The Road to RevolutionThe Road to Revolution

• What is meant by “salutary What is meant by “salutary neglect” and how does this lead neglect” and how does this lead directly to the revolution?directly to the revolution?

Revolution?Revolution?What was the Revolutionary mov’t at its core really all What was the Revolutionary mov’t at its core really all

about?about?The The amounamount of taxation?t of taxation?The The rightright of Parliament to tax? of Parliament to tax?The political corruption of Britain and the virtue of America?The political corruption of Britain and the virtue of America?The right of a king to govern America?The right of a king to govern America?The colonies’ growing sense of nat’l identity apart from The colonies’ growing sense of nat’l identity apart from

Britain?Britain?Was the Revolution truly a radical overturning of gov’t and Was the Revolution truly a radical overturning of gov’t and

society - the usual definition of a “revolution - or society - the usual definition of a “revolution - or something far more limited or even “conservative” in its something far more limited or even “conservative” in its defense of traditional rights?defense of traditional rights?

Whose RevolutionWhose Revolution

Varying viewpoints: whose revolution?Varying viewpoints: whose revolution?

Progressive view of the Revolution as Progressive view of the Revolution as product of social conflict among colonial product of social conflict among colonial groups. “It was the opposition of interestsgroups. “It was the opposition of interestsIn America that chiefly made men extremistsIn America that chiefly made men extremistsOn either side…. Those men who wished to take a On either side…. Those men who wished to take a safe middle ground, who wished neither to renouncesafe middle ground, who wished neither to renouncetheir country nor to mark themselves as rebels, their country nor to mark themselves as rebels, could no longer hold together”could no longer hold together”Carl L. Becker Beginnings of the American People Carl L. Becker Beginnings of the American People (1915)(1915)

An ideological view of the Revolution as resulting from the colonists’ ideas about liberty and power.

“The colonists believed they saw emerging from the welter of events during the decade after the Stamp Act a pattern whose meaning was unmistakable…They saw about them, with increasing clarity, no merely mistaken, or even evil, policies violating the principles upon which freedom rested, but what appeared to be evidence of nothing less than a deliberate assault launched surreptitiously by plotters against liberty both in England and in America…. This belief transformed the colonists’ struggle…”

Bernard Bailyn, The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution (1967)

• Parliament rejected the First Continental Parliament rejected the First Continental Congress’ petitionCongress’ petition

• April 1775 Br. Commander in Boston April 1775 Br. Commander in Boston sent detachment of troops to nearby sent detachment of troops to nearby Lexington and ConcordLexington and Concord– Shot heard around the worldShot heard around the world– British lost 1/3 of their armyBritish lost 1/3 of their army

BritainBritain AmericansAmericans

AdvantagesAdvantages

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

On the Eve of the On the Eve of the Revolution ?Revolution ?

• disjointed/jealous

•Badly organized

•No currency

• defensive fight• self sustaining agric•Moral advantage just cause

Write this down!

• pop adv 3:1

•Naval power

•Wealth

•Professional army

• Ireland worry

•French backstab

•No Wm Pitt to organize

• Liked American cousins

Second Continental CongressSecond Continental Congress

• May 1775May 1775• ConservativeConservative• No well defined desire for No well defined desire for

independenceindependence• Best political move - drafting G Best political move - drafting G

WashingtonWashington• Va to balance Ma - aristocrat to Va to balance Ma - aristocrat to

balance “masses”balance “masses”

LoyalistLoyalist

StrongholdStrongholdss

Washington’s HeadachesWashington’s Headaches

Only 1/3 of the colonists were in favor of a war for independence [the other third were Loyalists, and the final third were neutral].

State/colony loyalties.

Congress couldn’t tax to raise money for the Continental Army.

Poor training [until the arrival of Baron von Steuben.

Exports & Imports: 1768-Exports & Imports: 1768-17831783

Make Up Your Mind!Make Up Your Mind!

• One hand Americans trying to One hand Americans trying to affirm loyalty to king and trying to affirm loyalty to king and trying to patch uppatch up

• Other hand raising armies and Other hand raising armies and shooting Br. Soldiersshooting Br. Soldiers

Military StrategiesMilitary Strategies

Attrition [the Brits had a long supply line].

Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down]

Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies.

The American

s

The British

Break the colonies in half by getting between the No. & the So.

Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally.

“Divide and Conquer” use the Loyalists.

HandoutHandout• Battle of Lexington & Concord Battle of Lexington & Concord

April 19, 1775April 19, 1775• Fort Ticonderoga May 10, 1775Fort Ticonderoga May 10, 1775• Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775• Common Sense, Feb 14,1776Common Sense, Feb 14,1776• Siege of Charleston, June 1776Siege of Charleston, June 1776• Declaration, July 1776Declaration, July 1776• Battles for New York – August Battles for New York – August

– October, 1776– October, 1776• Battles for New York – August Battles for New York – August

– October, 1776– October, 1776

• Trenton, December 26, 1776Trenton, December 26, 1776• Princeton, January 2, 1777Princeton, January 2, 1777• Saratoga, September 1777Saratoga, September 1777• 22ndnd Saratoga, October 1777 Saratoga, October 1777• Valley Forge, Dec. 1777 – June Valley Forge, Dec. 1777 – June

17781778• France joins the war against Britain, France joins the war against Britain,

February 6, 1778February 6, 1778• British take Charleston, SC May 12 British take Charleston, SC May 12

17801780• American victory at Cowpens, SC American victory at Cowpens, SC

Jan. 17, 1781Jan. 17, 1781• American victory at Guilford American victory at Guilford

Courthouse NC Mar 15 1781Courthouse NC Mar 15 1781• British surrender at Yorktown Oct British surrender at Yorktown Oct

19, 178119, 1781• Treaty of Paris signed Sept 3 1783Treaty of Paris signed Sept 3 1783

Phase IPhase I:: The Northern The Northern CampaignCampaign[1775-1776][1775-1776]

May 1775: Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold. May 1775: Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold. Ticonderoga and Crown PointTiconderoga and Crown Point

Bunker Hill (June, 1775)Bunker Hill (June, 1775)

The British suffered over 40% casualties.

Second Continental CongressSecond Continental Congress

Olive Branch PetitionOlive Branch Petition

July 1775July 1775

REJECTED!REJECTED!

Now it is treason - punishable by Now it is treason - punishable by hanging!hanging!

Then he hired Hessians!Then he hired Hessians!

Thomas Paine’sThomas Paine’sCommon SenseCommon Sense

aka “pis*&^ing in the wind”aka “pis*&^ing in the wind”

• Best sellerBest seller

• Common sense said to completely Common sense said to completely rebel - Britain was rebel - Britain was smaller smaller than us!than us!

• Biblical language appealed to the Biblical language appealed to the massesmasses

Thomas Paine’sThomas Paine’sCommon SenseCommon Sense

• Not just independence but whole new Not just independence but whole new republic republic --where power comes from the people themselveswhere power comes from the people themselves• Radical revert to GreeceRadical revert to Greece•Traditional was “mixed gov’t”Traditional was “mixed gov’t”•This suggestion was heard b/cThis suggestion was heard b/c

–Colonist experience in self - govt ex: New EnglandColonist experience in self - govt ex: New England–Experience in democratic town meetsExperience in democratic town meets–Committees of correspondence showed republican gov’t Committees of correspondence showed republican gov’t workingworking–No hereditary aristocracy in the coloniesNo hereditary aristocracy in the colonies

Citizen Citizen VirtueVirtue

•Because political power will no longer reside with Because political power will no longer reside with the kingthe king•Individuals need to sacrifice their personal self-Individuals need to sacrifice their personal self-interest to the public goodinterest to the public good•**collective good of the “people” mattered more **collective good of the “people” mattered more than private rights and intereststhan private rights and interests

•Republicanism for them meant an end to Republicanism for them meant an end to hereditary aristocracy but not an end to all social hereditary aristocracy but not an end to all social hierarchy. Many still worried the revolutionary fervor hierarchy. Many still worried the revolutionary fervor for liberty would overwhelm the stability of the for liberty would overwhelm the stability of the social ordersocial order

Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

HandoutHandout

Price they paidPrice they paid

What are the single most important 35 wordsin the English language?

Phase IIPhase II::

NY & PANY & PA[1777-1778][1777-1778]

New York City in FlamesNew York City in Flames(1776)(1776)

Burgoyne’s Plan - 1777Burgoyne’s Plan - 1777

• Capture the Hudson River Valley, thereby cutting New England Capture the Hudson River Valley, thereby cutting New England off from the rest of the country,squeezing it to death.off from the rest of the country,squeezing it to death.

– sail down Lake Champlain and recapture Fort Ticonderoga. head sail down Lake Champlain and recapture Fort Ticonderoga. head through the forest to try and attack the Americans. through the forest to try and attack the Americans.

– Burgoyne was only traveling 22 miles, but it took him 20 days to Burgoyne was only traveling 22 miles, but it took him 20 days to cover it because he had 600 wagons going through the forest and cover it because he had 600 wagons going through the forest and the muddy marsh with him. the muddy marsh with him.

• Over 30 of them were carrying his own personal baggage Over 30 of them were carrying his own personal baggage because even in the wilderness, Gentleman Johnny Burgoyne because even in the wilderness, Gentleman Johnny Burgoyne ate off of silver plates. This gave the Americans time to prepare ate off of silver plates. This gave the Americans time to prepare for the British. for the British.

• When the British got to Saratoga, their 6,000 man army was When the British got to Saratoga, their 6,000 man army was outnumbered and after a fierce battle, they lost. outnumbered and after a fierce battle, they lost.

• Shortly after, the French decided to help the American cause for Shortly after, the French decided to help the American cause for freedom. freedom.

• These were the two major turning points in the war, which These were the two major turning points in the war, which turned it in America's favor.turned it in America's favor.

Saratoga: Saratoga: “Turning “Turning Point”Point” of the War? of the War?

A modern-day re-enactment

Arnold Leading the Charge at Arnold Leading the Charge at Freeman's FarmFreeman's Farm

During the second battle of Saratoga on Oct. 7, 1777, Arnold led a headlong charge, captured a key redoubt, was again wounded, and made the British surrender inevitable. One of his soldiers called Arnold "as brave a man as Ever lived."

ARNOLD’S TREASONARNOLD’S TREASON

• His bitterness, along with a need for money His bitterness, along with a need for money to pay heavy debts, led Arnold to negotiate to pay heavy debts, led Arnold to negotiate with the British. He conceived a plan to betray with the British. He conceived a plan to betray West Point, a post that he commandedWest Point, a post that he commanded

His attempted treachery was revealed when John Andre (left), a British major, was captured in September 1780 carrying Arnold's

message. Arnold escaped to the enemy lines and was commissioned a brigadier general in the British army. For his property losses, he claimed and was paid about $10,000

Washington Crossing the Washington Crossing the DelawareDelaware

Painted by Emanuel Leutze, 1851!

Is it realistic?

The People of Valley ForgeThe People of Valley Forge

• There were 12,000 men and women of the There were 12,000 men and women of the Continental Army in Valley Forge on during the Continental Army in Valley Forge on during the winter of 1777. winter of 1777.

• The Commander-in-Chief was General George The Commander-in-Chief was General George Washington. Washington.

• It was a difficult time for them. It was a difficult time for them. – There wasn't enough food or shelter from the weather. There wasn't enough food or shelter from the weather. – They had lost battles at Brandywine in September and Germantown in They had lost battles at Brandywine in September and Germantown in

October. October. – They were discouraged and wondered if they could even win the war. They were discouraged and wondered if they could even win the war. – The men were as young as eleven and as old as 60. Most of the soldiers The men were as young as eleven and as old as 60. Most of the soldiers

were white, but there were some blacks and Indians. There were even were white, but there were some blacks and Indians. There were even some foreigners there who helped the soldiers.some foreigners there who helped the soldiers.

• 2,000 died; the others stayed at their posts2,000 died; the others stayed at their posts

THE NAVAL WAR - it goes THE NAVAL WAR - it goes global!global!

• An important factor, and one not always An important factor, and one not always remembered, was that the Continental remembered, was that the Continental Congress relied heavily on aid from abroad. Congress relied heavily on aid from abroad. Aid which included not only muskets and Aid which included not only muskets and powder, but ultimately ships and men as well.powder, but ultimately ships and men as well.

• This aid could only be brought to American This aid could only be brought to American shores by water, and to do it required a sea shores by water, and to do it required a sea power to counterbalance that of England. The power to counterbalance that of England. The struggle for North America was fought not struggle for North America was fought not only at Trenton, Monmouth,and Saratoga, but only at Trenton, Monmouth,and Saratoga, but also in the cold, gray seas off Ushant; off also in the cold, gray seas off Ushant; off Cadiz, and in the shadows of grim Gibralter Cadiz, and in the shadows of grim Gibralter and in the tropical waters of the West Indiesand in the tropical waters of the West Indies

Phase IIIPhase III:: The Southern The Southern Strategy Strategy [1780-1781][1780-1781]

Britain’s “Southern Britain’s “Southern Strategy”Strategy”

Britain thought that there were more Loyalists in the South.

Southern resources were more valuable/worth preserving.

The British win a number of small victories, but cannot pacify the countryside [similar to U. S. failures in Vietnam!]

Good US General:Nathanial Greene

The Battle of Yorktown The Battle of Yorktown (1781)(1781)

Count de Rochambeau

AdmiralDe Grasse

Cornwallis’ Surrender at Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown:Yorktown:

Painted by John Trumbull, 1797

““The World Turned Upside The World Turned Upside Down!” Down!”

Recap of Important BattlesRecap of Important Battles

1. Lexington – Concord 1775

Shot heard @ the world

2. Breeds- Bunker Hill – 1775

Don’t fire ‘til you see the whites of their eyes

3. Trenton- Princeton 1776G. Washington crosses frozen Delaware River Christmas Eve

4. Saratoga Oct 17, 1777Howe and Burgoyne( Br) vs. Gates (colonist)

Fr $ - Valley Forge

5. Yorktown Oct 17, 1781 * end war

Cornwallis (Br) vs. G. Washington and Lafayette (colonist)

6. Treaty of Paris Sept 1783United States recognized officially as a country

North America After theNorth America After theTreaty of Paris, 1783Treaty of Paris, 1783