Chapter4,Sec.3

The Revolutionary War is on!

The Declaration of Independence

¨ Signed at the war’s start, not at the end¨ The main idea is to justify a revolution that

has already begun¨ The people that will gain the most from this

will be upper class white businessmen and land owners

Key points of the Declaration

¨ The King is called a tyrant-pretty much describes all monarchies

¨ Our personal rights/freedoms have been denied

¨ Taxation with out representation¨ You restrict our ability to meet¨ Military presence in the colonies

Key points-cont.

¨ England cut off their trade(Intolerable Acts)¨ We were at peace-King’s fault!¨ It appeals to the “ common people” in

England-We are reluctant to break our bonds with you

¨ Jefferson “regrets” taking out slavery part of Declaration-but it had to be removed to get a unanimous vote

Abigail Adams¨ All men would be tyrants

if allowed¨ Do not be like your

ancestors¨ You dominate your

wives,own slaves¨ You better watch out!¨ All men are created equal-

as long as you are not black,an Indian,or a woman

Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!!!!

The heavyweight world power vs. the undermanned,ill-equipped challenger

The World Power-England

¨ Pop. 10,000,000¨ World Empire¨ Organized,well

equipped army¨ Control ports¨ Huge navy¨ Weak,pompous

leaders¨ Far from home

The Challenger-America

¨ Pop.2,500,000¨ Militia-type army¨ Determined,but badly

disorganized¨ Not a lot of resources¨ Great,inspired leaders¨ Possible allies in

France/Spain-why?

The War in the Middle States

¨ Summer-1776-Britain decides to seize N.Y.C.

¨ Cut N.E. off from rest of the colonies Gen. Wm. Howe, Adm.R. Howe,32,000 troops sail into N.Y. harbor

¨ Army will include mercenaries(paid to fight)

¨ Hessians(from Hesse,Germany)

Middle states,cont.

Washington and his 23,000 untrained,ill-equipped troops are soundly defeated

Washington’s army(what’s left of it) are pushed across the Delaware River

Only 8,000 men are left

Battle of Trenton

¨ Dec.25,1776¨ Washington leads 2,400 men across nearly frozen

Delaware R. in small boats¨ They march 9 miles to Trenton,N.J.,surprise the

hung-over Hessians,capture 900men,6 cannons¨ 8 days later subdue 1200 British in Princeton,N.J.¨ Make camp in no. N.J. encouraged,confident

Fight for Philadelphia 1777

¨ Gen. Howe(ENG)¨ Wants Phil.,American

capital¨ He succeeds,settles

in,Loyalists welcome him

Saratoga

¨ Gen. Burgoyne(ENG) wants to attack from the north,from Quebec

¨ Plans to meet up with Gen. Howe in Albany,N.Y.-goal is to isolate N.E.

¨ His 4,000 men,3,000 mercenaries,1,000 Mohawks,will get bogged down in swamps, underbrush

Saratoga,cont.¨ He will be attacked by Gen.Gates(AMR) and the

continental army¨ They keep attacking, British are losing hundreds

in every battle¨ AND….His pal, Gen. Howe is in Phil. And not

coming to help him¨ 1777-Amer. Army surrounds Burgoyne at

Saratoga and he will surrender¨ From this point on,British will keep troops close

to the coast,near supplies,guns

Remember that French/Indian War?¨ Nov.1778¨ French secretly supplying the patriots¨ The victory at Saratoga makes France

believers!¨ They support the revolution,sign a treaty of

co-op¨ They will not be at peace w/France until

Britain recognize Am. independence

Valley Forge, Pa.

¨ This is the low point for continental army¨ French aid slow to arrive-why?¨ Cont. army-cold,hungry,frostbite,much

suffering¨ British troops,in Phil., warm,well fed¨ 10,000 amer. Troops,2,000 will die

George Washington¨ 6’2”¨ Great horseman¨ Would face fire alongside

his men¨ Endure cold,hardship-just

like his men did¨ Great tactician-sm.army

could defeat larger force¨ He will be idolized at

war’s end

Financing the War

¨ Like all wars,citizens will suffer also¨ Gov’t. runs out of gold,silver¨ Print paper money,more and more¨ Value of paper $ goes down, prices go up-

this is what we call inflation¨ Britain blockades the coast

Finances,cont.

¨ Americans have few factories that can make guns,ammo

¨ Need to smuggle arms from Europe¨ PROFITEERING-The act of selling scarce

goods for profit¨ Merchants will hoard goods,sell bad

products

1781

¨ Robert Morris¨ Appointed

Superintendent of finance

¨ Haym Salomon-his friend

¨ Both rich,they raise $ to pay soldiers in gold

Women Fighters

¨ Everyday life left to women(who of course are not “equal”) they manage farms. business, etc.

¨ Follow their men to battles-cook.sew,etc.¨ Make ammo from metal in their houses¨ Some risk their lives on battlefield

Africans,slaves,natives

¨ Some slaves will escape,pass as free in cities

¨ Some will fight for patriots¨ Some will join natives¨ Most natives will stay out of the way