• Essential QuestionEssential Question: –What factors caused the British to fail in what should have been an easy campaign to subdue the American rebels?

The Decision to Fight For Independence

Decision for Independence• The Lexington & Concord

skirmish was the 1st of a series of conflicts from 1775 to 1776 before the American call for independence:–Fighting erupted around Boston, NY, Charlestown, & Quebec

–The 2nd Continental Congress met to organize a war plan

–King George declared the colonists in “open rebellion”

The Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill) demonstrated that Americans were

willing to stand up to a pitched battle In early 1776, both Spain & France

began shipping war supplies to colonists

Despite growing calls for independence, the congress issued the Olive Branch Petition to King George in July 1775

King George rejected the Olive Branch Petition in August 1775

Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill); June 17, 1775

With over 1,000 casualties, the British suffered their greatest losses of the Revolution at Bunker Hill

“A few more such victories would have shortly put an end to British dominion in America”

—British General Henry Clinton

Decision for Independence• By 1776, the 2nd Continental

Congress served as an informal national gov’t for the colonies

• But the majority of colonists were undecided about independence

• Thomas Paine’s Common Sense proved to be the key factor in convincing Americans to support colonial independence

Challenged “royal infallibility”

Persuaded ordinary people to sever ties with England & its “royal brute”

By 1776, colonial

sentiment had changed

On June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee of

VA introduced a resolution to the

Continental Congress: “that these

United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free

and independent States...” After several days of

debate, Congress appointed a committee to draft a declaration of

independence

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Committee to draft the Declaration: Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin,

John Adams, Robert Livingston, & Roger Sherman

Decision for Independence• On July 2, 1776, the Continental

Congress voted for independence • On July 4, the Declaration of

Independence was signed; The Declaration’s purpose was to:–Justify the Americans’ desire to separate from England

–Articulate the principles on which the new nation would be established

Democratic ideals (republicanism)

Natural rights & individual liberty

Independence Hall at the Second Continental Congress

The Declaration of Independence was NOT signed like this!

The Decision for Independence • The colonists were divided about

this decision for independence:–Supporters of independence were called “PatriotsPatriots” or “WhigsWhigs”

–Colonists that opposed independence were called “LoyalistsLoyalists” or “ToriesTories”

–There were many “neutralneutral” colonists who were conflicted by the prospect of independence

Patriots vs. Loyalists

• Where are the Loyalists?

• Why are Loyalists near cities?

• Why is the backcountry so contested?

• Why are Native Americans loyalists?

Fighting the Warfor Independence

The Outbreak of Revolution• The British entered the war

confident of a complete victory:–Their army was 400% larger; well-trained solders, experienced officers, & Hessian mercenaries

–Strong manufacturing base–The world’s most dominant navy

• Believed the 1776 battles were a “police action” & the show of force would force rebels to submit

The Outbreak of Revolution• In reality, England faced an

impossible task:– Their long supply lines across the Atlantic would not be able to provide timely provisions

– The American terrain was large– To win, the English had to find find & defeat& defeat the Continental Army

– Underestimated the colonial commitment to independence

The American Revolution, 1775-1781

Where was the Where was the American American Revolution Revolution

fought?fought?

Building a Professional Army• Washington’s task was to defenddefend

as much territory as possible:–Relied on guerrilla tactics & avoided all-out-war with Britain

–Washington’s Continental Army served as the symbol of the “republican cause”

–But, colonial militias played a major role in “forcing” neutrals to support the Revolution

As long as England did not defeat the Continental Army, England could not win

Slaves & Indians in the War• Black slaves supported whoever

seemed likely to deliver freedom:–Northern slaves supported the colonists who offered freedom for any slave who fought

–Southern slaves typically supported Britain

• Native Americans feared colonial expansion & overwhelmingly supported Britain

The Variety of Colonial Soldiers The Continental Army had 2 all-black regiments composed of Northern slaves

Women in the War• Women’s role in the revolution:

–Supported their husbands & sons in enlisting in militias

–Ran business affairs & continued boycotting English goods while men fought (i.e. Abigail Adams)

–Created propaganda (political satires by Mercy Otis Warren)

–Some helped in the battlefield (“Molly Pitcher”)

Differing Military StrategiesThe Americans The British

• Win a war of attrition–England had

long supply lines –Colonials did not

have to “win” just had to wear down the British

• Guerilla tactics • Make an alliance

with one of Britain’s enemies

• “Divide & Conquer”–Use Loyalists–Encourage slave

revolts–Seize property

• Break the colonies in half by dividing the North & South

• Blockade the ports to prevent trade with American allies

The Early Years: 1776-1777• The initial battles of the revolution

went badly for Americans: –British General Howe forced Washington to retreat at New York putting the Americans on the run

–Gen Howe issued a “general pardon” to all Americans who swore an oath of allegiance to George III; thousands did so

Colonial militias retaliated against those who deserted the patriot cause

The Early Years: 1776-1777• The British strategy remained to

fight a “major & decisive” battle; but Continental Army was elusive

• Despite British victories & 1,000s of colonial “oaths of allegiance”, Washington kept fighting–Won small victories that renewed American wartime morale

–“Won” at SaratogaSaratoga in 1777

Howe captured New York Captured

PhiladelphiaWashington’s army almost

starved at Valley Forge

Took Trenton Took Princeton

British Seizure & Burning of New York, 1776

Crossing the Delaware in route to a surprise attack at Trenton & Princeton, 1776

The “Turning Point” of the Revolution: The Battle of Saratoga, 1777

Near Starvation at Valley Forge, PA in 1778

The French Alliance• Since 1775, the French covertly

aided Americans with supplies• But after the “victory” at

SaratogaSaratoga:–France recognized America as a new, independent republic

–France promised to pressure England to agree to American independence after war’s end

–France relinquished all of its claims to territory in America

The turning point of the war!!A lot of these points

were negotiated by none other than Ben Franklin

And…England now has to worry about a possible (yet remote)

invasion of England by France

The Continental Congress refused the offer

In 1778, England offered to remove all parliamentary legislation & vowed never to impose revenue taxes on the colonists again

The Final Campaign• By 1781, Washington pushed the

Redcoats towards Yorktown (VA) Yorktown (VA) where General Cornwallis was caught between the Continental Army & the French navy

• On October 19, 1781 Cornwallis surrendered; the English still controlled NY & Charles Town but the fighting virtually ended

American Victory at YorktownAmerican Victory at Yorktown

Cornwallis’ surrender was the “day the world turned upside down”

The Loyalist Dilemma• Loyalists believed in liberty too,

but feared that independence would breed anarchy in America

• Loyalists were treated poorly:–The English never fully trusted the Loyalists

–Patriots seized their property; imprisoned & executed others

• More than 100,000 Loyalists left America when the war ended

The Treaty of Paris, 1783

The Treaty of Paris (1783)• The Treaty of Paris in 1783 was

negotiated with England by Franklin, John Adams, John Jay

• The terms included:– Full American independence – All territory east of Mississippi River, between Canada & FL

– The removal of the British army from U.S. claims in America

– Fishing rights in the Atlantic

North America after the Treaty Treaty

of Paris, of Paris, 17831783

Preserving Independence• After 176 years of British rule,

the American Revolution began the construction of a new form of government

• But...will the new United States be a government of the eliteelite or a government of the peoplepeople?