The Glorious Cause: The The Glorious Cause: The War for IndependenceWar for Independence

I. A Foolhardy RebellionI. A Foolhardy Rebellion

Americans should have lost the war: Americans should have lost the war: Britain richest + greatest military Britain richest + greatest military power in worldpower in world

100 warships to Am 1100 warships to Am 1 Regular army vs. noneRegular army vs. none $ for mercenaries (Hessians)$ for mercenaries (Hessians) 1778: 50,000 B regulars + 30,000 1778: 50,000 B regulars + 30,000

Hessians vs. 20,000 Americans (at Hessians vs. 20,000 Americans (at greatest strength)greatest strength)

3 phases of war3 phases of war 3 major regions3 major regions 3 kinds of forces3 kinds of forces 3 major British mistakes3 major British mistakes 4 kinds of war: colonial war 4 kinds of war: colonial war

independence, civil war, world war, independence, civil war, world war, war of ideaswar of ideas

II. War in New England: The Militia II. War in New England: The Militia at Lexington and Concord, 1775at Lexington and Concord, 1775

Suffolk ResolvesSuffolk Resolves new, revolutionary new, revolutionary government in Mass. (old one government in Mass. (old one dissolved)dissolved)

Mass. Congress meets in Concord, Mass. Congress meets in Concord, Committee of SafetyCommittee of Safety stockpiles stockpiles arms arms

Early 1775: General Early 1775: General Thomas Gage ordered Thomas Gage ordered to arrest provincial to arrest provincial congresscongress– Parliament believed Parliament believed

rebellion act of a small rebellion act of a small group of conspiratorsgroup of conspirators

– Hoped to end conflict Hoped to end conflict quickly: couldn’t quickly: couldn’t imagine what war imagine what war would becomewould become

A. LexingtonA. Lexington

18 April: 700 redcoats assemble to 18 April: 700 redcoats assemble to march to Lexington and Concordmarch to Lexington and Concord

Colonists knew they were coming Colonists knew they were coming (Revere) and (Revere) and MinutemenMinutemen turn out at turn out at Lexington (70 men)Lexington (70 men)

Capt. John Parker (vet of F+I war) + militia Capt. John Parker (vet of F+I war) + militia wait, when Brits don’t showwait, when Brits don’t show break up break up w/sigh of reliefw/sigh of relief

Next morning, regroup: as Brits approach, Next morning, regroup: as Brits approach, order militia to disarmorder militia to disarm flash-in-pan flash-in-pan shooting, B volleyshooting, B volley

Ams: 8 dead, 10 wounded; B: 1 woundedAms: 8 dead, 10 wounded; B: 1 wounded

B. Concord and the Road to BostonB. Concord and the Road to Boston Concord hides the equipment, withdraw across Concord hides the equipment, withdraw across

the riverthe river American reinforcements arriveAmerican reinforcements arrive Americans decide to take the North BridgeAmericans decide to take the North Bridge

battle w/light infantrybattle w/light infantry Brits fall back Brits fall back

11stst atrocity of the war: 2 wounded B atrocity of the war: 2 wounded B regulars on bridge killed by “country regulars on bridge killed by “country youth” w/an axe (out of fear)youth” w/an axe (out of fear)

B claim they were scalpedB claim they were scalped circulate circulate rumors A mutilating bodiesrumors A mutilating bodies

The “Bloody Chute” (road back to Boston): The “Bloody Chute” (road back to Boston): approx. 500 Ams fire from the woods approx. 500 Ams fire from the woods (“concealed villains”)(“concealed villains”)

Final casualties: B 230, A 93Final casualties: B 230, A 93

C. 1C. 1stst British Mistake British Mistake Military officers underestimated Americans Military officers underestimated Americans

of 3 fronts:of 3 fronts: 1) commitment to armed resistance 1) commitment to armed resistance

(protecting homes and families)(protecting homes and families) 2) Skill of marksmen2) Skill of marksmen 3) Devastating impact of militia’s refusal 3) Devastating impact of militia’s refusal

to play by rules of 18to play by rules of 18thth C gentlemanly C gentlemanly warfare: guerilla tactics learned from warfare: guerilla tactics learned from frontier warfarefrontier warfare– BUT: vast majority of American warfare BUT: vast majority of American warfare was was

traditional style warfaretraditional style warfare

III. War in the Middle Colonies: III. War in the Middle Colonies: Continental Army at Trenton, 1776Continental Army at Trenton, 1776

A. Washington Takes CommandA. Washington Takes Command Early success in NE generated Early success in NE generated

hope that Americans would not hope that Americans would not need regular army, but by late need regular army, but by late 1776 knew that they did1776 knew that they did Continental Army Continental Army under under command of George Washingtoncommand of George Washington– Seen as political move: other Seen as political move: other

commanders more qualified, but commanders more qualified, but need to bring the South into the need to bring the South into the WarWar

Theater of war shifts to Middle Theater of war shifts to Middle Colonies: B hope to split Mass and VAColonies: B hope to split Mass and VA

GW retreats to New Jersey after GW retreats to New Jersey after defeat in NYCdefeat in NYC

As Americans cross Delaware into As Americans cross Delaware into PA, Hessians seize TrentonPA, Hessians seize Trenton

Am troops reduced to 3,000Am troops reduced to 3,000

B. The CrisisB. The Crisis Thomas Paine, Thomas Paine, The CrisisThe Crisis: : ““THESE are the times that try THESE are the times that try

men's souls. The summer men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”more glorious the triumph.”

Dec. 25: GW turns the tideDec. 25: GW turns the tide takes 2400 takes 2400 men across the Delaware into Trentonmen across the Delaware into Trenton overrun drunk/hungover Hessiansoverrun drunk/hungover Hessians 918 918 prisoners, not 1 Am deathprisoners, not 1 Am death

Not a glorious victory (have to retreat Not a glorious victory (have to retreat soon after) but:soon after) but:

1) timely: morale surges, locals more 1) timely: morale surges, locals more generous in supportgenerous in support

2) GW realizes what kind of war 2) GW realizes what kind of war needs to fight: needs to fight: attrition attrition (hit + run)(hit + run)

Generalship marked by poverty Generalship marked by poverty (men, supplies, weapons)(men, supplies, weapons) strategic strategic defensivedefensive

#1 objective: keep the army alive, #1 objective: keep the army alive, even if give up lots of territory (major even if give up lots of territory (major break w/military tradition)break w/military tradition)– Understood that British public support Understood that British public support

was falteringwas faltering what are we fighting for? what are we fighting for? Some believed that the Revolutionaries Some believed that the Revolutionaries were right: they shouldn’t be taxedwere right: they shouldn’t be taxed

22ndnd Major British blunder: fought war Major British blunder: fought war in traditional manner: seized in traditional manner: seized cities/capitals, but only 5% lived in cities/capitals, but only 5% lived in citiescities

C. 2C. 2ndnd British Blunder British Blunder

IV. War in the South: Guerilla IV. War in the South: Guerilla Warfare at King’s Mountain, 1780Warfare at King’s Mountain, 1780

A. A World WarA. A World WarBritish move South: British move South: a) believe filled w/Loyalists and run-a) believe filled w/Loyalists and run-

away slaves who will support themaway slaves who will support them b) switch strategy from regarding b) switch strategy from regarding

Americans as misbehaving children Americans as misbehaving children to foreign enemies (esp. after to foreign enemies (esp. after entrance of French, 1778)entrance of French, 1778)– French mainly help by redirecting French mainly help by redirecting

British attention to the West IndiesBritish attention to the West Indies

B. Civil WarB. Civil War

Much of the Continental Army Much of the Continental Army surrenderssurrenders war carried out by war carried out by partisanspartisans

American Patriots vs. American American Patriots vs. American Loyalists (true civil war)Loyalists (true civil war)

Thomas Jefferson (gov. of VA): turn of the Thomas Jefferson (gov. of VA): turn of the tide: King’s Mountain (border NC+SC), Oct. tide: King’s Mountain (border NC+SC), Oct. 7, 17807, 1780

British left wing (Loyalists) hunting down British left wing (Loyalists) hunting down PatriotsPatriots East Tennessee mountain men East Tennessee mountain men rise uprise up

Annihilate Loyalists: 1000 British Annihilate Loyalists: 1000 British casualties, 90 Americancasualties, 90 American

Took prisoners + tortured + Took prisoners + tortured + massacred some, mutilated + massacred some, mutilated + urinated on Loyalist bodiesurinated on Loyalist bodies

struck terror into British General struck terror into British General CornwalisCornwalis’ men’ men defeat at defeat at Yorktown Yorktown (did he intentionally walk into trap?)(did he intentionally walk into trap?)

C. 3C. 3rdrd British Blunder British Blunder Believed military victory would Believed military victory would

retain American loyalty, but this retain American loyalty, but this was first modern war of national was first modern war of national liberation:liberation:

Had to win their “hearts and Had to win their “hearts and minds”minds”

British raping + pillaging + British raping + pillaging + military rulemilitary rule greater resistance greater resistance + mobilization+ mobilization– Also declining Brit pop. supportAlso declining Brit pop. support

AR was an insurgencyAR was an insurgency– Compare Vietnam/Iraq/AfghanistanCompare Vietnam/Iraq/Afghanistan