Bellwork

• What was the Declaration of Independence? When was it signed? What do you think the British reaction was to the signing of the Declaration?

American History

Section 6, Unit 5Independence Declared and War

Objectives• Identify the consequences of the Declaration

of the Independence • Discuss the preparations for war made by both

sides • Examine the influences on the Declaration by

philosophers• Read the Declaration of Independence and

analyze what the document is trying to achieve

Quick Review

• In the last lesson, what caused the Patriots to finally rebel against the British?

• How did the British respond to Patriot rebellion?

Reasons for Independence

• Many colonists supported independence for two reasons:1. They believed the British government had

violated their rights as English subjects2. Colonists had already died defending these rights

Question: Do you think all the colonists wanted to break away from Great Britain?

Thomas Paine

• Thomas Paine, a political activist and revolutionary, urged revolution in his pamphlet Common Sense.

• Paine made several arguments against British rule in his writings.

Common Sense Arguments• It was absurd for an island to rule a continent.• America was not a "British nation"; but was composed of influences and

peoples from all of Europe.• Even if Britain were the "mother country" of America, that made her

actions all the more horrendous, for no mother would harm her children so brutally.

• Being a part of Britain would drag America into unnecessary European wars, and keep her from the international commerce at which America excelled.

• The distance between the two nations made governing the colonies from England unwieldy. If some wrong were to be petitioned to Parliament, it would take a year before the colonies received a response.

• The New World was discovered shortly before the Reformation. The Puritans believed that God wanted to give them a safe haven from the persecution of British rule.

• Britain ruled the colonies for her own benefit, and did not consider the best interests of the colonists in governing Britain.

Source: Wikipedia

Paine’s Impact• Common Sense sold almost 120,000 copies in

three months. • It helped transform haphazard colonial rebellion

into a focused crusade for independence. • It was also written in a simple manner, so that

the common audience could understand and grasp Paine’s arguments. It was one of the few times that the uneducated masses were brought into a new political landscape.

Resolution

• On June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a resolution to the Second Continental Congress declaring that, “these United Colonies are, and of right out to be, free and independent states… and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is… totally dissolved.”

Resolution

• The resolution also called for the planning a confederation (a loose pact of states) and to secure foreign allies.

• Before voting on Lee’s proposal, the Congress appointed a five-man committee to draft a formal Declaration of Independence.

Declaration of Independence• Thomas Jefferson, a

Virginia lawyer and planter– and one of the youngest delegates– did most of the actual writing.

• On June 28, the committee presented the Declaration to Congress.

Adoption of the Document

• Before reading the Declaration, the Congress debated--- and then adopted– Lee’s resolution for Independence on July 2nd and formally declared the new United States of America on the same day.

• Two days later, on July 4, the Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence.

Purpose• The immediate purpose of the document was

to win public support , both domestically and abroad.

• To undermine King George III, the Declaration detailed his misdeeds.

• It also outlined basic principles of representative government that were referred to as “self-evident” truths. – Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Reading Activity: Please get one of the white pamphlets from the back

bookcase and read the pages dictated by the teacher (35-38). You will answer a few questions after the reading.

Questions

• Who inspired the three basic self evident truths?– John Locke (life, liberty and property)

• Who is the “He” they keep referring to in the declaration? – King George III

• What were some of the grievances they had with King George III in the declaration?

Right of the People

• The Declaration also proclaimed the right of people to “alter or abolish” a government that deprived them of life, liberty, or happiness.

• The men who signed the Declaration of Independence knew they were now traitors in the eyes of the Crown.

• The price for failure would mean either imprisonment or death.

Reactions

• News of Independence was mixed. • Patriots rejoiced wildly, ringing “liberty bells”

and celebrating.– For them, the belief that the colonies would be

united was a great feat.

Reactions

• However, some Americans opposed or simply ignored the developments. – Among those who refused to celebrate were the

Loyalists (sometimes called “Tories”). Some Loyalists based they’re loyalty to Britain on the belief that to resist the king was to rebel against God.

– Other Loyalists stood to lose power and wealth of royal authority were undermined.

– The last few saw support for the king as they saw loyalty to their own family.

Loyalist Safety

• As support for independence grew, Loyalists feared their safety.

• To many Patriots, Loyalists were traitors. – Many Patriots taunted,

or threatened Loyalists, their families, or their properties.

A Loyalist about to be tarred and feathered.

Loyalist Safety

• Many wealthy and influential Loyalists escaped to Canada, the British West Indies, or England. Loyalists who remained either tried to stay out of the conflict or openly aided the British forces.

Fighting the War

• To declare independence was one thing; to fight was another.

• The lack of a central government hindered the American war effort.

• The Second Continental Congress had no real authority and, although it could ask the states to join the military effort, it could not force anyone to fight.

Supply Shortages

• Without a strong government, the Continental Army constantly faced supply shortages.

• Some colonial merchants charged high prices for shoddy goods and farmers would sell their goods to the highest bidder, whether he be American or British.

• Because of poor supplies, many troops, including Washington’s own men, endured harsh winters in little comfort while British troops often had adequate shelter and supplies.

Disease

• Another problem the Continental Army faced was disease.

• Even though General Washington issued orders about cleanliness and hygiene, illness plagued the camps. Poorly prepared food spread germs, and camp toilets contaminated the water supply.

• Dysentery caused by these conditioned killed thousands during the war effort.

Building an Army• Washington also faced troop shortages. • He seldom had more than 16,000 Continentals available

at any one time, even though almost 231,000 men served in the Continental Army over the course of the war.

• However, issues often were raised about the quality of the military, not the quantity.

Quality of the Soldiers

• Washington blamed the poor quality of the soldiers on short-enlistments. Most men signed on for one year, while some even as little as three months.

• With such little time, training was difficult and by the time the soldier became adequate, their enlistment was up.

• Despite his appeals, Washington had to fight a war with poorly trained troops.

Enlistment

• There were other problems as well. Recruiting only went well after victories.

• Soldiers who were also farmers often deserted during harvesting season.

Advantages

• Despite the poor quality of the Continental Army, the Patriots did have two advantages over the British forces:1. They fought on familiar ground. This allowed

them to be able to fight using guerrilla warfare and more unconventional methods that would require a knowledge of the land.

2. The soldiers were inspired by a Revolutionary cause, unlike the British. Their inspiration lead them to push harder for victory.

Other groups in the War

• Due to the poor quality of the regular Continental Army, other groups of people often had a role to play in the war effort:– African Americans– Native Americans– Women

African Americans

• Despite the shortage of troops, Washington initially ordered that no black soldiers– regardless of slave status– could serve in the Army.

• Some colonial leaders feared that slaves would revolt if given weapons; other believed that blacks would not make good soldiers.

• However, this changed when the British threatened to recruit African Americans– both enslaved or free.

African Americans (cont.)

• To counter this, Washington ordered the Continental Army to enlist free blacks. – Many served in fighting units alongside whites,

but separate African American companies were also formed.

– Most commanders of these units were white and, while initially reluctant to work with all-black groups, the bravery of the African American soldiers was so celebrated that many white officers changed their minds.

African Americans (cont.)• About 5,000 African American Patriots fought in

the war. • Some, such as Peter Salem, received official

recognition for their efforts, while most served bravely, but anonymously.

Native Americans

• Initially, both the British and Americans wanted to keep the Native Americans out of the war.

• Soon, however, the need for skilled fighters led each side to change their minds.

• Both sides recruited members of the Iroquois League.

Native Americans• In 1777, the League

held a council to discuss the war and, during discussion, the League split.

• Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant; to the right) a Mohawk chief, had received British assurances of Iroquois Land right.

Native American Split

• The British promised land rights to the Iroquois members who joined them.

• Because of this, the Mohawks, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas agreed to fight for the British.

• The Patriots, however, received the allegiance of the Oneidas and Tuscaroras.

Women in the War

• A few patriot women fought in the war, while other undertook dangerous missions as spies or messengers.

• Although legends about women in the war were abound, there were at least two actual examples of women taking role in the war.

Margaret Corbin• Margaret Corbin took the

place of her husband when he fell, and continued to fire a canon at the British forces until she was seriously wounded.

• After helping defend Fort Washington against British forces, she received a pension from Congress for her military service--- the first woman in U.S. history to do so.

“Molly Pitcher”• Molly Pitcher, who may not actually be a real person, but rather a

nickname for Mary Ludwig or another woman who helped support men on the battle field, helped fight in the American Battle of Monmouth.

• Under heavy fire, she is said to have both carried water to soldiers and, at one point, replaced her husband on the battlefield and helped load canons.

Other women

• Many other women accompanied the troops and worked as laundresses, nurses, and cooks.

• However, most Patriot women stayed behind and supported the war effort by distributing medical supplies and making uniforms. They helped collect lead and made bullets while others managed the family business.

• Loyalist women, however, either fled or spied for the British army, aided British prisoners, or hid British soldiers in their home.

The War

• The war would continue for several more years, as the British hoped (and planned) for a quick end to the fighting.

• However, the British would soon find that victory would be hard pressed.

Questions?

• If you have any questions, please ask now.

Review1. What arguments did the Declaration of Independence

offer in support of independence?2. What were some of the problems of the Continental

Army? What two advantages did they have, however? 3. Why did the Loyalists continue to support the Crown? 4. Why did Washington inevitably allow African Americans

to fight in the war? Why were they not allowed initially?

5. What was the role of Thomas Paine in helping the move towards independence?

6. How did women help in the war effort? 7. What caused the Iroquois League to split?

Next lesson

• In the next lesson, we are going to discuss the major battles of the American Revolution and American victory.