essential question essential question: – what factors caused the british to fail in what should...
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• Essential QuestionEssential Question: –What factors caused the British to fail in what should have been an easy campaign to subdue the American rebels?
The Decision to Fight For Independence
Decision for Independence• The Lexington & Concord
skirmish was the 1st of a series of conflicts from 1775 to 1776 before the American call for independence:–Fighting erupted around Boston, NY, Charlestown, & Quebec
–The 2nd Continental Congress met to organize a war plan
–King George declared the colonists in “open rebellion”
The Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill) demonstrated that Americans were
willing to stand up to a pitched battle In early 1776, both Spain & France
began shipping war supplies to colonists
Despite growing calls for independence, the congress issued the Olive Branch Petition to King George in July 1775
King George rejected the Olive Branch Petition in August 1775
Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill); June 17, 1775
With over 1,000 casualties, the British suffered their greatest losses of the Revolution at Bunker Hill
“A few more such victories would have shortly put an end to British dominion in America”
—British General Henry Clinton
Decision for Independence• By 1776, the 2nd Continental
Congress served as an informal national gov’t for the colonies
• But the majority of colonists were undecided about independence
• Thomas Paine’s Common Sense proved to be the key factor in convincing Americans to support colonial independence
Challenged “royal infallibility”
Persuaded ordinary people to sever ties with England & its “royal brute”
By 1776, colonial
sentiment had changed
On June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee of
VA introduced a resolution to the
Continental Congress: “that these
United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free
and independent States...” After several days of
debate, Congress appointed a committee to draft a declaration of
independence
Declaration of Independence (1776)
Committee to draft the Declaration: Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin,
John Adams, Robert Livingston, & Roger Sherman
Decision for Independence• On July 2, 1776, the Continental
Congress voted for independence • On July 4, the Declaration of
Independence was signed; The Declaration’s purpose was to:–Justify the Americans’ desire to separate from England
–Articulate the principles on which the new nation would be established
Democratic ideals (republicanism)
Natural rights & individual liberty
Independence Hall at the Second Continental Congress
The Declaration of Independence was NOT signed like this!
The Decision for Independence • The colonists were divided about
this decision for independence:–Supporters of independence were called “PatriotsPatriots” or “WhigsWhigs”
–Colonists that opposed independence were called “LoyalistsLoyalists” or “ToriesTories”
–There were many “neutralneutral” colonists who were conflicted by the prospect of independence
Patriots vs. Loyalists
• Where are the Loyalists?
• Why are Loyalists near cities?
• Why is the backcountry so contested?
• Why are Native Americans loyalists?
Fighting the Warfor Independence
The Outbreak of Revolution• The British entered the war
confident of a complete victory:–Their army was 400% larger; well-trained solders, experienced officers, & Hessian mercenaries
–Strong manufacturing base–The world’s most dominant navy
• Believed the 1776 battles were a “police action” & the show of force would force rebels to submit
The Outbreak of Revolution• In reality, England faced an
impossible task:– Their long supply lines across the Atlantic would not be able to provide timely provisions
– The American terrain was large– To win, the English had to find find & defeat& defeat the Continental Army
– Underestimated the colonial commitment to independence
The American Revolution, 1775-1781
Where was the Where was the American American Revolution Revolution
fought?fought?
Building a Professional Army• Washington’s task was to defenddefend
as much territory as possible:–Relied on guerrilla tactics & avoided all-out-war with Britain
–Washington’s Continental Army served as the symbol of the “republican cause”
–But, colonial militias played a major role in “forcing” neutrals to support the Revolution
As long as England did not defeat the Continental Army, England could not win
Slaves & Indians in the War• Black slaves supported whoever
seemed likely to deliver freedom:–Northern slaves supported the colonists who offered freedom for any slave who fought
–Southern slaves typically supported Britain
• Native Americans feared colonial expansion & overwhelmingly supported Britain
The Variety of Colonial Soldiers The Continental Army had 2 all-black regiments composed of Northern slaves
Women in the War• Women’s role in the revolution:
–Supported their husbands & sons in enlisting in militias
–Ran business affairs & continued boycotting English goods while men fought (i.e. Abigail Adams)
–Created propaganda (political satires by Mercy Otis Warren)
–Some helped in the battlefield (“Molly Pitcher”)
Differing Military StrategiesThe Americans The British
• Win a war of attrition–England had
long supply lines –Colonials did not
have to “win” just had to wear down the British
• Guerilla tactics • Make an alliance
with one of Britain’s enemies
• “Divide & Conquer”–Use Loyalists–Encourage slave
revolts–Seize property
• Break the colonies in half by dividing the North & South
• Blockade the ports to prevent trade with American allies
The Early Years: 1776-1777• The initial battles of the revolution
went badly for Americans: –British General Howe forced Washington to retreat at New York putting the Americans on the run
–Gen Howe issued a “general pardon” to all Americans who swore an oath of allegiance to George III; thousands did so
Colonial militias retaliated against those who deserted the patriot cause
The Early Years: 1776-1777• The British strategy remained to
fight a “major & decisive” battle; but Continental Army was elusive
• Despite British victories & 1,000s of colonial “oaths of allegiance”, Washington kept fighting–Won small victories that renewed American wartime morale
–“Won” at SaratogaSaratoga in 1777
Howe captured New York Captured
PhiladelphiaWashington’s army almost
starved at Valley Forge
Took Trenton Took Princeton
British Seizure & Burning of New York, 1776
Crossing the Delaware in route to a surprise attack at Trenton & Princeton, 1776
The “Turning Point” of the Revolution: The Battle of Saratoga, 1777
Near Starvation at Valley Forge, PA in 1778
The French Alliance• Since 1775, the French covertly
aided Americans with supplies• But after the “victory” at
SaratogaSaratoga:–France recognized America as a new, independent republic
–France promised to pressure England to agree to American independence after war’s end
–France relinquished all of its claims to territory in America
The turning point of the war!!A lot of these points
were negotiated by none other than Ben Franklin
And…England now has to worry about a possible (yet remote)
invasion of England by France
The Continental Congress refused the offer
In 1778, England offered to remove all parliamentary legislation & vowed never to impose revenue taxes on the colonists again
The Final Campaign• By 1781, Washington pushed the
Redcoats towards Yorktown (VA) Yorktown (VA) where General Cornwallis was caught between the Continental Army & the French navy
• On October 19, 1781 Cornwallis surrendered; the English still controlled NY & Charles Town but the fighting virtually ended
American Victory at YorktownAmerican Victory at Yorktown
Cornwallis’ surrender was the “day the world turned upside down”
The Loyalist Dilemma• Loyalists believed in liberty too,
but feared that independence would breed anarchy in America
• Loyalists were treated poorly:–The English never fully trusted the Loyalists
–Patriots seized their property; imprisoned & executed others
• More than 100,000 Loyalists left America when the war ended
The Treaty of Paris, 1783
The Treaty of Paris (1783)• The Treaty of Paris in 1783 was
negotiated with England by Franklin, John Adams, John Jay
• The terms included:– Full American independence – All territory east of Mississippi River, between Canada & FL
– The removal of the British army from U.S. claims in America
– Fishing rights in the Atlantic
North America after the Treaty Treaty
of Paris, of Paris, 17831783
Preserving Independence• After 176 years of British rule,
the American Revolution began the construction of a new form of government
• But...will the new United States be a government of the eliteelite or a government of the peoplepeople?