Post on 05-Jul-2015
transcript
The American Revolution1175-1783
Between 1775 and 1787, Americans struggled to win a war, make a peace
and create a sound and stable government on both the state and
the national levels. At first the colonies were neither prepared for
nor united behind fighting a war with England.
• In fact, the Revolution encompassed two struggles--a military conflict with Great Britain and a domestic political struggle.
The States United(?)
• Defining Americas War Aim– Second Continental Congress
• --Complete independence? Richard Henry Lee draws resolution
• --Reconciliation? John Dickinson—Olive Branch Petition
•
1776
• Thomas Paine-- Changed peoples mind
The King was the problem
“the island kingdom of England was no more fit to rule the American continent, than a satellite was fit to rule the sun”
The Declaration of Independence1776-Thomas Jefferson
• America’s birth certificate
• John Locke inspired
• Jefferson states all men are equal, unalienable rights—governments get their power from the consent of the governed, purpose of government is to secure the rights of the people, people have the right to abolish government if government fails to protect rights
Divided America
• Loyalists, Patriots and Neutrals
• Articles of Confederation—first gov—loose alliance of states—weak central government—states not willing to give up power
• Financing the War—very difficult—no power to tax
• Created a Continental army-Washington in charge
Foreign Assistance
• Marquis de Lafayette Baron F. Von Steuben
Advantages
American
Home field advantageReason for fighting
Support of the people
British
Largest army, navy, $, and manufacturing
Goals & Strategies
• The American Colonies:
• --Defensive war
• --militia
• --home field
• The British
• --Offensive war
• --largest army
• --distant war
Breed’s Hill –Bunker HillBoston
• After the British withdrew from Concord and Lexington, American forces started in on British General Thomas Gage and Howe in Boston.
• “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes” American Gen. Prescott
• http://youtu.be/yHkQCfu2cwc
• Br. General Gage reported to his superiors after the battle “These people show a spirit and conduct against us they never showed against the French”.
• Up to this point, England thought this was perhaps a regional conflict, not a full scale war—after the battle, they thought differently.
The Crisis-Thomas Paine
• The Significance: the tide turns, volunteers sign up, Washington becomes the hero
Saratoga
• Hero is Benedict Arnold
• French come to our Aid
• http://youtu.be/BXBu2NpB8DI
The Final Phrase: The South• War was a stalemate—a war of attrition-Britain
lost in the North East, lost in the Middle colonies—now the South
• Strategy: Conquer an area and put Loyalists in charge -but they over estimated the loyalty of the Loyalists (?)—most were not interested in England, they just wanted to get even with Patriots—settle old scores—fighting becomes vicious (civil war)
• British were constantly harassed by Patriot guerrillas—Francis Marion the “Swamp Fox”
The Great Irony • The British were ready to exploit the
contradiction of the South
• What Southerners were fighting for was freedom, while they enslaved a half million blacks
• Page 170
• Racial Manipulation would be used by the British to destabilize the South and yet in another ironic situation it caused the South to be united in opposition to the British
• The Revolutionary theme of Freedom and Independence meant, in the South, freedom to maintain their Slave system
Gen. Nathaniel Greene
• Remarkable General—knows one doesn’t have to win battles in order to win the War.
• The side that wins the hearts and minds of the South will prevail.
• Military Strategy: make the British presence so unpleasant
• Led the Br. Gen Cornwallis on a 6 month chase through the backwoods of the South
Yorktown Va.
Treaty of Paris 1783
Things to think about
• The American Revolution as a Civil War????
• Patriots vs Loyalists
• Colonists were of British origins now fighting to separate themselves from it
Assessing the advantages and disadvantages that affected the
outcome in the Revolutionary war.