The American Revolution: From the First Shots to Independence

1. Chapter 7 The American Revolution (1774-1783)

2. Chapter 7The American Revolution(1774-1783) Section 1 The Revolution Begins

3. The First Continental Congress • First Continental Congress met September 1774 in Philadelphia • 56 delegates including John and Samuel Adams • Georgia was the only colony that did not send representatives • John Dickinson believed peace should be made with Britain; Patrick Henry said there was no way to avoid a fight • Compromise = colonists continue to boycott British goods but colonial militias warned to be prepared to fight • Assembled a list of 10 resolutions to present to King George III – Declaration of Rights listed freedoms they believed they should have; agreed to meet again in May 1775 if the king did not agree

4. The “Shot Heard round the World” • Local militia members called themselves “minutemen” – ready to fight on a minute’s notice • April 1775 – British General Thomas Gage decided to take away minutemen’s weapons and ammunition (stored in Concord) • Sons of Liberty learned of plan – Paul Revere and William Dawes warned minutemen that the British were coming (April 18th) • April 19th – around 70 minutemen gathered in Lexington near Concord; met much larger group of British troops

5. The “Shot Heard Round the World” continued • No one knows who fired the first shot (“shot heard round the world”) but it caused fighting to begin • Battle ended in minutes; 8 colonists dead, 10 wounded • British marched to Concord where they found few weapons (colonists had already moved them); set fire to a few buildings • Colonists called British “redcoats” because of the color of their coats; made easy targets • News of the fighting angered and shocked many colonists

6. The Second Continental Congress • May 1775 – representatives from 12 of the colonies (excluding Georgia) met in Philadelphia; convened after the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord • Had to decide how to react to fighting; decided not to break away from Britain • Made plans to create a Continental Army to defend the colonies – chose George Washington to command this army – did not know if he could build a strong enough army • Olive Branch Petition – July 5, 1775 – offer of peace; rejected by King George III; Washington already gathering troops • Fighting in the colonies spread

7. Early Battles • Fort Ticonderoga in Northern New York – guarded access to Lake Champlain (a key waterway) • Effort led by Colonel Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen • May 10 1775 – surprise attack during early morning storm • Took fort, large supply of weapons • Minutemen held Boston under siege – by using Boston’s hills for attacks and defense • Battle of Bunker Hill – colonists built up defenses on Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill to protect Boston from the British • Most of the fighting took place on Breed’s Hill • Showed colonists could hold their own against the British • Washington drove the British out of Boston (birthplace of the rebellion)

8. Chapter 7The American Revolution(1774-1783) Section 2 Declaring Independence

9. Paine’s Common Sense • Thomas Paine argued for breaking away from Great Britain in his pamphlet Common Sense • Became popular because of message and style – common person speaking to common people (allowed him to reach wider audience) • Stated system of monarchy was not fair – people, not kings and queens, should make the laws • Stated colonies should demand their independence • Idea of independence gained more and more supporters

10. Declaring Independence • June 1776, Second Continental Congress created a committee to write a document declaring the colonies’ independence • Committee members = John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman • Thomas Jefferson = main author • Declaration of Independence expressed 3 main ideas • Unalienable rights – “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness;” inspired by John Locke • King George III had violated colonists’ rights • Colonies had the right to break away from Britain • July 4, 1776 – continental congress approved the Declaration of Independence; broke all ties to British Crown; United States of America = born; full-scale revolution

11. Choosing Sides • Patriots – colonists who chose to fight for independence • Loyalists (Tories) – colonists who remained loyal to Great Britain • Believed British rule was best way to maintain peace and prosperity • Loyalists became targets of abuse by Patriots – remaining in the colonies became more difficult once the Declaration of Independence was signed • Fled country – most went to Canada

12. Other Reactions to the Declaration • Some pointed out the Declaration ignored many colonists • Did not address the rights of women • Issue worried Abigail Adams (wife of John Adams) • Did not recognize rights of enslaved African Americans • Slavery was legal in all colonies • First draft of declaration attacked slave trade, but removed at insistence of southern colonies • Raised questions about whether slavery should exist in place that values liberty • Massachusetts abolished slavery in 1783; by 1784 the rest of New England had taken steps to end slavery

13. Chapter 7The American Revolution(1774-1783) Section 3 Dark Hours for the Revolution

14. Comparing Strengths and Weaknesses • British seemed much stronger at the beginning • More money and resources • Powerful military; navy was the largest in the world; soldiers were mostly well-trained professionals • Colonies • No navy at all • Army made up of poorly trained local militias – few had ever fought together • Advantages • Many Americans supported the revolution – British army had to deal with hostile citizens • British had to ship supplies across the Atlantic • Patriots were fighting for a cause that they believed in (some British soldiers were mercenaries, or hired foreign soldiers)

15. A Call to Arms • Washington’s first task was to organize and raise more troops for the Continental Army • More than 230,000 serve during the course of the war; 145,000 joined local militias • Few volunteers had combat experience • Washington faced with question of whether to recruit African Americans • Many already serving in local militias • Many southerners did not want to include black soldiers – Washington soon banned them from serving in the army • Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation – Virginia’s governor promised freedom to any slave who fought for the British • In response, the Continental Army began allowing free African Americans to enlist

16. Other Sources of Help • American Indians fought on both sides; Patriots tried to persuade them to remain neutral in the war • Mohawk leader Thayendanegea – one of Great Britain’s key allies; a/k/a Joseph Brant • Women also helped the Patriot cause • Ran farms and businesses while men were away • Raised money for supplies or joined sewing groups • Served as messengers, spies, or nurses • Mary Ludwig Hayes (Molly Pitcher) – woman best known for wartime service; brought water to thirsty troops

17. British Victories • American military leaders wanted to invade British Canada and make it a “14th colony” • Patriots defeated in Canada and New York • General Richard Montgomery led Patriots to take the town of St. John’s, Canada; captured Montreal • General Benedict Arnold and Montgomery brought troops together and planned attack of Quebec • Attacked during snowstorm on New Year’s Eve • Americans defeated; Montgomery killed • General William Howe led the British to drive the Patriots off of Long Island 6 months after Patriot defeat at Quebec • Forced Continental Army, led by Washington, to keep retreating – pushing them out of New York

18. Chapter 7The American Revolution(1774-1783) Section 4 The Patriots Gain New Hope

19. Victory in New Jersey • General Howe sent troops to New Jersey in November 1776 • Thought war would be over soon • Confident over victories in Canada and NYC, he gave troops a rest, settled in New York City for the winter, leaving New Jersey in hands of Hessians (German mercenaries hired to fight for the British) • Howe’s delay allowed Washington to gather reinforcements • Washington and men crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night 1776 • Battle of Trenton – American victory – surprise attack • Lasted less than an hour • Patriot forces captured more than 900 Hessians with just 5 American casualties • Battle of Princeton – American victory – surprise attack

20. Turning Point at Saratoga • Defeat at Trenton and Princeton embarrassed the British • Planned to cut New England off from rest of colonies • Plan called for British troops to take back Fort Ticonderoga – led by General John Burgoyne • Would march south after capturing fort • 2nd force would march east from Lake Ontario and General Howe’s troops in NYC would move north • All three would join together in Albany, NY

21. Turning Point at Saratoga (continued) • Burgoyne captured Ticonderoga by early July but route to NY covered with fallen trees (cut by colonists) – slowed him down • General Howe decided to attack Philadelphia before marching to Albany • Battle of Brandywine Creek – Washington vs. Howe; British victory, but his delay left General Burgoyne’s army badly outnumbered • Burgoyne did not know that Howe and force from western Canada were both late • Made it to Albany, but was severely outnumbered • Battle of Saratoga – American victory (greatest yet); patriot troops led by Horatio Gates; Burgoyne’s entire army captured; British shifted their focus to the Southern colonies • Win greatly boosted morale and led to increased foreign support for the Patriots

22. Foreign Allies • France and Spain had been secretly helping the Patriots • 1776 – Patriots sent several delegates to France, including Benjamin Franklin, to increase French support • Victory at Saratoga convinced France that America could win the war • May 1778 – Continental Congress approved alliance with France • Spain joined the war against Britain in 1779 • Provided much of their help on the western frontier • Bernardo de Galvez (governor of Spanish Louisiana) was key ally to the Patriots • Marquis de Lafayette – fought and gave money to the patriot cause (beginning in 1777); Washington was impressed by his passion for the Patriot cause • Officers from Poland aided the Patriot cause by donating their army engineering and cavalry skills to the army

23. Winter at Valley Forge • Washington settled his troops at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in December 1777 • Suffered shortages of food and clothing • During that winter, 1/5 of soldiers died of disease and malnutrition • By the end of winter, troops were frustrated • Baron Friedrich von Steuben came to the aid of Washington • Led with combination of respect and fear • Taught American troops basic military skills • Drills worked – turned Continental Army into well-trained group of soldiers

24. The War at Sea • Continental Congress created the Continental Navy and marines in 1775 • By February 1776, navy only had 8 fighting ships • Small fleet was no match for larger British fleet • Patriots tried to attack individual British ships; attacked British supply ports and merchant ships • John Paul Jones – one of the most successful American captains • One of his most famous victories was against the British warship Serapis • “I have not yet begun to fight!” • British surrendered • Continental Navy used fewer than 100 ships during the war

25. Chapter 7The American Revolution(1774-1783) Section 5 Independence!

26. The War in the West • George Rogers Clark explored and mapped the frontier; made plan to capture some small forts and Indian villages • Goal = build army while weakening the British • Gathered soldiers from small towns • First target = British trading village of Kaskaskia – would give the Patriots control of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers • Surprised leaders of Kaskaskia – they surrendered without a fight (July 4, 1778) • Battle of Vincennes – recaptured this town from the British in late February 1779 • Never able to capture Fort Detroit (Britain’s major base on the frontier) • Efforts greatly weakened British army in the West

27. The War In The South • General Henry Clinton led British campaign in the South • Strategy of freeing slaves who joined them worked well in the South • Quamino Dolly – Georgian slave who showed the British a secret trail to the port city of Savannah – used to capture the city • 2nd major city to fall to the British = Charleston, SC • British destroyed Patriot property as they marched through the south • One of the most serious Patriot defeats was at Camden, SC • led by Horatio Gates • Lost their southern army • Southern Patriots did not stop fighting; switched to guerrilla warfare – became known for swift hit-and-run attacks • Francis Marion – “Swamp Fox” – organized a group of guerrilla soldiers that destroyed British communication and supply lines

28. Victory at Yorktown • Early 1781, war going poorly for the Patriots • Low on money to pay soldiers and buy supplies • Entry of foreign allies had not ended the war quickly • British controlled much of the South • Benedict Arnold turned traitor • General George Cornwallis moved British troops to Yorktown, VA (peninsula bounded by Chesapeake Bay and the James and York Rivers) • Prepared to attack a small patriot force led by Marquis de Lafayette • George Washington was in New York planning strategy with French General Comte de Rochambeau • Had recently arrived in NY with a large French Army • Washington saw chance to trap Cornwallis • As French fleet was taking control of Chesapeake Bay, Washington and Rochambeau moved their troops south and surrounded Cornwallis’s forces • Patriots held Yorktown under siege for weeks • Steadily wore down British defenses • Cornwallis surrendered – marched out of Yorktown on October 20, 1781 • Lord North (British Prime Minister) was shocked – “It is all over!”

29. The Treaty of Paris • Patriots captured the largest British army in North America at Yorktown • June 1781 – committee from the Continental Congress began peace negotiations with the British • American delegates were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens • Treaty of Paris of 1783 – Great Britain recognized the independent United States • Set the nation’s new borders – Great Lakes bounded the North; Mississippi River = western border; 31º North latitude = southern border • British accepted American rights to settle and trade west of the original 13 colonies