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Revolution andthe New Nation

1763-1815You probably find facing challenges is easier

when you work together with others. If youwere a colonist in the struggling new nation, youwould need to cooperate. How would you worktogether to protect your new nation's freedomagainst threats from other nations? How would youband together to establish your government? Howwould you unite to defend your nation in wars?

In this unit you will learn about many challengesfacing the young nation. You will learn howcolonists protected the nation's independence. Youwill learn how they united to form a government.You will learn how the United States defended itselfagainst other nations after it gained independence.

Unit

Chapter

Chapter

5: A New Nation Beginsto Grow: 1763-1775

6: The AmericanRevolution:1775-1783

7: A Government IsFormed: 1783-1791

8: Political PartiesDevelop: 1788-1809

9: The Young NationGoes to War:1809-1815

Chapter A New Nation Begins to Grow

51763-1775

A fter the French and Indian War, Great Britain tightenedits control over the colonies. The British began a series

of actions against the colonies that the colonists did notwelcome. In this chapter, you will learn what the British didto the colonists and how the colonists reacted.

Goals for Learning

To explain the purpose of the Proclamation of 1763

To identify the taxes the British placed on the colonistsand how the colonists protested them

To explain what caused the Boston Tea Party

To describe the actions taken by the First ContinentalCongress

To explain what occurred at Lexington and Concord

1763 KingGeorge lit signsProclamationof 1763

1765 Britishpass Stamp Act

1767 British passTownshend Acts

1773 BostonTea Partyoccurs

1774 FirstContinentalCongressmeets

—1764 BritishParliament agreesto tax colonies

1770 BostonMassacre occurs

1774 British passIntolerable Acts

Section The Proclamation of 1763

RelationshipTwo or more thingsor groups connectedin some way

Chief Pontiac led arebellion of AmericanIndians againstcolonial fortsbeginning in 1763.

British control of America was firmly established with theTreaty of Paris. However, the real hold that Great Britainhad on the colonies was weak. New and different laws werepassed in an effort to control trade. Colonial merchantsand shippers found other ways of getting around thoselaws. Then new events affected the relationship betweenGreat Britain and the colonies.

What Was the Proclamation of 1763?The first problem was caused by an event that took place inthe spring of 1763, Great numbers of colonists settled in theOhio Valley, west of the Appalachian Mountains. An Ottawachief, Pontiac, knew that more American Indian land was in

danger of being lost to British settlers. ChiefPontiac organized several American Indiannations and attacked colonial forts with somesuccess.

To avoid further trouble with the AmericanIndians, King George III signed theProclamation of 1763. This act ordered allsettlers to leave the Ohio Valley and return tothe established colonies. It did not allow anymore people to make new settlements west ofthe Appalachians. It said that no traders couldenter the area without approval of the king.

The colonists were opposed to the new law. They hadfought in the long French and Indian War. Now the law wassaying that no one could go west. Many colonists felt thatthe king didn't really care about protecting them from theAmerican Indians. They felt its real purpose was to preventthem from developing the new land. They also felt that theycould fight their own battles with the American Indians.The Proclamation of 1763 was the first of several newcontrols to be forced on the colonies.

1763-1775 A New Nation Begins to Grow Chapter 5 97

*BoycottTo refuse to havedealings with aperson, country,or group

LegalHaving to do withlaw

*Tar and featherTo cover a personwith tar and thenwith feathers inorder to punish

TolerateTo allow somethingto happen

What Was Taxation Without Representation?The next problem was the British debt from the Frenchand Indian War. Supplies, ships, and soldiers had been veryexpensive. Some money had been raised by increasing taxesof people in Great Britain. The government had to find away to pay off the debt without taxing the British taxpayerstoo much. In 1764, Parliament, the government of GreatBritain, agreed that it had the right to tax the colonies inexchange for protection from all enemies. The colonistsdisagreed with this policy, saying they did not need anyBritish help to protect themselves. As subjects of GreatBritain, the colonists had no right to object to its rulings.Nevertheless, many felt this taxation without colonialagreement, or "taxation without representation," could notbe tolerated. They began talking about a war over taxation.

What New British Policies Were Started?George Grenville became prime minister of Great Britainin 1763. He decided it was necessary to get more moneyfrom the American colonies. The Sugar Act was passed in1764. This act raised the tax on sugar, cloth goods, andother articles from any place other than Great Britain. TheCurrency Act, also passed in 1764, made it illegal for thecolonies to print their own money. The Quartering Actwas passed in 1765. This act demanded that the coloniesprovide housing and goods for all British soldiers inAmerica. The Stamp Act was passed in 1765. The purposeof the act was to enable the government to Lax legal andbusiness papers used in America. It also taxed such itemsas playing cards and dice. Special stamp agents wereappointed to sell the stamps and collect the taxes.

The colonists protested the Stamp Act. One way theyprotested was to tar and feather tax collectors. Theycovered the tax collectors with tar and then with feathers.Colonists burned legal papers and refused to pay the taxes.Also, they tried to force the removal of the Stamp Act byboycotting all British goods.

98 Chapter 5 A New Nation Begins to Grow

Riots took place in Boston as the colonists protested the Stamp Act of 1765.

* RepealTo removesomething,especially a law

A boycott occurs when a person, country, or group refusesto deal with another person, country, or group. Parliamentdecided to remove, or repeal, the tax in 1766.

The repeal of the Stamp Act pleased the colonists. The goodfeeling, however, did not last long. Shortly thereafter,Parliament passed the Declaratory Act. This act stated thatGreat Britain had control over the colonies in all cases.

SECTION 1 REVIEW Write answers to these questions ona separate sheet of paper using complete sentences.

1) Why did the British decide to tax thecolonists?

2) Why did the colonists protest theProclamation of 1763?

What do you think ? jDo you think Great Britainhad the right to tax thecolonists? Why or why not?

3) What was the attitude of the king towardthe colonists?

4) Why did the colonists feel that taxation wasunfair?

5) What was the Stamp Act and when was itpassed?


Section The Townshend Acts

FinanceHaving to do withmoney

RevenueMoney gained fromsomething

Charles Townshend was appointed minister of finance in1766. This put him in charge of finance for Great Britain.Like others before him, Townshend had little interest in thecolonies. However, he saw them as a good source ofrevenue for Great Britain. Townshend was responsible for anew set of tax laws.

What Were the Townshend Acts?The Townshend Acts were passed in 1767. These actsreduced the colonists' freedom to govern themselves. Newtaxes were placed on many items important to the colonists,including glass, paper, and tea. Protests became strongerthan before. The colonists agreed to boycott British goods.Trade soon slowed down greatly.

The boycott hurt the British. It also caused seriousproblems for the colonial merchants. Many people losttheir jobs in American ports where trade was important.For many people, it became harder to make a living andeasier to be angry at the British.

What Fight Did Samuel Adams Lead?Boston, the largest city in New England, soon became thecenter of action against this new British taxation policy.Samuel Adams, a member of the Massachusetts legislature,organized town meetings in Boston. A group called the

Sons of Liberty, first set up in 1765to protest the Stamp Act, took chargeof the city. Great Britain sent extraregiments of troops to Boston toprotect tax collectors. Fights brokeout between soldiers and towns-people. By the beginning of 1770,about 4,000 British soldiers were inBoston. The soldiers were in dailycontact with 16,000 Bostoniansunder Samuel Adams.

The Mason-Dixon Line

Two men, Charles Mason andJeremiah Dixon, set up theboundary between Marylandand Pennsylvania between1763-1767. This boundary iscalled the Mason-Dixon Line.After Mason and Dixon set upthe boundary, it became asymbol of the division betweenthe North and the South.


This engraving byPaul Revere shows

what the BostonMassacre may have

looked like.

What Was the Boston Massacre?One evening early in March of 1770, a crowd gatherednear a group of British soldiers. The crowd began throwingstones and snowballs at the soldiers. The soldiers then fireda round of shots into the crowd. The first to fall was a freeAfrican, Crispus Attucks. A few colonists were killed, andseveral were wounded.

News of the Boston Massacre, as it was called, spreadthroughout the colonies. The people of Boston demandedthat the British soldiers be removed from the city. Thegovernor of Massachusetts agreed to remove the soldiers toprevent more trouble. The same day, all of the Townshendtaxes were repealed except for the tax on tea. Great Britainhad lost a good deal of money due to the boycotts. It wasbelieved that the tax on tea was kept mainly as a symbolof the British right to rule.


This diagram shows the areawhere the Boston Massacre

took place. It shows theBritish soldiers (near theCustom House) and the

places where four of the fivekilled colonists fell.

\ Exchange Lane

How Did the Colonists Organize and Protest?The colonies steadily lost much of their earlier freedom.

British governors, chosen by the king, could doas they pleased. They became very strict. Samuel

Adams encouraged the leaders of cities tomeet and talk about what to do about the

British.Research the BostonMassacre. Then writea first person accountin your notebookabout what happenedat the Boston Massacreas if you were reallythere. Talk abouthow the eventchanged you as aperson.

The committees wrote strong statements ofAmerican rights and complaints. The statements

were given out all over the colonies. This helpedto bring the colonists together in opposing theircommon enemy, the British.

Neither King George III nor Parliament took thecolonists seriously. The king looked upon thecolonies as weak and certainly as no match for themighty British army and navy.


PHILLISWHEATLEY: 1753-1784

Phillis Wheatley was the first acknowledged African poet inAmerica. A native of Africa, she was born around 1753. At ageeight, she was kidnapped and taken on a slave ship to Boston.There she was purchased by a wealthy tailor as a servant forhis wife. Unlike most enslaved Africans, Wheatley wasallowed to learn to read and write English. She studiedGreek mythology, history, and poetry. At age thirteen shewrote her first poem, "To the University of Cambridge inNew England." Her first book was published when she was

twenty. Despite her early reputation, she was very poor andpractically unknown when she died at only age thirty.

What do you think

SECTION 2 REVIEW On a separate sheet of paper, writethe letter of the description in Part 2 that matches a namein Part 1.

Parti1) Charles Tbwnshend

2) Samuel Adams

3) Boston Massacre

4) George III

5) Crispus Attucks

Part 2a) killed in Boston Massacre

b) minister of finance for Great Britain

c) British soldiers shot into a crowd ofcolonists

d) Great Britain's king

e) led protests in Boston

Do you think Samuel Adamswas right to organizeprotests that often ended upin fights? Why or why not?

1763-1775 A New Nation liegins to Grow Chapter 5 103

Section The East India Trading Company

CargoObjects or goodscarried in a ship orsome other form oftransportation

CompetitorA company thatsells or buys thesame goods orservices as anothercompany

*DutyTax placed oncertain goodsbrought into acertain place

Impose iTo establish a ruleor law, such as atax, on a groupwith less power

The British-controlled East India Trading Company soldtea. The company had to pay a tax to Great Britain on thetea before shipping it to other places. It could not afford topay the tax, yet it would be ruined if it did not sell the tea.

What Was the British Tea Tax?Frederick North, Great Britain's prime minister, came upwith a plan. He wanted to ship the tea to America and thenforce the colonies to pay a duty. A duty is a tax placed ongoods brought into a certain country or region. Lord Northexpected his plan to save the East India Trading Companyfrom financial disaster and to bring in more revenue forGreat Britain.

The colonists refused to pay this tax. They were afraid thatsoon all British merchants would pay no tax. As a result,the American competitors would go out of business.Samuel /Whims organi/ed the tea merchants who agreed tocancel all orders for tea. The colonists wanted to keep thetea from being unloaded to make sure that no tax would bepaid.

Lord North and the king had clearly underestimated thestrong feelings of the colonists. Adams made it clear thecolonists would not accept a tax imposed without colonialconsent.

What Was the Boston Tea Party?A ship carrying tea arrived in Boston's harbor in earlyDecember 1773. The British governor of Boston wasdetermined to have the tea unloaded and to collect thetaxes. Adams was equally determined to keep the tea frombeing unloaded. A group of colonists dressed as MohawkIndians boarded the ship on the night of December 16,1773. They promised not to harm the ship if the cargo wasmade available to them. The captain agreed, and theBoston Tea Party began.


BanTo disallowsomething

OutrageAnger

ResistanceThe act of opposingsomething

RespondTo do or saysomething inreturn

SimilarAlike in some ways

The Boston Tea Partywas a protest against

the British Tea Tax.

More than 300 chests containing 90,000 pounds of tea weredumped into the harbor. The large crowd was sure that nospies were close at hand to observe the "party." Similarincidents took place in other cities. In Charleston, SouthCarolina, the tea was allowed to rot in damp cellars. InAnnapolis, Maryland, the ship carrying tea was burned.The colonial resistance to British taxation had spreadthroughout the colonies.

How Did the British React to the Tea Party?Some colonists did not agree with the actions taken inBoston, Charleston, and Annapolis. Many felt thatdumping tea, burning a ship, and allowing tea to rot werenot proper ways to protest. Some merchants even offered topay for the tea that had been destroyed. Outraged by theevents, the king and Parliament paid no attention to theseloyal colonists.

The British responded to the colonists1 actions by passingthe Intolerable Acts in 1774. These acts allowed GreatBritain to close the port of Boston to all trade, ban townmeetings, and house British troops in people's homes.


LODGING

If you were a man in colonial times, you might goto a local tavern for business, social, or politicalgatherings. As a woman then, however, you might

be a tavern keeper but not a customer. As a colonialtraveler, you would get on or off stagecoaches at taverns. Ona journey, you could get a good meal and lodging at a tavern.You might share a room and even a bed with more than onestranger. Sharing a bed in winter was practical because itkept you warm after the fire went out. You could expect anuncomfortable bed. Linens were not changed often becausethey were expensive. Today, you expect a comfortable bedand fresh sheets and towels daily. You expect a private roomin a motel or hotel. You DON'T expect the proprietor willassign two or more strangers to the same room.

* ProvinceA part of a countryor region

The acts said that British soldiers accused of breaking thelaw would be tried in Great Britain. Parliament also passedthe Quebec Act. This act extended the Canadian provinceof Quebec into the Ohio Valley. A province is a part of acountry or region. The act forced the colonists to stay tothe east The British intended to test how badly thecolonists wanted to govern themselves.


1) What plan did Frederick North have?

2) Why did the colonists object to Frederick North's plan?

3) When and why did the Boston Tea Party take place?

4) Did all of the colonists approve of what happened at theTea Party? Why?

5) How did the Britishrespond to the TeaParty?

What do you think

Why do you think theIntolerable Acts said thatBritish soldiers accused ofcrimes would be tried inGreat Britain and not in thecolonies?

106 Chapter 5 A New Nation Begins to Crow

Section The First Continental Congress: 1774

*ConventionA formal meetingcalled for a specialpurpose

DebateAn argument ordiscussion amongpersons or a group

* PatriotSomeone wholoves his or herown country

SubmissionThe act of givingup on something

UnifyTo join together asa group or whole

The British actions against Boston increased the colonists'need to be more unified against the king. Samuel Adamswanted to find ways to bring about more changes. Earlierprotests had brought changes. He decided that a meeting,or congress, of representatives from all the colonies shouldbe held.

Why Did the First Continental Congress Meet?Adams invited all the colonies to a convention inPhiladelphia. A convention is a formal meeting called fora special purpose. This Continental Congress would helpto bring about a better understanding of possible actionsagainst the king. The meeting was called a ContinentalCongress because the British referred to Americans asContinentals.

All of the colonies except Georgia elected delegates to theCongress. Fifty-six outstanding men attended, includingGeorge Washington, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, JohnAdams, and John Jay. These patriots were well educatedand were leaders in their colonies. A patriot is someonewho loves his or her own country.

The Continental Congress was held in Carpenter's Hall inPhiladelphia in September of 1774. The delegates debatedimportant issues for seven weeks. They agreed that aDeclaration of Rights should be adopted and sent to theking. The Declaration made it clear that taxation by theBritish would be unacceptable to the colonies. TheCongress also agreed to boycott British goods. This boycottwas to be strictly enforced by select committees. AnotherContinental Congress would be held on May 10, 1775, ifthe king rejected the Declaration of Rights.

The king and Parliament became furious when theyreceived this declaration. They replied that the colonists,should they resist, would be crushed into submission.


Colonial minutemenwere called to battlewhen word got outthat British soldierswere coming.

*MinutemenA group of menframed to besoldiers and whoagreed to gather ata minute's notice

A few British leaders warnedParliament that changes needed tobe made. The king and Parliamentrefused to listen to these men.

What Happened atLexington and Concord?American leaders Samuel Adams,John Hancock, and Patrick Henrywere sure that the colonists would

have to fight for freedom. A group of men had to be trainedto be soldiers since the colonists had no organized army.They were called minutemen because they agreed to gatherat a minute's notice and become soldiers.

General Gage, the military governor of Massachusetts,became aware of the colonists1 plans. He had ordered aregiment under Major Pitcairn to seize all military supplies,including a gunpowder supply, stored at Concord. They hadalso been instructed to travel to Lexington and capture therebel leaders.

The patriots learned about the British plans. Paul Revereand William Dawes warned the colonists of their attack byriding through Massachusetts on horseback. Revere was

The British reachedLexington first, Even

though British troopslater fought minutemenat Concord, most of the

fighting took place atLexington.


The First Theater in America

Pennsylvania was one of the thirteenBritish colonies when David Douglassbuilt the Southwark Theatre in 1766.It was the first permanent theater inAmerica. Located in Philadelphia, theSouthwark was constructed of brickand wood. Oil lamps lighted its earliestproductions. On April 24, 1767, Douglasspresented the first professionallyproduced play by an American-born

playwright—ThomasGodfrey's The PrinceofParthia.

When the Revolutionary War ended,Congress passed laws against "playacting." Theater director Lewis Hallamskirted the laws by presenting what hecalled "moral lectures." The SouthwardsAmerican Company of Comediansdominated American theater until it wasdisbanded in 1805. The Southwark closedin 1817 and was torn down in 1912. Still,it had launched a thriving tradition ofregional and local theater throughoutAmerica.

What do you think

Do you think the colonists orthe British were betterprepared for war? Why?

captured by the British and Dawes was forced to flee towardLexington. However, Samuel Prescott, a third rider,continued the journey to Concord. He warned coloniststhat the British were approaching. The colonists rushed tomeet the British at Lexington.

Major Pitcairn reached Lexington on April 18, 1775. He wassurprised to find about 70 armed minutemen waiting forhim. Both sides fired shots and a number of people wereinjured or killed. These shots were later to be described as"the shots heard 'round the world." The war with GreatBritain was about to begin.


1) What was the purpose of the FirstContinental Congress?

2) How could the delegates at the Congressbest be described?

3) What action did the Continental Congresstake?

4) Who were minutemen?

5) What did Paul Revere, William Dawes, andSamuel Prescott do?


SOURCE READING

TTie Stamp Act

The road towardindependence in theUnited States was long.As the colonies grew insize and economicpower, they becamemore valuable toEngland. The Britishpassed many acts tocontrol trade with thecolonies. These actsmade the colonistsincreasingly angry. Thecolonists rebelled whenthe Stamp Act waspassed in 1765. Theyrefused to pay the tax. The colonistswere unified in their outrage, and theyreacted in violent opposition.

"For every skin or piece of vellum orparchment, or sheet or piece of paper,on which shall be engrossed, written orprinted, any declaration, plea,replication, rejoinder, demurrer, or otherpleading, or any copy thereof, in anycourt of law within the British coloniesand plantations in America, a stampduty of three pence.

. . . And for and upon every pack ofplaying cards, and all dice, which shall besold or used . . . the several stamp dutiesfollowing (that is to say)

For every pack of such cards, the sum ofone shilling.

And for every pair ofsuch dice, the sum often shillings.

For every suchpamphlet and paperbeing larger than halfa sheet, and notexceeding one wholesheet... a stamp dutyof one penny, for everyprinted copy thereof.

For every almanack orcalendar, for any oneparticular year, or for

any time less than a year, which shall bewritten or printed on one side only ofany one sheet, skin, or piece of paperparchment, or vellum ... a stamp dutyof two pence."

Source Reading Wrap-Up1) Why did England want to hold on to

the American colonies?

2) When was the Stamp Act passed?

3) In your judgment, which of the taxeditems listed would disturb thecolonists the most?

4) The Stamp Act was removed in 1766.Why was this a great victory for thecolonists?

5) How would you feel about the StampAct if you were a colonist at thistime?


CHAPTER SUMMARY

* King George III signed theProclamation of 1763, which orderedall settlers to leave the Ohio Valley.The colonists were strongly opposedto the new law.

if In 1764, the British Parliamentagreed that it had the right to tax thecolonies in exchange for protectionfrom all enemies. The colonistsdisagreed with this policy.

* The British passed the Stamp Actin 1765. This enabled the Britishgovernment to tax all legal andbusiness papers used in America andother items. The colonists protestedthe Stamp Act. Parliament repealed itin 1766.

* The British passed the TownshendActs in 1767. These acts reduced thecolonists' freedom to governthemselves. The acts included newtaxes on many items important tothe colonists, including glass, paper,and tea. The colonists agreed toboycott British goods.

* In 1770, a crowd of people threwstones and snowballs at a group ofBritish soldiers. The soldiers shotinto the crowd, killing and woundingseveral colonists. This became

known as the Boston Massacre.Crispus Attucks, an African, was thefirst person killed in the event.

* A group of colonists dressed asMohawk people boarded a shipcarrying tea on the night ofDecember 16, 1773. They dumpedover 90,000 pounds of tea intoBoston Harbor. This became knownas the Boston Tea Party. Similarincidents took place in other cities.

* The king and Parliament passedthe Intolerable Acts in 1774. Theseacts allowed Great Britain to closethe port of Boston to all trade, bantown meetings, and house Britishtroops in people's homes. They alsosaid that British soldiers accused ofbreaking the law would be tried inGreat Britain.

* The First Continental Congressmet in 1774 and wrote theDeclaration of Rights. It agreed tomeet in 1775 if Great Britain rejectedthe declaration.

* The British fought a small groupof American minutemen atLexington and Concord in 1775.Many people were injured or killed.


Chapter 5 Review

Comprehension: Identifying FactsOn a separate sheet of paper, write the correct word fromthe Word Bank to complete the sentences.

WORD BANK

Boston Massacre

Boston Tea Party

Currency Act

Declaration ofRights

Declaratory Act

Intolerable Acts

Lexington and Concord

-Proclamation of 1763

Quebec Act

- Stamp Act

-Sugar Act

Townshend Acts

1) The ordered all settlers to leave the Ohio Valleyand return to the established colonies.

2) The raised the tax on sugar and cloth goods.

3) The _ _ enabled the British government to tax legaland business papers used in America.

4) The stated that the British had control over thecolonies in all cases.

5) The _ _ placed new taxes on many items importantto the colonists, including glass, paper, and tea.

6) The _ _ extended the Canadian province of Quebecinto the Ohio Valley.

7) British soldiers fired into a crowd of people in an eventcalled the

8) A group of colonists dressed as Mohawks dumpedBritish tea into a harbor in an event called the

9) The made it illegal for the colonies to print theirown money.


10) The allowed Great Britain to close the port ofBoston to all trade, ban town meetings, house Britishtroops in people's homes, and require that Britishsoldiers accused of any unlawful act be tried in GreatBritain.

11) The First Continental Congress wrote the .

12) British soldiers and American minutemen fought at

Comprehension: Understanding Main IdeasOn a separate sheet of paper, write the answers to thefollowing questions using complete sentences.

1) What did Chief Pontiac do?

2) What was the purpose of the Proclamation of 1763?

3) What caused the Boston Tea Party?

4) What action did the First Continental Congress take?

5) Who were minutemen?

6) What happened at Lexington and Concord?

Critical Thinking: Write Your Opinion1) The colonists showed many ways to protest against the

British. Some ways were violent and some werenonviolent. What are some nonviolent ways to protestthat are used today? Which one do you think is mosteffective? Why?

2) How could a country fight for freedom yet enslaveother people?

Test Taking Tip Studying together in small groups and asking questionsof one another is one way to review material for tests.

1763-1775 A New Nation Begins to Grow Chapters 113

Chapter The American Revolution

61775-1783

Lexington and Concord were the first of many battlesbetween the colonists and the British. The colonists

were determined to win their independence. The Britishwere just as determined to keep the colonies under theircontrol. The result was war-—the American RevolutionaryWar—which lasted for over eight years. In this chapter, youwill learn about what happened in that war.

Goats for Learning

^•To explain what events immediately followed Lexingtonand Concord

^ To identify what actions the Second ContinentalCongress took

^•To describe why the Declaration of Independence waswritten

^•To explain the strengths and weaknesses of the colonistsand the British

^-To explain how the Battle of Saratoga was a turning pointin the war

^> To explain how the colonists won the war

1775 SecondContinentalCongressmeets

defeat loyalistsat Moore'sCreek

1776 GeorgeWashingtonleads attackon Trenton

1780 Americansdefeated atCamden

i;07

sic

1775 Britishand Americansfight Battle ofBunker Hill

1776 Congressapproves theDeclaration ofIndependence

1777 Americanswin Battle ofSaratoga

1781 LordCornwallissurrenders toAmericans

Section Americans Respond

DisarmTo take weaponsaway from someone

* MilitiaAn organized groupof citizens whoserve as soldiers intimes of war

News of the Lexington and Concord incidents spreadrapidly throughout the colonies. The colonists becameupset when they heard that British soldiers burned housesand fired upon innocent people. They were proud of thecourage the minutemen showed in trying to prevent theBritish from reaching Lexington and Concord. The Britishdid not capture Samuel Adams or John Hancock. Thecolonists had proved they were equal to the British andcould fight for their rights.

Meanwhile, the British had seized a store of gunpowder inVirginia. Colonists were sure the British intended to disarmthem completely. They knew they couldn't let that happen.Thus, the colonists prepared for possible attacks. They seizedmilitary supplies in New York intended for British soldiers.They prevented ships from trading with Great Britain or anyof its colonies. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Carolinas, andMaryland worked to increase their militia. A militia is anorganized group of citizens who serve as soldiers in timesof war. The colonies were working together for a commoncause—freedom.

Which British Forts Did the Americans Seize?Massachusetts was the first colony to take military action.The leaders wanted to protect their own people. Beyondthat, they thought they must take control of two majorBritish strongholds—Fort Ticonderoga and Fort CrownPoint. These forts, at the entrance to Canada, contained alarge amount of military supplies.

Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys of Vermont seizedboth forts without a shot being fired. The British, who werenot prepared to fight, surrendered quickly. In this importantvictory, the colonists obtained badly needed cannons and ahuge supply of ammunition.

1775-1783 The American Revolution Chapter 6 115

* PetitionA written paperasking for a rightor benefit fromsomeone in power

ResignTo give up an officeor job

When Did the Second ContinentalCongress Meet?On May 10, 1775—the same day that Fort Ticonderogawas seized—the Second Continental Congress began inPhiladelphia. A new delegate named John Hancock waschosen as its president. The only other new delegates wereThomas Jefferson of Virginia and Benjamin Franklin ofPennsylvania. Franklin had just returned from GreatBritain after resigning his duties as colonial agent there.

Many colonists who wanted some peaceful way to settle theproblem sent a petition to the king. A petition is a writtenpaper asking for a right or benefit from someone in power.Their petition stated that they were still loyal to the kingbut would not accept unfair British laws. The king did notchange any policies.

The Americans now had to choose between giving in to theking and fighting a war for freedom. As they had shown atBoston, Lexington, and Concord, they were not afraid tostand up to the British.

SECTION 1 REVIEW Write the answers to these questionson a separate sheet of paper using complete sentences.

1) How did the colonists react to Lexingtonand Concord?

2) How did the colonists prove they wereequal to the British army?

3) What did the colonists do to prevent beingdisarmed?

What do you think— 0^ —i

Why do you think the kingdid not do anything inresponse to petitions fromthe colonists?

4) Why was capturing Fort Ticonderogaand Fort Crown Point important for thecolonists?

5) What peaceful way to solve the problemwith the British did some colonists try?

116 Chapter 6 The American Revolution

Section Congress Takes Action

*CommanderSomeone whocontrols an army orsome other militarygroup

InterfereTo enter into ortake part in otherpeople's business

LoyaltyThe act of beingfaithful to someone

* PardonAn officialstatement forgivingsomeone ofsomething

PleaThe act of askingfor something

* PostmasterPerson who runsthe post of/ice

Congress knew it would have to create some form ofcentral government. After many days of debate, thedelegates agreed that Congress had the power to docertain things. Congress had the power to provide forprotection against future British attacks. It could declarewar. It would not interfere in the private matters of thecolonies. Each colony wanted to protect the personalfreedoms of its people.

The delegates moved to organize an army. Several leaderswere considered as the possible chief commander. Acommander is a leader of a military group. One memberof Congress stood out as the best choice. A vote was taken,and George Washington was officially made commanderin chief of the American army. They sent out a plea to thecolonies for troops and money to pay for the war effort.

While the war itself was beginning, Congress took othersteps as a central, unified governing body. It set up a colonialpost office, naming Benjamin Franklin as its postmaster.A postmaster runs the post office. Congress sent agents toother countries to ask for their help. It organized a navy toattack approaching British ships. It reopened ports totrading with any country but Great Britain.

How Was Boston Recovered?After the fighting at Lexington and Concord, thousandsof minutemen had been waiting in camps around Boston.The governor of Boston, General Gage, issued an order thatput Boston under complete control of the British army.Gage also offered pardons to all colonials who wouldpledge their loyalty to the king. A pardon is an officialstatement forgiving someone of something. The pardondid not apply to John Hancock or Samuel Adams. No onecame forward to accept a pardon.


ft.

Colonial and Britishlosses were heavy atthe Battle of BunkerHill.

General Gage knew hehad to protect the areain Boston known asDorchester Heights. Heplanned to arm BunkerHill and Breed's HillAgainst colonial attack.The colonials learnedof Gage's plan andquickly responded.American soldiers

worked all through the night to fortify Breed's Hill. The hillbecame the Americans' first line of defense.

On June 17, 1775, British warships in Boston Harboropened an attack on Breed's Hill and Bunker Hill. TheBritish expected an easy victory. The colonial soldiers heldtheir ground.

Did you know that thefirst known wartimesubmarine attack

occurred during theRevolutionary War? David Bushnell,

a college student at Yale, haddesigned a one-person submarine.It was powered by a hand-heldpropeller. As you might expect,when Bushnell tried to sink a Britishwarship in New York Harbor in 1776,his mission failed.

U.S. Navy submarines today are verydifferent from Bushnell's. They are atleast 300 feet long and require 150crew members. They have atomic-powered engines and carrytorpedoes and guided missiles.Today, submarines find their targetsby sending out sound waves thatbounce off enemy ships.

British general William Howe led anotherattack. With little gunpowder, theAmericans held their fire until the Britishwere very close. The British suffered greatlosses and retreated. There was anotherBritish attack, and then the colonialsretreated. The British captured Breed'sHill and Bunker Hill. The losses wereheavy on both sides, including severalBritish officers. After the battle, oneBritish general said, "One more victorylike this one, and we will have lost thewar."

Two weeks after this battle, called theBattle of Bunker Hill, GeneralWashington reorganized and drilled thetroops. The following spring, theAmericans seized Dorchester Heights.


H\story

The Press and the American Revolution

Isaiah Thomas was an editor, a printer,and one of the leaders in the colonial"underground." The underground wasprinters, publishers, and editors whoconvinced the colonists to revolt againstthe British. Thomas's newspaper storiesand a cartoon helped people decide tofight for independence.

Thomas started as an apprentice printerat age six to help support his widowedmother. At seventeen, he and his formerboss founded the newspaper, 77ieMassachusetts Spy. Across the top of hispaper he drew a cartoon of a dividedsnake facing a dragon. The divided snake

represented the colonies. The dragonrepresented Great Britain. Underneaththe snake was the slogan, "Join or Die."

Thomas was one of the men who flashedthe signal light from Old North Church towarn that the British were coming. Thenext day he watched the first battle inthe Revolutionary War and wrote a storyabout it.

So the British wouldn't shut him down,Thomas had to smuggle his newspaperout of Boston. He moved to Worcester,Massachusetts, and became the leadingpublisher of the time.

What do you think

What did the British generalmean when he said afterBunker Hill, "One morevictory like this one, and wewill have lost the war"?

The Americans brought in cannons captured at FortTiconderoga. Now they could control the harbor below.General Howe viewed his position as hopeless. Quietly theBritish army and many people loyal to the British madetheir way to Halifax, Nova Scotia. They left Boston to theAmericans.

SECTION 2 REVIEW Write the answers to these questionson a separate sheet of paper using complete sentences.

1) What task did Congress give to GeorgeWashington?

2) What task did Congress give to BenjaminFranklin?

3) Why did Congress send out a plea to thecolonists?

4) What did General Gage offer to colonistswho pledged loyalty to the king?

5) Why did the colonists fortify Breed's Hill?

]


Section Fighting Spreads

InvadeTo attack or takeover something

LocationThe place wheresomething ispositioned

*LoyalistAmerican whosupported the kingof Great Britain

OratorOne who is good atpublic speaking

*StatesmanSomeone whoknows and practicesgovernment ideas

Congress learned in late 1775 that the British were formingan army in Canada. They became concerned that the Britishcould invade New York from the North. Congress agreed toa plan to capture Montreal and Quebec. They hoped thatAmerican troops would receive help from the Frenchcolonists in Quebec.

General Richard Montgomery led the march to Montreal andcaptured the city. From Montreal, he led troops to Quebec,meeting Colonel Benedict Arnold and more troops along theway. Because of its location, Quebec was not an easy city tocapture. The Americans lost the battle. General Montgomerywas killed, and Colonel Arnold was severely wounded.

The failed attack on Canada was offset by a victory in NorthCarolina. Americans defeated British loyalists at Moore'sCreek, North Carolina, in February 1776. Loyalists wereAmericans who supported the king. The victory wasimportant for two reasons. First, the loyalists' desire to fightwas greatly decreased. Also, the good news of victory raisedthe spirits of the Americans. Not long after that victory, theAmericans were successful in turning back a naval attack onCharleston, South Carolina.

What Was the Declaration of Independence?Richard Henry Lee of Virginia made a speech to Congress inJune 1776. He stated, "these United Colonies are, and of rightought to be free and independent states." Separating fromGreat Britain was a big step for the colonists to take. Many stillhoped that Great Britain would cooperate. Samuel Adams ofMassachusetts and Patrick Henry of Virginia knew the Britishwould not change their policy of strict colonial control. Henrywas an orator and statesman. A statesman is someone whoknows and practices government ideas. To both men, the warhad already begun. Henry voiced his opinion loud and clear:"Separate and fight! The war has already begun!"


Patrick Henry,addressing the

Virginia Assembly,called for war.

ClauseA certain section ofa document

DocumentAn official paper orpiece of writing

The Declaration ofIndependence was

signed inthis building-

Carpenter's Hail-in Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania.

A committee was formed to write a formal letter toannounce the decision that Congress reached. ThomasJefferson wrote the document and presented it to Congressin late June of 1776. After some debate and a few changes,the Declaration of Independence was approved. Jeffersonconsidered many facts when writing the Declaration. Eventhough Jefferson owned enslaved Africans, one point hewanted to include was the end to slavery. However, some

southern and northerndelegates disagreed.They refused to sign theDeclaration if the slaveclause remained. Tosave the Declaration,Jefferson removed theclause. As of July 4,1776, the thirteencolonies consideredthemselves to be freestates. Next, the stateswould have to unite andform a government inorder to fight theBritish.


BENJAMIN BANNEKER: 1731-1806

Benjamin Banneker was a free African who became aninternationally famous mathematician and astronomer. With little

schooling, he taught himself mathematics while working on hisfamily farm in Maryland. He invented his own difficult mathproblems and then solved them. In his fifties, Banneker beganmaking astronomical calculations for local almanacs. He accu-rately forecast that a solar eclipse would occur in the spring of1789. Banneker began publishing his own almanac in 1792.

Thomas Jefferson and members of the Academy of Sciences inParis highly praised Banneker for the almanac. Banneker came

to be known in Europe as America's "African astronomer." Hewas named to the commission that made the original survey of

Washington, D.C. Banneker spoke out against the injustice of slaveryin a famous letter to Jefferson.

What do you think

Why do you think theDeclaration of Independencewas an important step forthe Americans?

The Declaration of Independence can be found inAppendix A of this textbook.

SECTION 3 REVIEW Choose the best word or name inparentheses to complete each sentence. Write your answerson a separate sheet of paper.

1) Congress was concerned that the Britishcould invade (New York, Montreal,Quebec) from the North.

2) (Richard Henry Lee, Samuel Adams,Richard Montgomery) captured Montreal.

3) The Americans defeated the (AmericanIndians, loyalists, British) at Moore's Creek.

4) (Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, SamuelAdams) wrote the Declaration ofIndependence.

5) Some delegates refused to sign theDeclaration of Independence if the (slave,freedom, independence) clause remained.


Section The Revolutionary War

*RevolutionThe act ofoverthrowing andreplacing agovernment

• Had a strongleader in GeorgeWashington

• Were used tofrontier life andusing firearms

• Had militaryexperience fromthe French andIndian War

• Were fighting fortheir independenceon their own soil

At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, there wereclear differences between the British and colonial forces.Key strengths and weaknesses helped decide the outcomeof the war.

How Did the British TakeNew York City?George Washington moved severalthousand American soldiers toNew York. He was sure the Britishwould try to take control of theNew York harbor. If the Britishwere successful, the colonies wouldbe split into two parts and greatlyweakened.

Colonial Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths Weaknesses• Had little money

and depended onother countries forsupplies

• One third ofAmericans wereBritish loyalists

• Had a weak navyBritish general William Howe andhis brother, Admiral Richard Howe,arrived on Staten Island in the NewYork harbor in late July 1776.General Washington had beencorrect, and he was prepared todefend the city Meanwhile, King

British Strengths

Strengths

• Had well-trainedsoldiers, expertleaders, and thefinest equipment

• Had a powerfulnavy

• Could pay othercountries to fightfor them

• Had help fromBritish loyalists

and Weaknesses

Weaknesses

• Were not used tofrontier style ofAmerican warfare

• Had to fight farfrom home

• Were fighting withFrance, Spain, andthe Netherlands atthe same time

George III offered one last chanceTJ*"*** r\£>if~ctror peact.

General Howe announced that allcrimes against Great Britain would

be pardoned if the people wouldsurrender. The king's offer angered

the Americans.

General Howe prepared his large

army for battle. They attacked withfull force. The Americans were

driven off Lone Island.o


The British hangedNathan Hale whenthey captured him inLong Island.

*HessianA soldier paid bythe British to fightthe Americans

*SiegeAn event in whichan army preventspeople in a fort orcity from leaving;this is done toattempt to capturethe fort or city

Nathan Hale was a young formerteacher who had proved himself atBoston and now in this siege at NewYork. A siege is an army preventingpeople in a fort or city from leaving.This is done to attempt to capture thefort or city. Hale offered to go behindthe enemy lines on Long Island to gaininformation for General Washington.Unfortunately, he was caught andordered by General Howe to behanged. According to legend, as hewas about to die, he said, "I onlyregret that I have but one life to losefor my country."

The Americans were forced beyondNew York City. George Washingtonrealized that he could not win thebattle. He led a retreat across theHudson River. This prevented theremaining members of his army frombeing captured or killed.

Washington led a surprise attack on Trenton, New Jersey,on December 25, 1776. He guided his troops through ablinding storm across the ice-clogged Delaware River. Hedefeated a group of soldiers called Hessians. The Hessianshad been hired by the British to fight the Americans.

A Push Toward Freedom

In January of 1776, Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlettitled "Common Sense." Paine had recently come tothe colonies from Great Britain. In the pamphlet, hepointed out how foolish it was for a small island 3,000miles away to be controlling an entire continent. Thepamphlet helped start the push for independence inthe colonies.


IndustrialTechnology

The Nail-Making Machine

Researchers believe that the first nails were made inthe Middle East about five thousand years ago. Nailmaking was a slow process for many hundreds ofyears. The handmade nails had squared, tapered sides.

They often split the wood pieces they were to hold together.Thus, to avoid using any nails at all, carpenters learned touse wooden pegs or fitted interlocking pieces.

In the 1700s, American inventors worked on a nail-makingmachine. Ezekiel Reed patented the first one in 1786. Hismachine made better nails than those hammered by handor cut from large sheets of iron. Unfortunately, his nailswere too expensive for wide use. Within a decade, JacobPerkins improved on Reed's invention. Perkins's machine cutand put heads on nails in one operation. Soon the price ofnails dropped from twenty-five to eight cents a pound. Nailsare now a common item in our everyday life.

What do you think

Why do you think the Britishpaid the Hessians to fightrather than use their ownsoldiers?

Washington and his men went on toward Princeton, NewJersey. One week later, they defeated three enemy regimentsat Princeton. At this time when Americans needed hope,the two victories were of great importance.

SECTION 4 REVIEW On a separate sheet of paper, writeTrue if the statement is true or False if the statement is nottrue.

1) General Washington was sure the Britishwould try to take Richmond.

2) William Howe was a British general.

3) Washington ordered Nathan Hale to behanged.

4) Washington led a retreat from New Yorkacross the Princeton River.

5) The British paid Hessians to fight theAmericans.


Section

CompromiseA settlement ofdifferences inwhich each sidegives up some ofits demands

IsolateTo set apart fromothers

ProposalA suggestion forothers to consider

*Three-prongedattackAn attack in threeseparate placesagainst an enemy

1C"

The Turning Point of the War

The British wanted to isolate New England from the othercolonies. If the British controlled New York, this could bedone. General Howe planned a three-pronged attack inOctober 1777. A three-pronged attack is an attack in threeseparate places against an enemy. The plan was carefullylaid out: General John Burgoyne would march fromCanada. Colonel Barry St. Leger would attack from theEast. General Howe would reinforce from the South. TheBritish intended to destroy the American army once andfor all.

This plan, however, proved to be a total failure. ColonelSt. Leger was met with great resistance and could not makemuch progress. General Howe did not send reinforcementsas planned. Instead, he sent his army to attack Philadelphia.At Saratoga, the Americans met General Burgoyne anddefeated his army. He surrendered to Horatio Gates, theAmerican general.

News of the Saratoga defeat shocked the British. Theywondered what they could do to make peace with thecolonials. The king's earlier proposal to pardon and forgive

the New York colonists had not been accepted.The Americans were demanding complete

self-government. A peacefulcompromise was no longer possible.

Find informationabout a battle in theRevolutionary War.Then write an articlein your notebookabout the battle as ifyou are a newspaperjournalist. Explainwho fought thebattle, where it wasfought, and why itwas significant.

The British defeat at Saratoga caused adebate in France. Benjamin Franklin had

asked the French for both military helpand money. The French were not willingto provide aid. They thought the Americanarmy was weak and would lose to theBritish. After the American victory atSaratoga, however, the French decided tohelp the colonies.


Conditions weredifficult for theAmerican army atValley Forge.

EvacuateTo move away froma dangerous area

What Happened at Valley Forge?Washington tried to keep Howe's army from takingPhiladelphia. However, Washington was badly defeated atBrandywine. When Howe's men moved into Philadelphia,Washington struck again. This time the Americans werestopped at Germantown. Washington retreated with hissurviving men, setting up winter quarters at Valley Forge.It was a bitter winter. The troops suffered many hardshipssuch as poor shelter, no warm clothes, small amounts offood, and irregular pay. Despite the situation, Washingtonwas able to keep his troops together.

General Howe was called to Great Britain in the spring of1778 to explain why he had not won the war. Meanwhile,Howe's replacement, Henry Clinton, was on his way toPhiladelphia. Upon arriving, he immediately evacuatedthe troops. France was sending a fleet of ships to aid theAmericans.


What Victories Did the Americans Win?Wanting to concentrate British strength in one area,Clinton moved his troops on to New York. Washington andhis men left Valley Forge to follow the British army. In abattle at Monmouth, the Americans almost succeeded indefeating the British. Clinton's army managed to escape toNew York. There, Washington and his men contained theBritish for most of the rest of the war.

Meanwhile, the British had persuaded the AmericanIndians to attack American settlements on the westernfrontier. In response, Virginia Governor Patrick Henry sentGeorge Rogers Clark into the Ohio Valley to stop theseraids. Clark was an experienced frontiersman who knewthe region well. He marched his soldiers through thewilderness. Clark captured the British forts at Kaskaskia,Cahokia, and Vincennes. His outstanding leadership andcourage helped the Americans control the West.

SECTION 5 REVIEW Complete the sentences below usingwords from the Word Bank. Write your answers on aseparate sheet of paper.

WORD BANK

Clinton Saratoga Vincennes

Howe Valley Forge

1) General Washington set up winter quarters at _

2) General planned a three-pronged attack.

3) The Americans defeated the British at _ _.

4) General led the British army at Monmouth.

5) The Americans captured a British fort at .

What do you think

Why do you think General Howe's three-prongedattack failed?


Section The British Are Defeated

ConvictTo find someoneguilty of a crime

* TraitorSomeone whoturns against his orher own country

Before the French fleet came to America's aid, the colonistshad only a few warships. They had a few small merchantvessels that had been fitted with guns. The French shipsbrought military supplies from Europe. They attackedBritish ships on their way to the colonies. By the end ofthe war, they had captured or destroyed over 700 Britishvessels.

American Captain John Paul Jones became a naval hero.He successfully raided many towns along the coast of GreatBritain. He also scored a naval victory in a battle with theBritish warship Serapis in September of 1779. Jones's shipwas sinking, and the British ordered him to surrender. Hisreply was, "1 have not yet begun to fight!" He captured theSerapis and sailed it to safety. This victory still stands as anexample for the present-day United States Navy.

What Did Benedict Arnold Do?Benedict Arnold had fought in the battles of Quebecand Saratoga. He had shown strong military ability andcourage. General Washington appointed him to commandWest Point, the strongest and most important fort inAmerica. However, Arnold felt that he was not gettingenough credit. He plotted to turn West Point over to GreatBritain. In return, he was promised a high British armyrank.

Plans for the takeover were to be delivered to Arnold byJohn Andre, a major in the British army. On the way, MajorAndre was stopped by three men and searched. They foundthe plans he had hidden in his boot heel. Major Andre wastried, convicted as a spy, and hanged. Benedict Arnoldescaped to Great Britain, where he spent his remainingyears in shame as an American traitor. A traitor is someonewho turns against his or her own country.


InlandA region of landthat is far awayfrom the coast

LureTo draw insomeone orsomething byhinting of gain

OccupyTo take control of aplace

RedeemTo release fromblame forsomething by doingsomething elsebetter

*SharpshootingThe ability to shoota gun with greatsuccess

How Were the British Defeated?The British captured the ports of Savannah and Charleston.In 1780, an American army fell to these determined Britishat Camden, South Carolina. However, a force of militiamenskilled at frontier sharpshooting beat the British back atKings Mountain, North Carolina. Sharpshooting is theability to shoot a gun with great success.

General Nathaniel Greene lured the British Army, led byLord Cornwallis, inland in North Carolina. Greene's armyweakened the British army. Greene then recaptured most ofthe inland positions previously occupied by the British.

Lord Cornwallis invaded Virginia in an effort to redeemhimself. However, the Americans pushed him back.Cornwallis moved his men north to Yorktown, Virginia.There he hoped the British navy would provide him withsupplies and protect his position.

Washington decided to move to the South for a surpriseattack. Count Francois Joseph Paul de Grasse intended tomove his French fleet up into the Chesapeake Bay. WithCount de Grasse controlling the bay and Washingtonattacking from the North, Cornwallis had no way to escape.

Cornwallis tried to retreat to the West. There he was cut offby a young French officer, the Marquis de Lafayette. TheBritish fought hard, but they had too few men. Off October19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered.

When Great Britain's Lord North heard of the defeat ofCornwallis, he reportedly said, "It is all over." Lord Northwas removed from his office. The new government wasprepared to make peace and give in to the Americans'demands for independence. The war had come to an end.


Major Battles of the Revolutionary War(part of

MA)

1 Saratoga, Oct. 1777*"ngton and Concord, April 1775

(NEW YORK

Bunker Hill, June 1775

MASSACHUSETTS'New York

PENNSYLVANIA k. —NJPhilade!phia.*Trenton,Dec. 1776

' -" -Forge

•MD * ' -DELAWARE

ATLANTIC OCEAN

N

NORTH CAROLINACowpens, Jarf7178k

Camden, Aug. 1780^/ X SC

S GEORGIA

MAP STUDY

American victoryBritish victoryNeither side victorious

What Was theTreaty of Paris?Great Britain recognizedAmerica's independencewith the signing of theTreaty of Paris onSeptember 3, 1783. Thetreaty established the newnation's boundaries-Canada on the North, theMississippi River on theWest, and Florida on theSouth. Great Britain wasforced to return Florida toSpain. France gainednothing.

What are fivebattles shown onthis map? Whichbattles did theAmericans win?

What do you think

Which American leader doyou think did the most towin the Revolutionary War?Why?

SECTION 6 REVIEW Choose the best word in parenthesesto complete each sentence. Write your answers on aseparate sheet of paper.

1) John Paul Jones was a(n) (British,American, French) sea captain.

2) (John Paul Jones, Benedict Arnold,Nathaniel Greene) was a traitor.

3) The British captured (North Carolina,Savannah, Kings Mountain).

4) Lord Cornwallis surrendered at(Charleston, Camden, Yorktown).

5) The Treaty of Paris set the Americanboundary to the West as (the MississippiRiver, Canada, Florida).


SOURCE R E A D I N G9*£*ft&€&»x^M** . .Jf

"Common Sense"

Author Thomas Paine met BenjaminFranklin in London in 1774. At Franklin'sencouragement, Paine traveled toAmerica where he began writing andpublishing. His writings helped tomove the colonists toward declaringindependence from Britain. Here is aselection from Paine's pamphlet called"Common Sense."

"It is repugnant to reason . . . that thiscontinent can longer remain subject toany external power. . . . The utmoststretch of human wisdom cannot, at thistime, compass a plan short of separation,which can promise the continent even ayear's security. Reconciliation is now afallacious dream.

As to government matters, it is not in thepower of Britain to do this continentjustice: The business of it will soon be tooweighty, and intricate, to be managed withany tolerable degree of convenience by apower so distant from us, and so veryignorant of us; for if they cannot conquerus, they cannot govern us. To be alwaysrunning three or four thousand miles witha tale or a petition, waiting four or fivemonths for an answer, which whenobtained requires five or six more toexplain it in, will in a few years be lookedupon as folly and childishness—There wasa time when it was proper, and there is aproper time for it to cease. . ..

To talk of friendship with those in whomour reason forbids us to have faith ... is

madness and folly. Every day wears out thelittle remains of a kindred between us andthem, and can there be any reason tohope, that as the relationship expires, theaffection will increase, or that we shallagree better, when we have ten timesmore and greater concerns to quarrelover than ever? ...

O ye that love mankind! Ye that dareoppose, not only the tyranny but thetyrant, stand forth! Every spot of theold world is overrun with oppression.Freedom hath been hunted round theglobe. Asia and Africa have longexpelled her—Europe regards her likea stranger, and England hath given herwarning to depart. O! Receive thefugitive, and prepare in time an asylumfor mankind."

Source Reading Wrap-Up1) Why was it inconvenient to have

Britain, a distant power, govern thecolonies?

2) Why was talk of friendship withBritain "madness and folly"?

3) What was the problem with the "oldworld"?

4) Paine called freedom a "fugitive" thathas "been hunted round the globe."Name one example he gave for that.

5) Why do you think Paine named thepamphlet "Common Sense"?


CHAPTER SUMMARY

* On May 10, 1775, the SecondContinental Congress met inPhiladelphia. John Hancock waschosen as its president. Congressdecided it could declare war and thatit would not interfere in the privatematters of the colonies. Congresschose George Washington ascommander in chief of theAmerican army.

* On June 17, 1775, British warshipsin Boston Harbor opened an attackon Breed's Hill and Bunker Hill. TheBritish later won the battle, but onlyafter heavy losses. The battle wascalled the Battle of Bunker Hill. Thenext spring, the Americans capturedDorchester Heights above Boston,forcing the British to leave Boston tothe Americans.

* In late 1775, General RichardMontgomery captured Montreal.From Montreal, he led troops toQuebec, meeting Colonel BenedictArnold and more troops along theway. The Americans lost at Quebec.General Montgomery was killed.

* The Americans defeated Britishloyalists at Moore's Creek, NorthCarolina, in February 1776.

if Thomas Jefferson wrote theDeclaration of Independence and

presented it to Congress in 1776.Congress approved it after removinga slavery clause.

•*• The British drove the Americanarmy from New York in July 1776.General Washington then led asurprise attack on Trenton, NewJersey, on December 25, 1776. Heguided his troops through a stormacross the Delaware River anddefeated Hessian soldiers.

* General Howe planned a three-pronged attack in October 1777.The plan was intended to defeatthe Americans all at once. The planfailed. The Americans defeated theBritish at Saratoga.

* After being pushed back by theAmericans at Virginia, Britain's LordCornwallis moved his army toYorktown. After heavy fighting, theBritish surrendered on October 19,1781.

if Great Britain signed the Treatyof Paris on September 3, 1783. Thetreaty established the new nation'sboundaries—Canada on the North,the Mississippi River on the West,and Florida on the South. GreatBritain was forced to return Floridato Spain. France gained nothing.


Chapter 6 Review

Comprehension: Identifying FactsOn a separate sheet of paper, write the correct word orwords from the Word Bank to complete the sentences.

WORD BANK

commander

Declaration ofIndependence

Hessians

loyalist

militia

pardon

petition

postmaster

Second ContinentalCongress

statesman

three-pronged attack

traitor

1) A is a group of citizens who serve as soldiers intimes of war.

2) An official statement forgiving someone of somethingis called a

3) The chose John Hancock as its president.

4) A written paper asking for a right or benefit fromsomeone in power is called a .

5) The Second Continental Congress chose GeorgeWashington to be _ of the American army.

6) The Second Continental Congress made BenjaminFranklin the

7) The British hired to fight against the Americans.

8) Thomas Jefferson wrote the

9) General Howe wanted to defeat the Americans at oncewith a


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