American Revolution 1776-1781

Conflict between Great Britain and the American Colonies grew over issues of taxation, representation, and libertySignificance today: American Revolution is turning point in humanitys fight for freedom

Defeating the French cost Britain lots of dough $$$$$$$Colonists should have to pay some of the costsNew IdeasRepublicanism-all citizens subordinate their selfish interests for the good of all (opposed to hierarchy)Liberal ideas against arbitrary authority v. elected representativesDistance weakens authority

Stamp ActEvery legal document, license, newspaper, pamphlet, almanac, playing cards, dice, all had to have a stamp, a taxColonial Responsesecret resistance group, Sons of Liberty organized. They harassed British officialsColonial Assemblies protestedTownshend ActsIndirect tax put on all imported goods coming into the coloniesColonial Response: Boycott of British goods, tea included

Tension MountsBoston Massacre5 Americans killed in a skirmish with Red Coats King George wants to have soldiers come to England for Trial.Assemblies of MA set up Committee of Correspondence to communicate to other colonies

Boston Tea PartyBritish East India Company nearly bankrupt. It had 17 million pounds of tea. Prime Minister North allowed it to sell tea really cheap. Colonists could have just bought cheaper teainstead they protest violently. Boston rebels dump tea from 3 British ships into Boston Harbor.

How many strikes did the British have against them so far???1. Navigation Acts2. Sugar Act3. Beginning of the Quartering Act4. Stamp Act5. Townshend Acts1. Smuggling2. Boycotting3. Sons of LibertyWhat was the Colonial Reaction???4. Daughters of Liberty5. Boston Massacre ---propaganda machine

The Intolerable Acts (1774)Lord NorthShut down Boston Harbor because colonists refused to pay for damages 2. Quartering Act: became even more strict authorizing British commanders to house soldiers in vacant private homes3. General Thomas Gage: commander in chief of British forces in North America was appointed governor of MassachusettsBritish Response4. General Gage placed Boston under Martial Law - British military takes over the town

Committees of CorrespondencePurpose warn neighboring colonies about incidents with Britain broaden the resistance movement Massachusetts and Virginia assemblies set it up Communication network linking leaders in nearly all the colonies

First Continental Congress (1774)56 delegates meet in PhiladelphiaAgenda How to respond to the Intolerable Acts?Supported protests in Boston - if British used force, the colonists should fight back.Colonies began preparing for a fight by:Minutemen- civilian soldiersStock weapons and gunpowder

Gage heard about colonial preparationsHe sent men to Concord to check things out British soldiers reported: stock of weapons and that Samuel Adams and John Hancock were staying nearbyBritish marched his soldiers to Lexington and ConcordHe wanted them to take any weapons and destroy themThe Road to Lexington and Concord

The British Are Coming . . .Paul Revere makes his midnight ride to warn the minutemen of approaching British soldiers.

The Shot Heard Round the World!Lexington & Concord April 18,1775The British reached Lexington and saw 70 minutemen in lines someone fired, British soldiers fired 8 minutemen died and 10 woundedOnly 1 British soldier was injuredThe battle lasted 15 minutesBritish marched to Concord but did not find any weaponsThey began marching back to Boston 3,000- 4,000 militia guerilla tacticsThe remaining British soldiers marched back to Boston, humiliated

During the battles of Lexington and Concord, 73 British soldiers had been killed and 174 wounded; 26 were missing. Lord Percy, who led the British back into Boston after the defeat suffered at Concord, wrote back to London, "Whoever looks upon them [the Rebels] as an irregular mob will be much mistaken."

Ideas Help Start a Revolution

The Second Continental Congress (1775)May, 1775, men convened in Philadelphia to decide what to do next.John Adams was a fierce Patriot. He wanted each colony to set up its own government. Congress to declare the colonies independence.Continental Army, George Washington was put in charge.Congress authorized the printing of money to pay troops.Congress organized a committee to deal with foreign relations.

Attempt at PeaceOlive Branch Petition

Colonies were ready for war but wanted peace.July, 1775: Congress sent the King the Olive Branch Petition.King George rejected this peaceful attempt.He stated colonies were in rebellion; urged Parliament to order a naval blockade of the coastline.

Thomas Paine: Common Sense50-page pamphlet attacked King George.Paine declared colonists need to claim their freedom.Independence was every Americans destiny.Only Independence would give Americans the chance to create a better society- one free from tyranny, with equal social and economic opportunities for all.150,000 copies sold

Declaration of Independence (1776)Proposed by Virginian delegates Voted unanimously on July 2, 1776Author: Thomas JeffersonHe was chosen because of his knowledge and skill of writing.Natural Rights based on the Enlightenment movement.

Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of HappinessDeclaration was adopted on July 4, 1776!

Independence Hall

New National Symbols

Americans Chose SidesRule of 1/3 Patriots: farmers, artisans, merchants, and landowners.Patriots made up lots of the population.African Americans fought on both, British=promised freedom. Native Americans supported the British because they thought colonial settlers were a bigger threat to their lands.

Loyalists: royal jobs ( judges, councilors, or governors), ordinary people, people who assumed British would win

Battle at Bunker HillMisnamed: Breeds Hill, North of Boston.General Gage decided to attack colonial militia on a hill near of Bunker Hill.Nearly 2,300 British soldiers.British attack up hill.Colonists held their fire until the last minute.They ran low of ammunition after 3 attacks.British are successful.Colonists lost 450 men, British over 1,000.Deadliest battle of the War.

Military Strengths and WeaknessesAmerican strengthsFighting for homeGreat leadership, WashingtonFighting for a causeAmerican WeaknessSoldiers untrainedShortages of food and equipPoor navyNo central government

British StrengthsStrong army and navyStrong central govt and $Support of loyalists and N.A.British WeaknessesFar from home baseTroops unfamiliar with terrainWeak military leaders

Resilience and Unity, part of the American character3/76 Patriots-pushed out of New York. Leave in the dead of night under the cover of fog8/76 Patriots defeated in New York after heavy losses (23,000 down to 8000)12/26/76 Battle of Trenton- Morale victory.

Spring 77 Washington attempts to defend Philadelphia (capital). Brits winSaratogaGeneral Burgoyne=plans to isolate New England. Starts off in Canada with an army of 8000. Gets bogged downAmerican VictoryTurning point in warFrench decide to send help to get even with British for French and Indian War

Valley Forge winter 77/78Take months for French aid to arriveWashingtons army wintered at Valley ForgeDisease, cold, starvationWashington begged Congress for fundsFriedrich von Stueuben- Prussian officer trained American armyMarquis de Lafayette-19 French nobleman. Joins W. at Valley Forge. Becomes great general for American cause

British change plans and go south 1778-81Take Savannah Georgia, Charles Town and Camden S.C.Loyalists needed to help. Just talked the talkSlaves of patriots flocked to loyalist side Attempted to take more but stopped by Green, Lafayette, von Steuben= retreats to Yorktown VA to rest

British Surrender At YorktownFrench and American Army of 17,000 surround British (General Cornwallis) at Yorktown. British cant be rescued by sea because a French fleet is blocking the entrance to the Bay.Shell the British in a month long siegeBritish surrender 10/17/17811783 Treaty of Paris=confirms US independence and set boundaries (Atlantic to Mississippi River and Canada to Florida)

The War becomes a symbol of libertyEqualitarian society-idea that ability, effort, and virtue defined ones worthEver since it has influenced revolutions around world

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