SECTION 1

SECTION 2

SECTION 3

SECTION 4

The Stirrings of Rebellion

Ideas Help Start a Revolution

Struggling Toward Saratoga

Winning the War

NEXT

The War for Independence

Section 1

The Stirrings of RebellionConflict between Great Britain and the American colonies grows over issues of taxation, representation, and liberty.

NEXT

The Colonies Organize to Resist Britain

The Stamp Act• Stamp Act (1765)—requires stamped paper for

documents, printed items; forbids colonies from issuing paper $

• Quartering Act (1765)

The Stirrings of Rebellion1SECTION

NEXT

Stamp Act Protests• Samuel Adams helps found Sons of Liberty,

secret resistance group: - harass customs workers, stamp agents, royal governors; riot; use home-goods; hang in effegy

• Stamp Act Congress—colonies can’t be taxed without representation

• Colonial merchants boycott British goods until Stamp Act repealed

• Parliament repeals Stamp Act (1766)Continued . . .

After 1765, the major American cities saw the formation of secret groups set up to defend their rights. Groups such as these were absorbed into the greater Sons of Liberty organization, a political group made up of American patriots formed to protect the rights of the colonists from the usurpations of the British government after 1766.

The Townshend Acts• Townshend Acts (1767) levy duties on imported

materials: tea, glass, paper, dyes • Colonists enraged: --Samuel Adams organizes boycott --The term “redcoat” = term of insult, anger• Women stop buying British luxuries; join spinning

bees; boycott tea • Customs agents seize John Hancock’s ship Liberty

for unpaid taxes• Colonists riot; 2,000 British soldiers stationed in

Boston; permanent force of 10,000 in the colonial cities (cold war starts)

continued The Colonies Organize to Resist Britain

1SECTION

NEXT

The Sons of Liberty incited a crowd that had gathered to watch the turmoil protesting in favor of the owner of the Liberty, John Hancock. The situation was initially peaceful but turned violent when the Liberty was impounded. The mob attacked the customs house and its officials, one of whom had his boat dragged to Boston Common and burnt. Duty collectors were unharmed and escaped further violence by fleeing to Castle Williams. The Sons of Liberty seized the moment by calling to a public meeting and using the momentum to call for a boycott of British goods.

Tension Mounts in MassachusettsThe Boston Massacre• Soldiers compete with colonists for shipyard jobs• Boston Massacre (1770)—mob throws stones,

British fire, kill five • 1772, colonists burn customs ship (the Gaspee);

suspects to be tried in Britain • Committees of correspondence discuss threat

to freedom, form network --Members: Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry

1SECTION

NEXT

Continued . . .

The Boston Tea Party• 1773 Tea Act lets East India Company avoid tax,

undersell colonists• Boston Tea Party—disguised colonists dump

18,000 lbs. tea in harbor

The Boston MassacreThe presence of British troops in the city of Boston was increasingly unwelcome. The riot began when about 50 citizens attacked a British sentinel. A British officer, Captain Thomas Preston, called in additional soldiers, and these too were attacked, so the soldiers fired into the mob, killing 3 on the spot (a black sailor named Crispus Attucks, ropemaker Samuel Gray, and a mariner named James Caldwell), and wounding 8 others, two of whom died later (Samuel Maverick and Patrick Carr).

Boston Tea PartyIt took nearly three hours for more than 100 colonists to empty the tea into Boston Harbor. The chests held more than 90,000 lbs. (45 tons) of tea, which would cost nearly $1,000,000 dollars today.

continued Tension Mounts in Massachusetts

The Intolerable Acts• King George III, British king, is angered by

destruction of tea• 1774, Parliament passes Intolerable Acts (aka

the Coercive Acts) as response to Tea Party • Acts close Boston Harbor, quarter soldiers in

empty homes/buildings; shuts down Mass colonial government; trials for treason to be held in England

• General Thomas Gage puts Boston under martial law—rule by military

• First Continental Congress claims colonial rights, supports protests

1SECTION

NEXT

To Concord, By the Lexington Road• Civilian militia or minutemen begin to stockpile

firearms, 1775• Resistance leaders John Hancock, Samuel Adams

hide in Lexington

1SECTION

NEXT

Fighting Erupts at Lexington and Concord

“The Regulars Are Coming!”• 700 redcoats sent to capture leaders, destroy

munitions, April 1775• Paul Revere, William Dawes, Samuel Prescott warn

leaders, townspeople

“A Glorious Day for America”• British shoot minutemen in Lexington; kill eight• 3,000–4,000 minutemen ambush British in Concord,

kill dozens

We set off for Concord, and were overtaken by a young gentleman named Prescot, who belonged to Concord, and was going home. When we had got about half way from Lexington to Concord, the other two stopped at a house to awake the men, I kept along ....In an instant I saw four of them, who rode up to me with their pistols in their bands, said ''G---d d---n you, stop. If you go an inch further, you are a dead man.'' Immediately Mr. Prescot came up. We attempted to get through them, but they kept before us, and swore if we did not turn in to that pasture, they would blow our brains out, (they had placed themselves opposite to a pair of bars, and had taken the bars down). They forced us in. When we had got in, Mr. Prescot said "Put on!" He took to the left, I to the right ...Just as I reached it, out started six officers, seized my bridle, put their pistols to my breast, ordered me to dismount, which I did.

– Paul Revere, "Account of Midnight Ride to Lexington" (1775)

Section 2

Ideas Help Start a RevolutionTensions increase throughout the colonies until the Continental Congress declares independence on July 4, 1776.

NEXT

The Colonies Hover Between Peace and WarThe Second Continental Congress• Second Continental Congress meets May–June 1775

in Philadelphia: - President Randolph dies; J. Hancock in his place - debate independence

- recognize militiamen as Continental Army - appoint George Washington commander - print paper money to pay troops

Fort Ticonderoga• Colonial forces capture British artillery at Fort

Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain (170 miles north of Boston); Benedict Arnold leads the mission, assisted by Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys

• Artillery dragged to Boston…the threat of the cannons leads the British to evacuate Boston

Ideas Help Start a Revolution2SECTION

NEXT

Continued . . .

Battle of Fort TiconderogaThe siege of Boston had begun but the colonists were acutely aware that they needed firearms, munitions or cannon. The fort at Ticonderoga, New York contained stores of such armaments. The rebels sneaked into the fort of sleeping troops and demanded its surrender. Not one person was killed in the daring dawn raid. Following the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, Colonel Henry Knox transported more than 60 tons of military supplies including 59 artillery pieces from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. Ticonderoga’s cannon were placed on Dorchester Heights which had a commanding view of Boston. The threat of the cannon forced the British to evacuate Boston on March 17, 1776 and the Continental Army entered Boston the next day.

The Battle of Bunker Hill• British troops attack militia north of Boston in

Charlestown, June 1775• British hold their ground, but at a cost: 450 colonist

and over 1,000 British casualties

continued The Colonies Hover Between Peace and War

2SECTION

NEXT

The Olive Branch Petition • July, Congress sends Olive Branch Petition,

drafted by John Dickinson of PA, to restore “harmony”

• George III rejects petition on the grounds that he would accept no communication from rebels, orders naval blockade

Common Sense• Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense

attacks king • Argues independence will allow free trade and

foreign aid • Independence can give equal social, economic

opportunities to all• Almost 500,000 copies of pamphlet sold; convinces

many colonists

The Patriots Declare Independence

2SECTION

NEXT

Continued . . .

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense“Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, which we might expect in a country without government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer.”

continued The Patriots Declare Independence

Declaring Independence• Congress urges each colony to form own

government• Congress appoints committee to prepare formal

declaration (Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Robert Livingston of NJ, and Roger Sherman of CT)

• Virginia lawyer Thomas Jefferson chosen to write it

• Declaration of Independence—formal statement of separation

• SC prevents mention of slavery as an “evil”; NY abstains from voting,,,12-0 in favor of indep.

2SECTION

NEXT

Continued . . .

NEXT

continued The Patriots Declare Independence

Declaring Independence• Declaration, based on John Locke’s ideas, lists

complaints, rights:- people have natural rights to life, liberty, property- people consent to obey a government that protects rights- people can resist or overthrow government

• “All men are created equal” means free citizens are political equals

• July 4, 1776 delegates adopt declaration

2SECTION

Declaration of IndependenceOf the 56 signers, 39 were of English descent. 30 were Episcopalian (Church of England) and 12 were Congregationalists. 3 were Unitarians (John Adams and Thomas Jefferson). Benjamin Franklin, who refused to identify himself with any sect, called himself a “Deist”. Charles Carroll was the only Roman Catholic among the signers. The first among them to die was Button Gwinnett of GA in 1777.

Loyalists and Patriots• Loyalists—oppose independence, loyal to Crown

for different reasons (1/3 of Americans):- work in government, unaware of events, trust crown to protect rights

- called “Tories” by the Patriots• Patriots, almost half of population, support

independence:- think independence will mean economic opportunity

Americans Choose Sides

2SECTION

NEXT

Taking Sides• Groups divided: Quakers, African Americans on both

sides• Native Americans support British; colonists threaten

their lands

NEXT

Section 3

Struggling Toward SaratogaAfter a series of setbacks, American forces win at Saratoga and survive.

NEXT

The War Moves to the Middle StatesDefeat in New York• British General Howe plans to isolate New England

by taking NYC --32,000 well-trained British soldiers and Hessian

mercenaries land in New York, 7/2/76 --Washington has only 18,000 poorly-trained

soldiers

Struggling Toward Saratoga3SECTION

• Howe attacks Washington in August in Brooklyn• Washington forced to evacuate and heads north• Small skirmishes in the fall…Washington heads

south to cover Philly• Washington, chased by Howe into Trenton, crosses

the Delaware River into PA on 12/11• Howe ends chase, stays in Trenton for the winter• With NY lost and Philly in danger, the Congress

evacuates Philly for Baltimore

NEXT

The War Moves to the Middle States

Struggling Toward Saratoga3SECTION

Continued . . .

The Battle of Trenton• Christmas 1776, Washington crosses icy Delaware

River into New Jersey• Washington surprises 14,000 Hessians sleeping off a

drunken Christmas celebration, wins Battle of Trenton

• Eight days later, Americans win Battle of Princeton against British

• Washington goes into winter quarters in Morristown; Howe winters in New Brunswick

• Horatio Gates given command of northern American forces; Benedict Arnold passed over

Washington Crosses the Delaware RiverIn the famous picture of Washington Crossing the Delaware, many people find it odd that the river was full of chunks of ice; it doesn't get that way today, but Washington lived during the Little Ice Age. The Little Ice Age occurred between the mid thirteenth century and the 1860s.

NEXT

continued The War Moves to the Middle States

The Fight for Philadelphia• The British plan: General John Burgoyne’s

northern army and Howe’s army will meet in Albany to isolate New England

• Howe decides to takes Philadelphia instead of meeting with Burgoyne; Philly occupied, but Burgoyne left alone in upstate NY

3SECTION

Victory at Saratoga• Gen. John Burgoyne leads British, allies south

from Canada • Burgoyne loses repeatedly to Continental Army,

militia • Surrounded at Saratoga by Gates, Burgoyne

surrenders to Gen. Horatio Gates Continued . . .

NEXT

3SECTION

A Turning Point• Since 1776, French secretly send weapons to

Americans; Ben Franklin spends a year trying to get France to help the revolution

• French recognize American independence, sign treaty, February 1778

• Alliance meant war between France and England

continued The War Moves to the Middle States

Winter at Valley Forge• Valley Forge—site of Continental Army’s winter

camp (1777–1778)• Of 10,000 soldiers, more than 2,000 die of cold

and hunger

Benjamin Franklin in FranceBy the effect which Franklin produced in France, one might say that he fulfilled his mission, not with a court, but with a free people. Diplomatic etiquette did not permit him often to hold interviews with the ministers, but he associated with all the distinguished personages who directed public opinion.

NEXT

3SECTION

Monmouth• British leave Philly…Washington leaves Valley

Forge and chases them into NJ• Sends 6400 men under Charles Lee…the forces

meet up on 6/28/78 at the Monmouth Court House• Battle of Monmouth a draw at 350 casualties each

continued The War Moves to the Middle States

Benedict Arnold’s Treason• Arnold never received credit for his roles at

Ticonderoga and Saratoga• Marries a Loyalist in 1779• Given command of West Point fort on the Hudson

River…begins to negotiate its surrender with the British for 20,000 lbs.

• Fights on the British side for the remainder of the war

Benedict Arnold Monument at SaratogaArnold was shot in the led during the Battle of Saratoga. At the site where he fell is a monument bearing a carving of a boot. The monument speaks of “the most brilliant soldier of the Continental Army” but does not mention his name.

NEXT

3SECTION

Civilians at War• While husbands fight, women manage homes,

businesses • Many women go with troops to wash, cook, mend;

some fight • Thousands of African-American slaves escape to

cities, frontier • About 5,000 African Americans serve in Continental

Army• Most Native Americans stay out of the conflict; some

aid British

continued Colonial Life During the Revolution

Molly PitcherMolly Pitcher (aka: Mary Ludwig Hays McCauly) was born in 1754, near Trenton, New Jersey. During the American Revolution, she accompanied her husband to the Battle of Monmouth and carried pitchers of water for cooling the cannons, thereby earning her nickname. Supposedly, after her husband collapsed, she took his place at the cannon and served heroically through the battle.

NEXT

Section 4

Winning the WarStrategic victories in the South and at Yorktown enable the Americans to defeat the British.

NEXT

European Allies Shift the Balance

Foreigners Help the Americans• 1778, Prussian captain Friedrich von Steuben

goes to Valley Forge; trains colonists in fighting skills, field maneuvers of regular army

• German peasant Johann Kalb (Baron de Kalb)• Polish volunteers --Tadeusz Kosciuszko helped fortify Philly --Casmir Pulaski also died in action

Winning the War4SECTION

• Marquis de Lafayette—19 yr. old French aristocrat, joins Washington at Valley Forge

--Lobbies for French troops, 1779; leads command in last years of war

Baron de KalbRobert Mills, the designer of the Washington Monument, also designed DeKalb's monument. General LaFayette laid its cornerstone. The epitaph reads: ‘Here lies the remains of Baron DeKalb - A German by birth, but in principle, a citizen of the world.' Six counties in the United States are named for DeKalb, making it the third most popular name for a county in the nation.

NEXT

4SECTION

Early British Success in the South• 1778, British take Savannah; royal governor

reinstated in Georgia• British armies led by Charles Cornwallis capture

Charlestown, SC 1780—greatest victory of war • Rebels and loyalists commit brutal acts in the South• Cornwallis wins Battle of Camden in South Carolina

The British Move South

British Losses in 1781• 1781, Cornwallis faces Nathaniel Greene

(commander of forces in the South) in Carolinas • Greene utilizes militia units to use guerilla attacks to

weaken British forces• Weakened Cornwallis gets reinforcements, camps at

Yorktown; aided by the traitor Benedict Arnold

Battle of Camden from The Patriot

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPK5KDCGF7g

NEXT

4SECTION

Victory at Yorktown• Lafayette’s plan: French, Americans attack British

at Yorktown • French navy defeats British, blockades

Chesapeake Bay• American, French siege Yorktown VA, shell British

for three weeks• Cornwallis surrenders October 1781

The British Surrender at Yorktown

Continued . . .

The British surrender at YorktownThe British bands are reputed to have played “The world turned upside down” as the troops marched out to surrender.

NEXT

4SECTION

continued The British Surrender at Yorktown

Seeking Peace• 1782 peace talks include United States, Britain,

France, Spain• American negotiators: John Adams, Benjamin

Franklin, John Jay • Treaty of Paris signed September 3rd 1783:

- U.S. independence recognized- allows for expansion to the West

- Spain keeps Florida- ignores Native American rights- promises repayment of debts to British merchants - no date set for British evacuation of forts in U.S.

NEXT

4SECTION

The War Becomes a Symbol of Liberty

The Impact on American Society• War stimulates egalitarianism—belief in equality

of “all” people• Equality for white men; women do not gain legal or

political rights • African Americans still enslaved; those free face

discrimination • Native Americans continue to be forced off their

lands by settlers

The Challenge of Creating a Government• U.S. attempts to create government by the people,

not by a king• Colonies, now states, resistant to a centralized

government; WHY?