The American The American RevolutionRevolution

Chapter 8Chapter 8

Objective:Objective:

Assess the importance of Paine’s Assess the importance of Paine’s Common Sense Common Sense in bringing about in bringing about

Independence Independence

Important Events of the Important Events of the RevolutionRevolution

• Events in Chronology:Events in Chronology:– Fighting at Lexington and Concord.Fighting at Lexington and Concord.– Convening of the Second Continental Convening of the Second Continental

Congress. Congress. – Publication of Publication of Common Sense Common Sense by by

Thomas Paine.Thomas Paine.– Adoption of the Declaration of Adoption of the Declaration of

Independence.Independence.

2

The Shot Heard The Shot Heard ’’Round the WorldRound the World!!

LexingtonLexington & & ConcordConcord – April – April 18,177518,1775

The Second Continental The Second Continental CongressCongress

(1775)(1775)• All 13 colonies presentAll 13 colonies present• Decided to go to war and named Decided to go to war and named

G. Washington G. Washington head of Continental head of Continental ArmyArmy

• Set plan to raise money and to Set plan to raise money and to create an army and navycreate an army and navy

• Olive Branch PetitionOlive Branch Petition::– Last ditch effort to prevent all out warLast ditch effort to prevent all out war– Pledged loyalty to crown, sought to Pledged loyalty to crown, sought to

restore peacerestore peace– Ignored by King GeorgeIgnored by King George

The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment• Colonists used the ideas of the Colonists used the ideas of the

Enlightenment to justify their protestEnlightenment to justify their protest– John LockeJohn Locke wrote that people have wrote that people have

natural rights (life, liberty, & property) natural rights (life, liberty, & property) & should oppose tyranny & should oppose tyranny

– RousseauRousseau believed that citizens have a believed that citizens have a social contract with their gov’t; is social contract with their gov’t; is contract broken, rebellion justified contract broken, rebellion justified

– MontesquieuMontesquieu argued that power argued that power should not be in the hands of a king, should not be in the hands of a king, but separated among gov’t branchesbut separated among gov’t branches

Thomas PaineThomas Paine: : Common Common SenseSenseAuthor of pamphlet

Argued that Independence was “common sense” due to distance and mistreatment of England towards the colonies

Included John Locke’s idea of “natural rights”

Examining Excerpts from Examining Excerpts from Thomas Paine’s Thomas Paine’s Common SenseCommon Sense

• In teams, read the 6 excerpts In teams, read the 6 excerpts from from Common Sense Common Sense

• Discuss what the excerpt means Discuss what the excerpt means in your own words!in your own words!

• Match each quotation in the Match each quotation in the chart with its appropriate chart with its appropriate interpretation in the slides interpretation in the slides that followthat follow

• Write the summarized main Write the summarized main idea in your chartidea in your chart

11If Britain is the “mother” If Britain is the “mother” country, then why is she country, then why is she

treating us this way? treating us this way? Mothers are not supposed Mothers are not supposed

to “eat” their childrento “eat” their children

22America is a continent America is a continent that is controlled by a that is controlled by a

small island… this is crazysmall island… this is crazy

33It is incorrect to say that It is incorrect to say that

America can only be America can only be wealthy if we remain wealthy if we remain connected to Britainconnected to Britain

44The only reason Britain The only reason Britain protected the colonies protected the colonies was to protect herselfwas to protect herself

55The only way to maintain The only way to maintain

peace is by achieving peace is by achieving independence from independence from

Britain; Britain; We should declare We should declare

independence now while independence now while we remain calm we remain calm

66There is nothing to gain There is nothing to gain

from improving our from improving our relationship relationship

with Britain and with Britain and remaining remaining

her loyal colonists her loyal colonists

Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence Analysis Analysis (1776)(1776)

By 1750, the American colonists were loyal British citizens with

autonomous, self-governing colonial assemblies and a thriving trade

connection with England

Turning Point!England defeated

France in the French and Indian War (1754-1763)

The policy of salutary neglect ended as Britain imposed greater political authority over the colonies, raised new taxes to pay

off war debts, and refused to allow colonists representation in Parliament

Proclamation

of 1763

Stamp Act (1765)

Sons of Liberty formed

Townshend Acts (1767)

Boston Massacre

(1770)

Second Continental

Congress (1775)

Lexington and Concord (1775)

First Continental Congress (1774)

Intolerable Acts (1774)

Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

 

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Paine’s Common

Sense (1776)

Declaration of Independence (1776)

• Class DiscussionClass Discussion::– Rank order the top 3 events that Rank order the top 3 events that

contributed contributed the mostthe most to the growing to the growing divide between Britain & her coloniesdivide between Britain & her colonies•Should Common Sense be included in Should Common Sense be included in

this top 3 ranking? If so, where? If this top 3 ranking? If so, where? If not, why? not, why?

– What changed the most over this What changed the most over this 13-year period (1763-1776)?13-year period (1763-1776)?

– What could the English gov’t have done What could the English gov’t have done to prevent this?to prevent this?

– What could the colonists have done? What could the colonists have done?

BritainBritain AmericansAmericans

AdvantagesAdvantages ?? ??

DisadvantagesDisadvantages ?? ??

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

Washington’s HeadachesWashington’s Headaches

Only 1/3 of the colonists were in favor of a war

State/colony loyalties.

Congress couldn’t tax

Poor training

LoyalistLoyalist

StrongholdStrongholds:s:

Who wouldWho would

Be a Be a loyalist?loyalist?

Fighting SidesPatriots Loyalists Neutral Native

Am. African

Am.

-40%

-New England

-Rebels

-politically radical

-younger generation

-better at gaining support from neutral colonists

-20% Population

- “Tories”

-fought to restore the crown

-politically conservative

-older generation

-educated and wealthy

aristocrats port cities

About 40% pop. At first

-most turned to Patriot cause

-most fought with the British

-Lord Dunmore (VA) offered freedom to all blacks served for Brit.

Military StrategiesMilitary Strategies

Attrition

Guerilla tactics [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

Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods

Use the Loyalists.

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

The British suffered over 40% casualties.

Phase IIPhase II::

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

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

Why were Trenton and Why were Trenton and Princeton Important?Princeton Important?• Canadian invasion had failedCanadian invasion had failed

• Fall of 1776, Patriot cause was at Fall of 1776, Patriot cause was at its lowest pointits lowest point

• Washington’s recrossing of Washington’s recrossing of Delaware River and 2 victories Delaware River and 2 victories were crucial for morale and were crucial for morale and preventing NE from being cut off preventing NE from being cut off from rest of the coloniesfrom rest of the colonies

Washington Crossing the Washington Crossing the DelawareDelaware

Painted by Emanuel Leutze, 1851

Saratoga: Saratoga: “Turning Point”“Turning Point” of the War- leads of the War- leads to French to French assistanceassistance

A modern-day re-enactment

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!”

Peace!Peace!Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783. It said that1783. It said that

1.1. Britain recognized the United States Britain recognized the United States as an independent nationas an independent nation

2.2. the United States territory extended the United States territory extended west to the Mississippi River and west to the Mississippi River and from Canada in the north to Spanish from Canada in the north to Spanish Florida in the southFlorida in the south

3.3. the British promised to withdraw all the British promised to withdraw all troops troops

4.4. the United States agreed that British the United States agreed that British merchants could collect on debts merchants could collect on debts owed by Americansowed by Americans

5.5. property taken from Loyalists would property taken from Loyalists would be returned to thembe returned to them

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

So What?So What?

• The American Revolution led to The American Revolution led to an independent America, future an independent America, future world-wide revolutions, and set world-wide revolutions, and set the example that "the people" the example that "the people" could be trusted to run their could be trusted to run their

own government.own government.