • Inflation was very high • The government was bankrupt; would only repay debts at 2.5 cents on the dollar • Many colonists begin to feel the war would never end

  25. In 1780, General Benedict Arnold turned traitor • Felt unappreciated by the Americans • Promised to sell out West Point • The plan detected when messenger captured • Arnold fled to British and became an officer in the British army

  26. Cornwallis marched into a trap at Yorktown, Virginia • French sailed to the Chesapeake, fought off the British fleet, and trapped Cornwallis from the sea • Washington trapped Cornwallis from land • On October 19, 1781 Cornwallis and 7,000 men were forced to surrender • After defeat at Yorktown, fighting continued for more than a year

  27. After Yorktown British public was sick of the war and wanted it to end • Tory government collapsed and was temporarily replaced by Whigs (who where anti-king and antiwar) • 3 Americans in Paris negotiated peace • Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Jay

  28. Treaty of Paris of 1783 ( What US Gets) • Britain recognized the independence of the US • Generous boundaries were granted to the US • Mississippi to west; Great Lakes to north • Land all the way to Spanish Florida (recently captured from British by Spain) to south • US kept control of important fishing areas in Newfoundland (displeasing Canadians)

  29. America After the Treaty of Paris

  30. Treaty of Paris of 1783 (What Britain Gets) • Loyalists not to be persecuted in the US • Congress recommend that confiscated Loyalist property be restored • States honor debts to British creditors • Problem: Loyalist property and debt issues not obeyed by the US, leading to future conflicts with Britain

  31. America is the only country that gained from the Revolution • Britain was defeated • France incurred massive debt, leading to the French Revolution • America gained independence and their country • Spain was a shell of its former self

  32. KEYS TO THE CHAPTER • Colonists Achieve Victory but now face the problem of “What’s Next”. • Inflation is very high • Articles of Confederation are weak and unsustainable • Victory brings land and desire for expansion but no rules/law about how to do so

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