American Revolution

1. American Revolution Chapter 8

2. Essential Question? • What options did the American colonists use to try and reconcile with Great Britain?

3. 2nd Continental Congress • Meets in 1775 • Creates an army and navy • Asks colonies for funds • Selects George Washington as top general of new Continental Army.

4. George Washington • Served in the British Army in the 7 Years War. • Led by example, character • Was not paid • Southerner, leading a mostly northern army. • “1st in war, 1st in peace, 1st in the hearts of his countrymen.”

5. Important Battles • Lexington 1775 • Concord • Ticonderoga • Bunker Hill • Quebec City • Long Island 1776 • Trenton • Princeton • Lake Champlain 1777 • Brandywine • Germantown • Saratoga • Monmouth 1778 • Charleston 1780 • Cowpens • King’s Mountain • Guilford Court House 1781 • Yorktown

6. Bunker Hill • GW’s 1st job, try to drive redcoats out of Boston. • Sets up army on a hill overlooking Boston. • British marched up hill and were slaughtered by colonists. • Colonists retreat when they run out of ammo. • Very costly victory for the British.

7. Olive Branch Petition • 1775: Continental Congress sends to King • Colonists swear loyalty to the crown, asked for a truce, and free trading rights. • King refuses, states that colonists are in treason • Hires thousands of German mercenary soldiers to aid the Redcoats (Hessians)

8. O’Canada • Colonists attempt to tear Canada away from crown. • Thought the French-Canadians would gladly join them. • No longer a defensive war for colonists. • Forces lead by Benedict Arnold failed to capture Quebec City • Canadians wanted no part of the 13 colonies revolution.

9. Common Sense • Most colonists were loyal to King, just wanted change/ to be left alone. • 1776: A Briton named Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called Common Sense • Stated that the colonists were better off without Britain. • Revived the idea of a republic • Appealed to radical Whig ideology – fear abusive government! • Appealed to colonists – tradition of town meetings, elections. • Perfect timing!

10. Thomas Paine

11. Declaration of Independence • Common Sense influenced the Continental Congress. • In June, 1776, representatives debated on independence. • Thomas Jefferson chosen to draft DoI. • Jefferson borrowed heavily from Enlightenment thinkers. • Declaration of Independence • Natural Rights • Social Contract Theory • List of grievances against King • Possibly the most influential document ever • Adopted on July 2, announced July 4th.

12. Declaration of Independence

13. Patriot of Loyalist? • Loyalist = Tories • Patriots = Whigs • Many colonists were apathetic • Estimated that 16% remained loyal. • Most loyalists assumed that Britain would crush colonists and they would be rewarded for sticking with king. • Some felt that religious tolerance better with Britain. • Slaves offered freedom for their service in Royal army. • Many southerners were loyalists. • Often split families apart.

14. GW on the Run • British concentrated on NY. • Hoped to control Hudson River and separate New England from other colonies. • Battle of Long Island: GW had to evacuate NY. • British fail to pursue. • GW sets up winter camp at Valley Forge, Penn. • Wins battles of Trenton and Princeton over long cold winter. • Soldiers suffer hunger, and lack of clothing, but GW keeps their moral high.

15. Miracle on the Hudson • British plan to take Hudson = • 1. Gen Burgoyne move south from Canada • 2. Gen Howe move north from NY City.

16. Lake Champlain • US Gen Benedict Arnold builds a navy to slow down British on Lake Champlain. • Arnold lost, but slowed Burgoyne down. • Howe did not move north from NY, instead went to attack Philadelphia. • Burgoyne attacked and surrenders at Saratoga. • British never take Hudson River. • Victory at Saratoga convinced the French to aid the US. • Later Spain and The Netherlands also aid US

17. Why France? • Old enemy of Britain • Strong Navy/ Army • Wanted revenge for the 7 Years War • Liberal population of France admired the revolutionary ideals of US. • Benjamin Franklin (US minister to France) adored there

18. Benedict Arnold • US General • Hero of Lake Champlain • One of GW’s most trusted officers • Turns into a traitor when he tries to help British take West Point on Hudson. • Name synonymous with betrayal

19. Southern Campaign • Charleston taken in 1780 • British march north to NC, then Virginia • Cowpens and King’s Mountain both US victories • Nathaniel Greene lost the Battle of Guilford Courthouse for US, but managed to kill many Redcoats.

20. John Paul Jones

21. Final Curtain • Desperate for reinforcements, British Gen Cornwallis marches toward the Chesapeake Bay for a rendezvous with the British Navy. • GW army pinned Cornwallis down on a peninsula near Yorktown, VA. • French navy blockades their escape by sea. • Cornwallis surrenders in 1781. • Last major battle of Revolution!!!

23. Treaty of Paris • Britain still had plenty of troops, but most in London were tired of war. • John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay were sent to negotiate peace with UK. • Treaty of Paris, 1783. • US gets independence. • US gets all land east of Mississippi and south of present day Canada (except Florida) • Loyalists were not to be persecuted. • British debts were to be paid.

24. Treaty of Paris

25. So What? • The details of the Treaty of Paris would be haggled over for another 30 years. • US and Britain go back to war in 1812. • US alliance very rocky at first, but states stick together. • US the first of many colonies that would eventually successfully rebel against European empires.

26. Essential Question? • What options did the American colonists use to try and reconcile with Great Britain?