War of Independence War of Independence 1775 - 17831775 - 1783

““The offense of the Americans is flagitious. The offense of the Americans is flagitious. The town of Boston ought to be knocked The town of Boston ought to be knocked about its ears and destroyed. You will about its ears and destroyed. You will never meet with proper obedience to the never meet with proper obedience to the laws of this country until you have laws of this country until you have destroyed that nest of locusts.”destroyed that nest of locusts.”

--Speech by a member of the Speech by a member of the British Parliament, 1774 British Parliament, 1774

Lexington and Lexington and ConcordConcord

22ndnd Continental Congress meets in Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia, May 1775, they Philadelphia, May 1775, they appoint George Washington appoint George Washington commander of the new commander of the new Continental Army.Continental Army.Continental forces Continental forces (Continentals)(Continentals) under the command under the command of of Benedict ArnoldBenedict Arnold, , invade Canada, attempt invade Canada, attempt to cut-off English forces to cut-off English forces in Canada, before they can in Canada, before they can isolate New England.isolate New England.

Olive Branch PetitionOlive Branch Petition““We therefore beseech your Majesty, We therefore beseech your Majesty,

that your royal authority and that your royal authority and influence may be graciously influence may be graciously

interposed to procure us relief from interposed to procure us relief from our afflicting fears and jealousies… our afflicting fears and jealousies… by which the united applications of by which the united applications of

your faithful Colonists to the Throne, your faithful Colonists to the Throne, in pursuance of their common in pursuance of their common

counsels, may be improved into a counsels, may be improved into a happy and permanent happy and permanent

reconciliation…”reconciliation…”

““The die is now cast, the colonies The die is now cast, the colonies must either submit or triumph… must either submit or triumph… We must not retreat; by We must not retreat; by coolness and unremitted pursuit coolness and unremitted pursuit of the measures that have been of the measures that have been adopted I trust they will submit.”adopted I trust they will submit.”

-King George III-King George III

Make-up of the Make-up of the coloniescolonies

PatriotsPatriots ~ Farmers, Shopkeepers, ~ Farmers, Shopkeepers, those without strong ties to those without strong ties to EnglandEngland

NeutralsNeutrals ~ Merchants, artisans, ~ Merchants, artisans, loyalties were determined by loyalties were determined by geographygeography

LoyalistsLoyalists ~ Those with strong ties ~ Those with strong ties to England, also depended on to England, also depended on GeographyGeography

Taking SidesTaking Sides

LOYALISTS LOYALISTS ((TORIESTORIES))

After the War, many loyalists After the War, many loyalists are forced to return to England are forced to return to England or flee north to Canada (Nova or flee north to Canada (Nova Scotia)Scotia)

Thomas PaineThomas PaineCommon SenseCommon Sense (January 1776) (January 1776)Paine argues for independencePaine argues for independence100,000 copies sold (equivalent 100,000 copies sold (equivalent today would be 7 million copies today would be 7 million copies sold)sold)His work, helps to influence public His work, helps to influence public opinion to support the waropinion to support the war

Common SenseCommon Sense““The Sun never shined on a cause of The Sun never shined on a cause of

greater worth. 'Tis not the affair of a greater worth. 'Tis not the affair of a City, a County, a Province, or a Kingdom; City, a County, a Province, or a Kingdom; but of a Continent — of at least one-but of a Continent — of at least one-eighth part of the habitable Globe… Now eighth part of the habitable Globe… Now is the seed-time of Continental union, is the seed-time of Continental union, faith and honour. The least fracture now faith and honour. The least fracture now will be like a name engraved with the will be like a name engraved with the point of a pin on the tender rind of a point of a pin on the tender rind of a young oak; the wound would enlarge young oak; the wound would enlarge with the tree, and posterity read in it full with the tree, and posterity read in it full grown characters.”grown characters.”

Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependenceJuly 4, 1776 - July 4, 1776 - PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia

Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Penned by Penned by Thomas Jefferson (VA)Thomas Jefferson (VA)John Adams (MA), Benjamin John Adams (MA), Benjamin Franklin (PA), Robert Livingston Franklin (PA), Robert Livingston (NY), and Roger Sherman (CT)(NY), and Roger Sherman (CT)

Jefferson’s original draft was thought Jefferson’s original draft was thought to be too radical for all the colonies to be too radical for all the colonies to agree on.to agree on.

Presented to Congress on July 4, Presented to Congress on July 4, 1776. Not completely signed until 1776. Not completely signed until November ‘76November ‘76

Britain vs. Britain vs. ColoniesColonies

First conflicts in New First conflicts in New EnglandEngland

By June 1776, British shift By June 1776, British shift their attention to the Middle their attention to the Middle Colonies in an effort to Colonies in an effort to isolate New England.isolate New England.

The CrisisThe Crisis~~Thomas PaineThomas Paine

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

Battle of Trenton Battle of Trenton December 1776December 1776

Washington defeats Hessian Washington defeats Hessian soldiers (German Mercenaries) soldiers (German Mercenaries) First victory for the Americans First victory for the Americans under Washington.under Washington.Saves Continental Army; Saves Continental Army; Washington was on the verge of Washington was on the verge of losing his army due to expiration losing his army due to expiration of enlistment papers. of enlistment papers. (Franklin enlists the help of the (Franklin enlists the help of the French and Spanish in arms and French and Spanish in arms and money)money)

Battle of PrincetonBattle of PrincetonShortly after Shortly after the new year the new year Washington Washington again crosses again crosses the Delaware the Delaware River to River to attack a attack a British British outpost; this outpost; this time at time at Princeton, NJ. Princeton, NJ. Again he is Again he is successful!successful!

British over-a11 strategy British over-a11 strategy in 1777 had two major in 1777 had two major objectives:objectives:

(1) to split New England (1) to split New England from the rest of the from the rest of the American states by a American states by a drive from Canada drive from Canada down the Hudson to down the Hudson to Albany that would link Albany that would link up with another British up with another British force advancing north force advancing north from New York Cityfrom New York City

(2) to seize (2) to seize Philadelphia, seat of Philadelphia, seat of the Revolutionary the Revolutionary government government

General John General John General General HoratioHoratio Burgoyne Burgoyne GatesGates

Battle of Saratoga was to be a decisive Battle of Saratoga was to be a decisive British Victory, with William Howe British Victory, with William Howe

pushing North from New York city, John pushing North from New York city, John Burgoyne driving south from Canada, Burgoyne driving south from Canada, and Barry St. Leger from Lake Ontario and Barry St. Leger from Lake Ontario pushing East to entrap Horatio Gates’s pushing East to entrap Horatio Gates’s

continental Army at Saratoga. continental Army at Saratoga. Unfortunately for the British, Howe Unfortunately for the British, Howe

goes to Philadelphia instead, St. Leger goes to Philadelphia instead, St. Leger quits his push east due to the forces of quits his push east due to the forces of Benedict Arnold. Burgoyne is forced to Benedict Arnold. Burgoyne is forced to

fight the battle evenly against fight the battle evenly against American troops and loses.American troops and loses.

SARATOGA - October SARATOGA - October 17771777

Most important victory, Most important victory, the the turning pointturning point of American Rev. of American Rev.Not only do they defeat a British Not only do they defeat a British Army on the field of battle, but Army on the field of battle, but this victory is what convinces this victory is what convinces the French to support the the French to support the American in their cause.American in their cause.

Valley ForgeValley ForgeWashington’s armyWashington’s army

spent winter spent winter

quarters at Valleyquarters at Valley

Forge, Pennsylvania Forge, Pennsylvania

In 1777- 1778, dueIn 1777- 1778, due

To the immense coldTo the immense cold

And lack of food, And lack of food,

Shelter, and clothing, the army nearly Shelter, and clothing, the army nearly disintegrated,disintegrated,

Due to the leadership of Washington and training of Due to the leadership of Washington and training of

His men by, Friedrich Von Steuben and CasimirHis men by, Friedrich Von Steuben and Casimir

Pulaski, the army survived and lived to fight again.Pulaski, the army survived and lived to fight again.

Help From AbroadHelp From AbroadForeign officers such as Von Foreign officers such as Von Steuben, Lafayette, Kosciusko Steuben, Lafayette, Kosciusko and Pulaski … train soldiers and and Pulaski … train soldiers and fight for the American causefight for the American causeBenedict Arnold: Turns traitor Benedict Arnold: Turns traitor attempts to surrender West attempts to surrender West Point, NY to the British. (effort Point, NY to the British. (effort fails) fails) British turn their attentions British turn their attentions SouthSouth

Battle of Battle of CowpensCowpensJanuary 1781January 1781

Tarleton (British) vs. Morgan (American)Tarleton (British) vs. Morgan (American)This small battle had an effect This small battle had an effect disproportionate to its size. As seemed disproportionate to its size. As seemed to be the case throughout the war to be the case throughout the war British victories achieved little in the British victories achieved little in the long term while every American victory long term while every American victory gave encouragement to the colonies. gave encouragement to the colonies. Leads to the retreat of Cornwallis army Leads to the retreat of Cornwallis army into Virginia and its concentration at into Virginia and its concentration at Yorktown.Yorktown.

YorktownYorktownOctober 1781October 1781

George Washington (American) George Washington (American) Lord Cornwallis (British)Lord Cornwallis (British)

General Cornwallis digs his troops in at General Cornwallis digs his troops in at Yorktown, Virginia expecting to be re-Yorktown, Virginia expecting to be re-enforced by his navy. But the swift enforced by his navy. But the swift moving troops of Washington and the moving troops of Washington and the arrival of the French navy help to trap arrival of the French navy help to trap Cornwallis and secure victory for the Cornwallis and secure victory for the Americans.Americans.

War is very unpopular in BritainWar is very unpopular in Britain

The war for Independence is The war for Independence is over, however it will only be the over, however it will only be the end of hostilities. It will be two end of hostilities. It will be two more years before all is resolved. more years before all is resolved.

Treaty of Treaty of Paris 1783Paris 1783

Treaty of Treaty of Paris, 1783Paris, 1783US. Represented byUS. Represented by

John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John JayJay, Henry Laurens, and William Temple , Henry Laurens, and William Temple Franklin.Franklin.

►New boundaries createdNew boundaries createdUnited States receives trans-United States receives trans-Appalachian region from Mississippi Appalachian region from Mississippi River to the Atlantic OceanRiver to the Atlantic OceanNorthern Boundary; CanadaNorthern Boundary; CanadaSouthern Boundary; FloridaSouthern Boundary; FloridaAlso receive fishing rights off the coast Also receive fishing rights off the coast of Newfoundlandof Newfoundland

Results of the RevolutionResults of the Revolution

New government formedNew government formed

America becomes the new America becomes the new example for the rest of the example for the rest of the

world to model. (French world to model. (French Revolution, 1789)Revolution, 1789)

Big issues: Slavery and Big issues: Slavery and ReligionReligion

United States of America, United States of America, 17831783