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The American Revolution . 1776-1781. First Continental Congress. I n 1774, All colonies except Georgia sent a representative to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! They draft a Declaration of Rights and Grievances which they send to King George III
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The American Revolution 1776-1781
First Continental Congress • In 1774, All colonies except Georgia sent a representative to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! • They draft a Declaration of Rights and Grievances which they send to King George III • They threaten to form a united front to stop buying British goods (Non-importation)
April 1775 • Paul Revere (and friend’s) ride to Concord, via Lexington, to warn that “The British are Coming!” • The minutemen prepare and are ready for the redcoats when they arrive in Lexington on their way to Concord to seize the arsenal. • The Shot Heard ‘Round the World” – the first battle of the Revolutionary War begins at the minutemen and redcoats fire upon each other on the village green. • The minutemen stop the redcoats at the Old North Bridge in Concord and send them running back to Boston
Second Continental Congress • They created the Continental Army, with George Washington as its commander • They begin printing American currency, called Continentals • They sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III….he responded by calling the colonies “open and avowed enemies”
June 1775 (Actually took place on Breed’s Hill!) • Deadliest battle of the war • Gage sends 2400 redcoats to attack the colonial militia encamped near Boston at Breed’s Hill • The milita was ordered to hold their fire until “you see the whites of their eyes” – in an effort to effectively use their limited ammunition. • It took several attacks for the Brits to succeed, but, they won only because the militia ran out of ammo • Colonists took back the hill 4 days later with the help of GW! • losses: colonies 311, Brits 1000+
The Declaration of Independence On July 4, 1776 The Declaration of Independence , having been written by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston, was signed, published, and sent out to be read throughout the colonies!
Dec 1776 – January 1777 • Washington led his men across the Delaware River (again) to back-up another Continental Regiment and protect Philadelphia • Defeated the British that were aided by Hessians • Provided a much needed victory to boost morale - many soldiers decide to re-enlist!
The Battle of Saratoga Victory for the American forces! General John Burgoyne American confidence high British confidence low General Horatio Gates
Saratoga - Oct 1777 • MAJOR Turning Point • British Gen. Burgoyne plans to move his army to Albany following a route of lakes in order to join Howe’s army • He had 4000 redcoats, 3000 mercenaries, 1000 Mohawks & 30 wagons of supplies • Burgoyne did not know that Howe was preoccupied with attacking Philadelphia and the disbursing the Second Continental Congress • Burgoyne is surrounded at Saratoga and surrenders to Gen. Horatio Gates • Proved that the Continental Army could defeat the Brits in traditional warfare with less soldiers • Heavy blow to Brit confidence • Also encouraged the French to openly support the Revolution after Benjamin Franklin’s request!
Winter 1777-78 • After the fall of Philadelphia George Washington and his troops retreat to the hillside • There was very little money for supplies as the Congress was not fully functioning • Over 2000 of the troops died due to starvation, disease and difficult weather conditions • The troops spent the winter training with the famous Prussian drill master Baron Friedrich von Steuben and preparing for war • France and Spain solidify their desire and ability to help the cause!
The Capture of Savannah December 1778 • The war moves to the South…the British feel that attacking the colonists on two fronts will weaken their chance of Independence! • The British capture the port city and now control trade (and the economy) in the South. • Many patriots retreat to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains!
The Battle of Cowpens January 1781 • Turning point in the South….as the war moves north through the Carolinas! • British General Tarleton is defeated by colonial General Morgan. • The “double envelope” proves useful in surrounding the British, creating many casualties, and forcing the survivors to retreat toward the coast.
The Battle of Guilford’s Courthouse March 1781 • A loss to the Colonists, but a bad maneuver by Cornwallis. • The wounded Colonial soldiers retreat and recoup in area plantations. • Cornwallis heads north to the Dan River and eventually Yorktown (through Great Bridge, Virginia)– on the advise of a spy!
September 1781 • French naval forces lead by Admiral de Grasse defeat a British fleet that are attempting to enter the Chesapeake Bay • They blockade the entrance to the Bay preventing the resupply and/or evacuation of Cornwallis’s troops at Yorktown • This assistance is crucial to the success of George Washington’s plan to win the war!
The Battle of Yorktown George Washington October 17,1781 Marquis de Lafayette Charles Cornwallis
Yorktown - Oct 17, 1781 • 6000 French troops arrive & Lafayette suggests joining all forces to attack Yorktown, VA where Gen. Charles Cornwallis is fortifying • 17,000 French and American troops surround Yorktown peninsula and bombard them for about a month • Cornwallis finally surrenders! He sends a lower officer to present Washington with the Articles of Capitulation as his formal surrender. • Independence is won!
Treaty of Paris - Sept 1783 • Colonists, Great Britain, France, Spain • Colonial negotiators: John Adams, Ben Franklin, John Jay • demands Britain recognize Colonial independence before any negotiations begin • set the border from the Atlantic to Mississippi River & from Canada to Florida • does not specify when the Brits would evacuate American forts • British creditors were allowed to collect debts owed to them by Colonists
A Symbol of Liberty With the signing of the Treaty of Paris, all European nations recognized the “United States of America”. Former British subjects now possessed a new identity as free Americans, loyal to a new ideal. The American Revolution would inspire the world as both a democratic revolution and a war for independence.
