The American Revolution

Subtitle

The American Revolution

The Declaration of Independence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZfRaWAtBVg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZfRaWAtBVg

Loyalists vs. Patriots• Not everyone was in favor of Independence from Britain

• Patriots supported resisting Britain, later support Independence

• Loyalists (20-33%)

• Worked for GB

• Far away from events happening in New England

• Thought the British would win war anyways

• Loyalists treated terribly by Patriots

• Many fled to Canada or England

• Property confiscated, positions forfeited

The Road to the Declaration• Common Sense published by

Thomas Paine

• Halifax Resolves• North Carolina becomes the first

colony to officially authorize its delegates to vote for independence

• Richard Henry Lee of VA proposes a resolution calling for a Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence: Context

• Written by Thomas Jefferson (w/ help from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin)

• Born in VA to wealthy family

• Well-educated

• Served in VA House of Burgesses

• Eloquent writer, but not a good public speaker

• “Silent member” of Congress

• Unanimously chosen to prepare a draft of the Declaration

The Declaration of Independence: Context • Declaration of Independence reflected

viewpoint already popular in the Americas (based off state declarations)• Many were excited, though some remained loyal

to the Crown

• Jefferson’s Viewpoints reflected in Document• Separation of Church and State

• Colonies had the RIGHT to overthrow a tyrannical government

Key Points of the Declaration• All men are created equal.“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

• Men are given by God certain unalienable rights.“They are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

• We have the natural right by God to declare our independence from England.“When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them…

Key Points of the Declaration• Governments derive their authority from the consent of the people. • “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the

consent of the governed.”

• When a government abuses it’s power, the people have the right to overthrow it.• “That whenever any form of Government becomes destructive to these ends, it is

the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…

• The colonies tried repeatedly to compromise with King George, but has been a tyrant.

• “Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.

What was Left Out

• Whom did the Declaration of Independence NOT help? • Slaves/African

Americans• Women• Native Americans

Historical Significance

• Colonies had finally OFFICIALLY declared Independence from England

• The first step in the creation of a new nation

The American RevolutionThe Early War

The States• After Lexington and Concord and the

Declaration, colonies began to call themselves “States”

• Each state sovereign

• Supreme and Independent power in government

• Written constitutions and representative democracies

• Continental Congress coordinated War effort

• Extremely weak compared to the states

Mobilizing Supplies

• Mobilization: Preparing for War

• Troops and supplies

• Not enough guns or ammunition

• Captured British Supplies, rest from Europe

• Congress couldn’t tax, and the states gave very little money

Mobilizing: Money

• Continental Congress printed paper money called “Continentals”

• States printed money, too

• This led to inflation: rising prices

• Many merchants and farmers wouldn’t accept the $

• Congress and states had to get loans from other countries

Mobilizing Troops

• States had to bribe and draft recruits

• Continental Army led by single Commander in Chief- George Washington

• Supply Shortages

• Mutiny (soldiers refusing to obey orders)

• Washington becomes symbol of stability

• Later, rely on military help from the French

• Disadvantages

• Far from Britain- takes 2 months for goods, supplies, people, news to travel

• Fought using old war strategies

• Worldwide empire to worry about- not focused on just this

• Advantages

• Best army and navy in world

• Control over major cities (NY and Boston)

• Richest nation in world

• Strong, organized government

British- Advantages and Disadvantages

• Disadvantages

• Had to build army/navy from scratch

• No formal government to make decisions

• Scarce supplies: Food, money, weapons, clothing

• Advantages

• Better leadership- George Washington

• Home field advantage

• Guerilla warfare tactics

• France as eventual ally

Colonists- Advantages and Disadvantages

Phase I of the War:

Spring 1775-1776• Summary

• The British Underestimated the Patriots

• Saw the War as a local rebellion around Boston

• Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill)• British won (technically) but lost twice as

many men

• British evacuated Boston, fled to Canada to regroup

The American RevolutionThe War Continues and

Wartime Strategies

Phase II of War: 1776-Early 1778

• Summary: The British should have won, but didn’t

• British commander William Howe takes NY

• Battle of Trenton: Washington crosses the Delaware and surprises the Hessians on Christmas

• Washington does not have the manpower to hold the towns

• Cold, hungry winter at Valley Forge

Phase II of War: 1776-Early 1778

• Winter at Valley Forge• Shortages of food and supplies

• Low morale

• Many desertions

• A Prussian drill master, Baron von Steuben, greatly improved troops’ skills

• A hardened, improved army survived

Phase II of War: 1776-Early 1778

• British General Burgoyne in the North

• Won at Fort Ticonderoga

• Surrounded and surrenders at Saratoga (1777)

• MAJOR TURNING POINT IN WAR

• After the Patriot Victory at Saratoga, France makes an alliance with the US

• Had previously given weapons (secretly)

• Now openly support US using army and navy

Help from the French• After Saratoga, the French did two

things

• Formally recognized the US as a country

• Promised military help

• Marquis de Lafayette

• Became an aide to Washington

• Persuaded the French to send even more help

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxnTdBW3_9g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxnTdBW3_9g

Phase III of War: 1778-1781• In the North

• Standoff in New York

• Patriot leader Benedict Arnold caught trying to betray the Patriots at West Point

• British tried to get Loyalists on their side, but it did not work

Phase III of War: 1778-1781• In the South

• British moved South

• More Loyalists there that they thought would fight with them

• British won traditional battles but were harassed by guerilla fighters

• Battles in the Carolinas, Lord Cornwallis vs. Nathaniel Greene and Daniel Morgan

• King’s Mountain, Cowpens, and Guilford Courthouse

• Cornwallis retreats to Yorktown, VA

American Forces and Strategies• Continental Army

• Inexperienced, only 230,000

• Militia

• Local- short enlistments close to home. 160,000

• Spies

• Guerrilla Warfare

• Irregular military actions (such as harassment and sabotage) carried out by small usually independent forces

British Misunderstandings• British thought they were fighting a traditional European War

• Professional army in bright red uniforms• EASY TARGETS

• Thought Patriots would surrender easily

• Hired Prussian (German) mercenaries (soldiers for hire)• “Hessians”, brutal reputation

• Did not understand the Patriots cared more about their cause

• Wanted to win over their own people

• Did not risk men, used skillful retreats

• The Polite War, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdM44rovn6c&t=2s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdM44rovn6c&t=2s

The American RevolutionThe End of the War

Yorktown • Continental Army, led by Washington and the French army, led by Rochambeau

• British Army, led by General Cornwallis

• The Americans surround the British and force their surrender

The Treaty of Paris (1783)• After Yorktown, no significant combat

• War was expensive and unpopular in England

• British Prime Minister resigned, peace talks began

• Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and John Jay negotiated a treaty

• The British recognized American independence

• British ceded territory from Canada to Florida, the Atlantic to the Mississippi

Impact of the War on Society• Winners: Prosperous Patriot men

• Secured political rights and westward expansion

• Losers

• Loyalists: Mob violence prevented them from returning home

• Slaves freed by British were re-enslaved

• Native Americans were not protected by T of Paris, lands taken

• No real gain: Women

• No political or legal rights (Vote, own property, keep wages, divorce)

• “Republican Motherhood”: Respect for woman as mothers who will raise next generation of citizens

Impact of the War on Slavery

• British and Loyalists mocked Patriots for hypocrisy

• Belief in liberty and equality while slavery existed

• Revolution inspired slaves to demand freedom

• Slavery abolished early in New England and PA (no need for slaves)

• The South retained slavery as an “economic necessity”

• 1/3 of population

• A “necessary evil” for the plantation economy