chapter 8: the american revolution. 8 powerpoint.pdf · bunker hill and the hessians may 1775 tiny...
TRANSCRIPT
George Washington Selected by the 2nd Continental Congress Never risen above the rank of colonel Would lose more battles than he would win So…Why George?
1. Powers of leadership and strength of character 2. Patience, courage, self-discipline
3. Would be a symbol and a rallying point- great moral force
His selection also political From Virginia (largest colony) and part of aristocracy Would not be accused of being a fortune seeker
Bunker Hill and the Hessians May 1775
Tiny Am. Force led by E. Allen and B. Arnold captured Ticonderoga and Crown Point (gun powder and artillery to use in Boston)
June 1775 Colonists seize Bunker Hill Colonists eventually abandon the hill (lack of
gunpowder) More British casualties than American
July 1775 Olive Branch Petition
Congress professed Am. Loyalty to the crown and begged King George III to prevent more aggression
King George III- “Battle of Bunker Hill = no hope for reconciliation”
Sept. 1775 George III hired thousands of German troops to crush
rebellion Most German troops from German principality of
Hesse = Hessians Hessian soldiers shock the colonists
Reputation for butchery
The Conquest of Canada Late 1775
American leaders- “a successful assault on Canada would add a 14th colony and would deprive Britain of a valuable base for striking at the colonies”
Contradiction that we are fighting a defensive war
Conquest of Canada Outcome of Canada
General Richard Montgomery captured Montreal, but is later killed in Quebec
B. Arnold is wounded, his army retreats Canadians do not welcome colonists- “no desire for
anti-Catholic invaders”
Thomas Paine Paine- “not only independence, but also the creation
of a republic” Power from the people, not a monarch Individuals in a republic needed to sacrifice their
personal self-interest to the public good.
Not all agreed… Some favored a republic led by “natural aristocracy” Lower class thought it was a way to “level” the social
classes
Jefferson and his “Explanation” Richard Henry Lee of Va. Spoke to Congress about
declaring their independence Congress decided to have a group draft the
declaration- Jefferson in charge of writing.
Reasons for Independence 1. Colonists outraged by British military conduct and by
use of Hessian troops 2. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense Am. Forces had fared well against the British- Bunker
Hill Colonial leaders believed independence would help the
colonies receive assistance from European powers
Basic Ideas of the Dec. of Ind. 1. Jefferson based many ideas on those of English
philosopher John Locke Philosophy of government
“All men created equal” and unalienable rights- “Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness”
To secure these rights, “governments are started by men, deriving their powers from the consent of the governed”
Conclusion of Dec. “These united colonies are, and of right ought to be,
free and independent states.”
Wartime Problems Facing the Colonies
1. Providing a government 2nd Continental Congress acted as a central gov. 1775-1781: one objective- win the war Congress was handicapped in several ways
Lacked gov. powers- could only “request” men, money, and cooperation of the colonies
Inexperienced and inefficient procedures Some members fought each other over politics
Achievements of the 2nd Cont. Congress
1. Held all 13 colonies together 2. Authorized an army and appointed Washington 3. Created a navy 4. Issued Dec. of Ind. 5. Arranged military alliance with France 6. Raised funds for the war effort
Raising Funds Congress issued paper $ called “Continentals”
worth 250 million Money became worthless as British victories early in
war.
Raising Funds Congress requested funds from the colonies- FAILED-
colonies would not send $ Congress floated loans- Netherlands, Spain, and
France Patriotic Americans
Robert Morris- signer of Dec., superintendent of finance, guaranteed govt loans w/his personal credit
Raising an Army During most of the war, Continental Army did not
number more than several thousand men Volunteers usually signed up for short-term enlistments Most troops not properly trained/equipped
Dealing w/the Loyalists Population of 13 colonies were divided:
1/3- organized Patriots 1/3- undecided, waited to see how the war developed 1/3- Tories/Loyalists- completely loyal to Britain and
king Tories consisted of more prosperous and conservative group
(landowners & officeholders)
As war progressed, total of 80,000 Tories fled to Canada/England
Patriots confiscated Tory estates, sold to pay for war
Civil war between Patriots and Tories (2nd aspect of Am. Rev. War)- represented a struggle for a greater democracy
Late Summer/Fall 1776 Washington outgeneraled and outmaneuvered, lost
Battle of Long Island Washington barely escapes to Manhattan (fog) Would continue to New Jersey, taunted by British-
fox-hunting calls
Late Summer/Early Fall British General Wm. Howe not hunting Washington
w/speed Leader at Bunker Hill (does not want to get slaughtered
again Winter approaching In need of supplies/troops Comfy w/his mistress (wife of one of his officers)
Dec. 1776 Washington in Trenton, NJ Decides to cross Delaware R. on Christmas Day to
fight Hessians Take 1,000 Hessians by surprise 1 week later- defeats small British detachment at
Princeton These victories motivate American cause
Saratoga Upstate NY, Americans (Horatio Gates) defeated
and captured Gen. Johnny Burgoyne and his entire army (where is Howe?)
British trying to sever New England from the rest of the colonies- paralyze American cause
Importance of Saratoga Saratoga is major turning point of the war
Convinced French gov. that America had a chance at winning the war
B. Franklin convinces French to sign military treaty in 1778
Valley Forge: Winter 1777-1778 British take control of Philadelphia Washington retreats 20 miles NW of Philadelphia
to Valley Forge- strong, hilly position for the winter Troops- little food, no clothes, frostbite Arrival of Prussian drillmaster Baron von Steuben
Colonial War Becomes a World War Aid to American cause for independence:
France, Spain, Holland
War fought in: N.A., S.A., Europe, Asia, Caribbean IMPOSSIBLE for America to gain independence w/o aid of
European powers
Addition of France in war forced G.B. to change strategy Leave Philly for NY
Britain’s blockade and supply lines now in jeopardy
War in the South Part of British forces led by Gen. Charles Cornwallis
moved southward Numerous Loyalists in the South (Charleston) British win several battles and took seaports of
Savannah and Charleston Cannot crush Am. Forces led by Gen. Nathanael
Greene- “Fighting Quaker”
War in the South Early 1781- British suffer losses in the interior of
Carolinas, Cornwallis withdrew to Virginia
American Victory in the NW Territory George Rogers Clark
Led a force of less than 200 frontiersmen down the Ohio R.
Capture British forts in Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Vincennes
This ends British control of the NW territory and established Am. Claims to the area
John Paul Jones Most famous sea commander of America’s infant
navy US Navy- little contribution in war- attack British
merchant ships Main contribution from privateers- legalized pirates
Raised American morale w/victories, captured gold
Yorktown (1781) Cornwallis fallen back to Yorktown, Va. To await
supplies/reinforcements French Admiral de Grasse moves Northward from
W. Indies Washington marches 300 miles from NY to VA
Yorktown Cornwallis cut off by land and sea Surrenders his entire forces of 7,000 men King George III not convinced war is over, orders
fighting to continue for 2 more years
Reasons for American Victory Am. Fighting on own soil, for their own homes, and
their own freedom Americans were superior wilderness fighters Led by courage, determination, and ability
Washington, Rogers Clark, Greene, J.P. Jones
Foreign volunteers Marquis de Lafayette (Washington’s staff) Baron de Kalb (French Army) Baron von Steuben (Prussia) Casmir Pulaski (Poland)
Treaty of Paris American negotiators- B. Franklin, J. Adams, J. Jay Britain recognized the 13 American states as
independent North- Canada and Great Lakes South- Spanish owned Florida East- Atlantic Ocean West- Mississippi R.