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THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONChapter 6
Section 1
FIGHTING BEGINS IN THE NORTH
PEACE OR WAR? May 10, 1775 Second Continental Congress
met to plan a way to avoid war. Delegates sent a petition to King George III In the Olive Branch Petition the colonists
declared their loyalty to the king and asked that the Intolerable Acts to be repealed. King George was furious Ordered 20,000 more troops to the colonies to
crush revolt.
REBELS TAKE TICONDEROGA Ethan Allen, Vermont blacksmith, lead the
Green Mountain Boys in a surprise attack on Fort Ticonderoga. Fort held cannons that colonists could use.
Green Mountain Boys quickly over took the guard and entered the fort.
Allen stormed the room where the British commander slept. The British commander surrendered Ticonderoga
SETTING UP AN ARMY The Second Continental Congress
wanted to organize the makeshift army. In June 1775 the delegates set up the
Continental Army with George Washington as commander. Washington knew he would be fighting the
world’s strongest armies but was willing to do his best
ADVANTAGES OF OPPOSING SIDES
PATRIOTS DISADVANTAGES PATRIOTS ADVANTAGES Patriots- colonists who
were against British rule 1/3 of colonists were patriots. Patriots were unorganized
and untrained Had little weapons and
gunpowder and no Navy. Colonists were not willing to
enlist in Continental Army and did not like fighting away from home.
Patriots owned their own guns and were good shots.
Washington was a brilliant commander.
Patriots were very determined to defend their homes, property, and liberty
ADVANTAGES OF THE OPPOSING SIDES
THE BRITISH ADVANTAGES BRITISH DISADVANTAGES
Powerful foes Highly trained and
experienced troops. Experienced navy
Its armies were 3,000 miles from home.
Took months for news and supplies to travel from Britain to America.
British soldiers risked attack by colonists once they left the cities.
LOYALISTS Loyalists- American colonists who
remained loyal to Britain. 1/3 of the population
Wealthy merchants Formal officials of the royal government.
Most loyalists were from the Middle and Southern colonies
FIGHT FOR BOSTON During the first year of fighting 6,000
British troops were surrounded in Boston by the Colonial militia.
June 16,1775 Colonel William Prescott led 1,200 minutemen up Bunker Hill Perched on the hill Prescott and his men
could fire on British ships. At sunrise British general, William
Howe, saw the Americans and ferried 2,400 redcoats to attack the rebels’ position
BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL As British approached the Patriots held
their fire. When the Americans fired the British
retreated. The British tried the second time with
same result. The last time the British took the hill
but lost 1,000 redcoats Americans only lost 400.
BRITISH LEAVE BOSTON Washington turned raw recruits into a
trained army Difficult because soldiers from different
colonies did not trust each other. Washington won loyalty for his troops.
January 1776 the cannons that Green Mountain Boys captured arrived in Boston.
General Howe saw cannons and knew he could not hold Boston.
March 1776 he and his troops left Boston for Halifax, Canada
1,000 loyalists went with them. King George III ordered a blockade of all colonial
ports Blockade- the shutting of a port to keep
people or supplies from moving in or out. The king also used mercenaries from Germany
to help in fight. Mercenaries- troops for hire.
FLAGS OF THE REVOLUTION
Sons of Liberty flag
Section 2
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
THOMAS PAINE
Urged to write an essay urging the colonists to declare independence.
Winter of 1775 patriots had been fighting Britain for months. Colonists still were reluctant to cut ties with
Great Britain. Thomas Paine wrote the pamphlet
Common Sense.
COMMON SENSE Appeared in print January 1776. Paine stated that colonists did not owe
loyalty to George III or any other monarch. the idea of king and queens were wrong.
Colonists did not owe anything to Britain Argued that if England helped the Colonies it
was to their own profit. Common Sense sold the colonists on the
idea of independence.
RESOLUTION FOR INDEPENDENCE June 1776 Richard Henry Lee of Virginia
announced to Congress a resolution in favor of independence:
“ Resolved, That these United Colonies are and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between the and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”- Richard Henry Lee, Resolution at the Second Continental Congress June 7, 1776
MAKING THE BREAK Delegates faced a difficult decision if
they declared independence. If they fell into British hands they would
be hanged as traitors. After a long debate, Congress took the
step and appointed a committee to draw up the declaration.
DECLARATION COMMITTEE John Adams Ben Franklin Thomas
JeffersonBoston, MA Philidelphia, PA Charlottesville, VA
Robert Livingston Roger Sherman Clermont, NY New Haven, CT
THOMAS JEFFERSON
Thomas Jefferson was asked to write the Declaration of Independence.
Youngest of the Continental Congress delegates.( 33 years old)
Quiet man Wrote clearly and gracefully won him
respect
SIGNING THE DOCUMENT Late June of 1776 Jefferson completed
the declaration. July 2, 1776 the Continental Congress
voted that all 13 colonies were “free and independent States.”
Document was adopted the night of July 4, 1776.
John Hancock the first to sign
CELEBRATION Copies of the Declaration of
Independence were printed and distributed throughout the colonies.
Patriots were joyous over the Document. New York colonists torn down the Statue of
King George III Boston cannons were fired for hours http
://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=216361
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE The DOI consists of 4 parts
Preamble(Introduction) Natural Rights- Rights that belong to
ALL people from birth British Wrongs Independence
NATURAL RIGHTS “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain Unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” According to the DOI people form governments in
order to protect their natural rights and liberties. Governments can only exist if they have the Consent
of the governed. If the government does not uphold this then the
people can remove said government.
BRITISH WRONGS This section of the DOI lists the wrongs that Britain
has done that led the colonies to break away. Disbanding colonial legislatures Sending troops to colonies during peacetimes Limits on trade And imposed taxes without consent
“In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”
INDEPENDENCE Last part announces that the colonies
are the United States of America. All ties with Great Britain are cut. As a free independent nation the USA
could levy war, conclude peace,….“And, for the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of Devine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our freedoms, and our sacred honor.”
Section 3
STRUGGLES IN THE MIDDLE STATES
BRITISH TAKE NEW YORK June 1776 General Howe arrived in New
York Harbor with 34,000 troops and 10,000 saliors
Washington expecting Howe’s attack led his 20,000 poorly trained troops to New York
August 1776 the Battle of Long Island more than 1,400 Americans were killed, wounded or captured.
WAR IN AUTUMN November 1776 Washington crossed
the Hudson River into NJ, Being chased they then crossed the Delaware River into Pennsylvania
Needing information for the New York battle, Washington sent Nathan Hale behind British Line. Hale was captured. In Hale’s boot they found information
about British movement. Hale was hanged.
RETREAT TO VICTORY Months of constant fighting had worn
down the Continental Army. Washington’s troops were sick and dirty Soldiers deserted from his ranks
Christmas night of 1776 Washington planned a surprise attack on Trenton
December 26 in the Battle of Trenton Washington and his men captured the Hessians who were guarding Trenton
THE TURNING POINT British officials were disappointed how
the war was going. Planned to cut off New England from the
rest of the colonies. By doing this General John Burgoyne
thought it would end the war Howe captured Philadelphia in the battles of
Brandywine and Germantown
TURNING POINT
British captured Fort Ticonderoga Burgoyne sent his men to Vermont to find food and
horses. In the Battle of Bennington Patriots captured or
wounded nearly 1,000 British troops To help in New York the Green Mountain Boys
arrived. October 17,1777 Burgoyne surrendered his army at
the Battle of Saratoga Battle of Saratoga convinced the French to help the
Americans
FRENCH AID Ben Franklin persuaded Louis XVI to give guns and
needed supplies to America February 1778 France was the first country to sign a
treaty with America which stated they would provide military aid.
Spain and Netherlands also joined in the war. France, Spain, and Netherlands gave loans to the
US Marquis de Lafayette, French noble brought trained
soldiers to help the cause.
BEN FRANKLIN AND WOMEN Ladies man. Flirted. French women loved him. “ A French woman once tapped on his
ample pot belly and joked, Dr. Franklin if this was on a woman, wed know what to think. To which Franklin replied, half an hour ago, mademoiselle, it was on a woman and now what do you think?”
VALLEY FORGE
The Continental Army spent the winter in a makeshift camp called Valley Forge
Soldiers suffered due to little warm clothes, blankets, or food.
Patriots from all over sent food, clothing, blankets.
Some came to help the sick and wounded. Washington’s wife Martha was one of these. 2,500 troops died before winter was over
Head Quarters, Valley Forge, February 16, 1778 Dear Sir: It is with great reluctance, I trouble you on
a subject, which does not fall within your province; but it is a subject that occasions me more distress, than I have felt, since the commencement of the war; and which loudly demands the most zealous exertions of every person of weight and authority, who is interested in the success of our affairs. I mean the present dreadful situation of the army for want of provisions, and the miserable prospects before us, with respect to futurity. It is more alarming than you will probably conceive, for, to form a just idea, it were necessary to be on the spot. For some days past, there has been little less, than a famine in camp. A part of the army has been a week, without any kind of flesh, and the rest for three or four days.
Section 4
WINNING THE WAR IN THE SOUTH
FIGHTING IN THE SOUTH Battle of Cowpens was an important victory for
Patriot General Morgan on January 1780. Organized his men into two lines.
First line would fire twice then retreat British thinking that the Patriots were running away
would run right into the second line of fire Morgan and General Green Combined their armies
to fight General Cornwallis at Guilford Courthouse. Americans retreated but British lost more men.
CONTROLLING VIRGINIA Cornwallis abandoned his plan to take
the Carolinas. Spring 1781 he moved his troops into
Virginia. Plan was to conquer Virginia so that supply
routes to the South would be cut off. British had some success in Virginia
before Cornwallis arrived
AMERICAN TRAITOR Benedict Arnold, formerly one of Americas
best generals, now led the British troops in Virginia. Captured and Burned the capital city of
Richmond Also raided and burned other Virginian cities
Arnold has turned traitor in September 1780 while commanding West Point. Key fort in New York
AMERICAN TRAITOR Arnold was angry because he felt
Washington had not given him the credit he was owed for his victories. Arnold also was in need of money.
Secretly agreed to turn over West Point to the British. Would give British the control in New York Plot was uncovered by a Patriot patrol Arnold escaped and joined the British
YORKTOWN Cornwallis wanted the success in
Virginia that Arnold had. Loyalist troops attacked Charlottesville
Governor Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia legislature had to flee from the city
American troops under the command of Lafayette fought back by staging raids Did not have enough troops fro a full battle Raids kept Cornwallis at bay
CORNWALLIS MAKES A DEADLY MISTAKE Cornwallis did not agree with orders to
send part of his troops to New York. Retreated to Yorktown peninsula Confident that he could be supplied from the
sea. Washington planned to trap Cornwallis in
Yorktown American and French troops marched from New
York to join Lafayette in Virginia French Navy cut off Cornwallis from supplies
VICTORY IN YORKTOWN By the end of September 1781 16,00
American and French troops laid siege on Cornwallis’ 8,000 men. Siege- an army surrounds and blockades an
enemy position in an attempt to capture it. Cornwallis held out for a few weeks.
Ran low on food and supplies Casualties grew
Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781
PEACE TREATY Talks for peace started in 1782 Treaty of Paris made British recognize the
United States as an independent nation. Borders were from the “13 colonies to the
Mississippi River and north to Great Lakes and south to Florida.
Florida was given back to Spain State legislatures paid Loyalists for lost property
April 15, 1783 the treaty was approved.
WHY AMERICA WON Geography played an important role
British had to ship all supplies over sea Patriots were spread out in a wide area Americans were familiar with area
Foreign Help Growing American Patriotism
Section 5
FIGHTING FOR LIBERTY ON MANY FRONTS
WOMEN'S ROLE IN WAR Women to over all
work in and around the house. Planted and
harvested crops Mended fences Made shoes Wove cloth for
blankets and uniforms Made cannon balls
and guns
Many women joined their husbands at the front Cared for wounded Washed clothes cooked
Betsy Ross and others sewed flags for battles
A few women even fought when husband was wounded or dead. Mary Ludwig Hays
WOMEN OF REVOLUTIONSybil Ludington “female Paul
Revere” 16 YO who mounted
her horse on an April Night in 1777 to ride through countryside and got the local militia to grab arms and go fight
Deborah Sampson “Robert Shurtleff” When wounded she
hid the wounded leg. She caught yellow
fever and was taken to hospital where she was discovered.
She was given an honorable discharge
WOMEN OF REVOLUTIONAnn Bates Schoolteacher Loyalist Assumed a false name and acted as a
peddler and counted Patriot troops as they came through Philadelphia
WOMEN’S RIGHTS After all that women went through they
felt that they should have more rights under the law.
Colonial leaders did not agree. Thankful for their work Still thought women had no place in a
“public role” Women should “be seen not heard”
SLAVES 1776 50,000 slaves
lived in colonies. British offered
enslaved black men freedom if they fought for them.
Washington wanted only free black men.
5,000 black men from all colonies served. Exception was SC
2,000 served in navy Allowed black men to
serve from start 9 black men saw action
at Lexington and Concord Prince Estabrook was
wounded Peter Salem and Salem
Poor served at Bunker Hill
Saul Matthews and James Armistead were spies.
HOPING FOR FREEDOM Several thousand black men joined the British side by
the end of the war so that they could be free men. Black Patriots hoped the end of war would bring an
end to slavery. Cited the Declaration of Independence for saying “ all men
are created equal” Some white leaders wanted the same.
James Otis said “colonists are by the law of nature free born, as indeed all men are, white or black.”
By 1770s slavery was declining. During the war many colonies wanted to make slavery illegal. Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania
INDIANS AID BRITAIN In the South the British gained support
of several Indian groups. Cherokees Creeks Choctaws Chickasaws Iroquois Miami