The War for American Independence

1775-1783

Battle of Lexington and Concord

• April 19, 1775• General Gage sends troops

to check out arsenals in Lexington, Mass

• Dr. Warren sends for Paul Revere

• Warning shots are fired to alert the town

• Revere is stopped and questioned, but the element of surprise was lost and the militia was on its way to Concord

• British order Minutemen to leave – they refuse and shots ring out

• Battle only lasts 15 minutes – British won…at first

• As the British make their way back to Boston, minutemen hid in the trees and fired at them

May 1775: Meeting of the Second Continental Congress

• Which course of action to take?

• John Adams view vs. John Dickinson view

• What is decided

• What does this infer about the American public based on the decisions made at the 2nd Continental Congress?

June 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill • Breed’s Hill

• Reason for attack

• Summary of Battle

July 1775: Olive Branch Petition Sent

• Final attempt at a peaceful resolution

• Terms of Petition

• Response of King George III

Fall/Winter 1775: A Call for “Common Sense”

• Background

• Content of Common Sense• Who is Thomas Paine?• What is his message?

• Why a King is not necessary• Inherent evils of having a king

July 1776: Declaration of Independence

• One by one, the colonies declare their independence

• Continental Congress asks each colony to form its own government in preparation for independence

• Thomas Jefferson pens the document

• Accepted to July 2nd, read on July 4th

The Revolution

The British Army

• Attitude

• Strategy

• Advantages

The Colonists

• Attitudes

• Strategy

• Advantages

Choosing sides: For or Against?• Loyalists

• Patriots

• Quakers

• Native Americans

New York – Summer, 1776

• Howe & Howe (GB) led 30,000+ soldiers and mercenaries

• Washington had 20,000 poorly trained and under equipped men

• By Fall, Continental Army pushed across Delaware and troops dwindled to 8000

• Big What if? for American history

Battle of Trenton – Christmas, 1776

• Washington led troops across DE River into PA

• Attacked a group of Hessians guarding garrisons

• Defeated Hessians who were drunk from holiday

• Significance/Effects:• Many men re-enlisted

Fall of Philadelphia – September, 1777

• Howe (GB) sailed south from NY in Spring

• Washington failed to block redcoats at Brandywine Creek

• Thus, allowing GB to secure Philadelphia

Saratoga – October, 1777

• The Plan:• Burgoyne & Howe (GB) attempt to cut off New England from rest of colonies

• The Problems:• Burgoyne continued to lose men in smaller fights with Americans• Burgoyne did not know Howe was in Philadelphia, and was not coming to meet

him

• The Result: • American Victory• Drastic change in GB war strategy – Keep troops near coast!• Turning point in War

Saratoga – A Turning Point

• Bolstered French supported

• FR Recognized American independence

• France refused to make peace with GB, until GB recognized American independence

Surrender at Saratoga

Because I lost a bet…The Leadership of Mad Anthony Wayne

• Local boy – Paoli

• Became a general in 1776

• Involvement in Battles• Paoli Massacre• Monmouth

Valley Forge - Winter of 1777 – 1778

• More than 2000 men died from the conditions

European Allies

• Volunteers

• Friedrich von Steuben• Prussian Captain• Taught field maneuvers, firing

techniques

• Marquis de Lafayette• French aristocrat• Lobby for French aid• Command army in Virginia

Lafayette & Washington at Valley Forge

Von Steuben drills Continental Army at Valley Forge

War Heads South

• After defeat @ Saratoga, British change strategy

• Cornwallis (GB)• Sailed south to Charles Town, S.C w/ 8500 men

• Easily defeated Americans• Why Charles Town?

• Able to establish forts • Enjoyed much success in 1780

• BUT Cornwallis is moving into NC

The Legend of Benedict Arnold • 1779

• 1780

• Why did he do it?

Cornwallis crosses into N.C. - 1781

• Met with opposition, and forced to retreat

• Grueling chase ensues between two armies• American Victories @ Kings Mt.

& Cowpens• Unexpected! Were

outnumbered!

Surrender at Yorktown – October 1781

• Cornwallis makes camp• Poor strategic position

• French supply 6000 additional troops

• Surround British• French Naval force • 17,000 American & French

troops • After 3 weeks, Cornwallis

surrenders• October 1781

Surrender at Yorktown

Treaty of Paris - 1783

• US, Great Britain, France, & Spain

• Confirms US Independence

• Treaty Provisions• US land:

• Atlantic Ocean to Mississippi Rv.• British creditors could collect debts

Egalitarianism

• A belief in the equality of all people• Began to spread during the Revolution

• Ironically applied to only white males