The Colonies Declare Independence

Chapter 6, Section 2

Common Sense

• By the winter of 1775, the Patriots had been fighting the British for months, yet many colonists still resisted cutting their ties with England.

• In January of 1776, a fiery pamphlet appeared, called Common Sense.

• Written by Thomas Paine, the pamphlet called King George III a “…royal brute” and urged Americans to break away from Britain.

“In England a King hath little more to do than to make war and give away jobs; which, in plain terms, isto impoverish the nation… Of moreworth is one honest man to societyand in the sight of God, than all thecrowned ruffians that ever lived.”

Common Sense• Within 6 months, Common Sense

had sold more than ½ a million copies. Colonists had previously felt a strong loyalty to the king, but Paine changed their minds.

• Many people began to believe that the idea of having a king or queen no longer made sense.

• Paine also argued that the colonists did not owe a thing to Britain either – that the British profited from the colonists far more than the other way around.

Congress Votes for Independence• Common Sense also convinced many

of the Continental Congressmen that it was necessary to split from the British.

• However, if they declared independence, the delegates would be considered traitors. If they were caught by the British, they would be hanged.

• After a long debate, Congress decided to draw up a declaration of independence. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were chosen to write it.

Jefferson was young and shy at the time, but few could match his passionate writing style.

Signing the Document• Jefferson completed the

declaration in June, and it was approved by Congress on July 2.

• By approving the Declaration of Independence, the colonists had made their final decision regarding their relationship with Britain. They were officially separated.

• On July 4, 1776, the declaration was signed and printed. John Hancock, president of the Congress, signed the declaration first (in giant letters.)

“ There, I guess King George will be able to read that.”

The Declaration of Independence• The Declaration has four parts:

• First is the Preamble, or introduction:“When in the course of human events it becomes

necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another…”

• Natural rights are stressed in the second part of the document. That is, rights that belong to all people from birth.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among them are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

The Declaration of Independence• According to the Declaration of Independence,

people have the right to life and liberty.

• People form governments to protect these rights. If the government fails to do so, then it is the people’s “right and duty to throw off such government.”

• The third part of the document lists British Wrongs against American colonists. Examples include sending troops in peacetime, and taxation without representation.

The Declaration of Independence• The last part of the Declaration focuses on

Independence, announcing that the colonies were now the United States of America.

• All political ties with Britain were officially cut, and all powers of the government now lay in the hands of the colonists.

“And, for the support of this declaration… we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

Struggles in the Middle States

Chapter 6, Section 3

Setting the SceneSetting the Scene

In June of 1776 Daniel McCurtin glanced out his In June of 1776 Daniel McCurtin glanced out his outhouse window at New York Harbor. He was outhouse window at New York Harbor. He was amazed to see what looked like an entire amazed to see what looked like an entire forest of trees without leaves. What he really forest of trees without leaves. What he really saw was hundreds of masts on British ships.saw was hundreds of masts on British ships.

Aboard the ships were General Howe and Aboard the ships were General Howe and thousands of redcoats, marking a new stage in thousands of redcoats, marking a new stage in the war, shifting to the Middle Colonies where the war, shifting to the Middle Colonies where the American Patriots had their hardest days.the American Patriots had their hardest days.

The British Take New York (1776)

• Washington discovered that the British were moving to take New York City, and hurried to protect it.

• The British Had 34,000 troops and 10,000 sailors. The Americans numbered 20,000 and had no navy.

• Also, most New Yorkers were loyalist Tories faithful to the British.

• In the Battle of Long Island (New York) more than 14,000 Americans were killed, wounded or captured.

A mask of Washington taken while still alive.

Escape from New York

• With such losses, the Americans were lucky to retreat by sneaking to the mainland in the middle of the night.

• Throughout the autumn, Washington fought a series of battles with Howe’s army, always retreating. By November the Continental Army made it to Pennsylvania.

• During this campaign a young spy, Nathan Hale, was seized by the British and hanged. His last words were, “I regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

A Desperate Winter (1776)

• By December of 1776 the Continental army, in constant retreat, sick, poorly fed and tired of defeat looked ready to lose the war. Deserters left camp every day.

• Washington needed to take a bold move to improve troop moral and convince more men to join the army or reenlist.

• On Christmas Eve, Washington secretly led his troops across the icy Delaware River and marched (many without shoes) to Trenton, New Jersey.

Victory in New Jersey• On Christmas morning, Washington led a

surprise attack on Hessian soldiers at the Battle of Trenton. Most Hessians, still sleeping or drunk from celebrating, were easily taken prisoner.

• Washington then fooled the British by leaving his fires burning and marched to another victory at Princeton.

• These victories provided the boost Washington needed to keep the army together during the winter after the costly and brutal New York defeats.

Washington crosses the Delaware in the middle of the night. It is so cold that several soldiers froze to death on the short march to Trenton.

Burgoyne’s Plan (1777)

• The British, dismayed by their failure to crush the rebels, devised a new plan.

• Johnny “The Gentleman” Burgoyne planned to send three armies from different directions to meet at Albany (NY) and crush the Americans there. They would then control the Hudson River and cut American forces off from New England supplies.

• General Howe would march north from the Chesapeake Bay and conquered Philadelphia

• Burgoyne came from the north and swiftly captured the American Fort Ticonderoga.

The Plan Falls Apart (1777)• Once in the American backwoods Burgoyne’s

advance was slowed to less than a mile a day by heavy cannon, swamps and obstacles.

• Howe, instead of moving to Albany, rested his army in Philadelphia for the winter.

• At the Battle of Saratoga (New York) the British were surrounded and defeated by the Americans, marking a turning point in the war.

• Burgoyne’s forces were decimated twice before he finally surrendered his entire army.

• The British could no longer threaten New England, and France agreed to join the Patriots.

Johnny the Gentleman

• The Americans had long hoped for French aid, having sent Ben Franklin to convince King Louis XVI to give weapons and supplies.

• The French were eager to see the Brits defeated, but only wanted to join the war if victory was guaranteed.

• After Saratoga, the French joined the Patriots (Spain and the Netherlands would also help us against the British later on.)

Aid From Europe

Aid From Europe

• Before we had any allies, individuals helped the American cause:– Marie Jean Paul Joseph Roche

Yves Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette, a young French noble, brought trained soldiers to help the Patriots. Lafayette became the son that Washington never had.

– From Prussia (Germany), home of the world’s best soldiers, came Friedrich von Steuben, who helped train Washington’s troops to march and drill.

The Hardships of Valley Forge• Even as Americans began to hope for victory

they were about to suffer a horrible winter.

• Conditions were terrible at Valley Forge with intense cold and few resources from the government. One man wrote,

“I am sick – discontented – and out of humor. Poor food – hard lodging – cold weather – fatigue – nasty clothes – nasty cookery… a pox on my bad luck!”

The Hardships of Valley Forge

• Soldiers slept in drafty huts on the frozen ground. Some had no shoes or even clothes, and could only wrap themselves in ragged blankets.

• Eventually, Patriots from all around sent food, medicine, warm clothes and ammunition for the army. Von Steuben’s training hardened the troops and as spring approached the bleakest hour had past.