Post on 25-Dec-2015
transcript
The War for American Independence
1775-1783
Battle of Lexington and Concord
• April 19, 1775• General Gage sends troops
to check out arsenals in Lexington, Mass
• Dr. Warren sends for Paul Revere
• Warning shots are fired to alert the town
• Revere is stopped and questioned, but the element of surprise was lost and the militia was on its way to Concord
• British order Minutemen to leave – they refuse and shots ring out
• Battle only lasts 15 minutes – British won…at first
• As the British make their way back to Boston, minutemen hid in the trees and fired at them
May 1775: Meeting of the Second Continental Congress
• Which course of action to take?
• John Adams view vs. John Dickinson view
• What is decided
• What does this infer about the American public based on the decisions made at the 2nd Continental Congress?
June 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill • Breed’s Hill
• Reason for attack
• Summary of Battle
July 1775: Olive Branch Petition Sent
• Final attempt at a peaceful resolution
• Terms of Petition
• Response of King George III
Fall/Winter 1775: A Call for “Common Sense”
• Background
• Content of Common Sense• Who is Thomas Paine?• What is his message?
• Why a King is not necessary• Inherent evils of having a king
July 1776: Declaration of Independence
• One by one, the colonies declare their independence
• Continental Congress asks each colony to form its own government in preparation for independence
• Thomas Jefferson pens the document
• Accepted to July 2nd, read on July 4th
The Revolution
The British Army
• Attitude
• Strategy
• Advantages
The Colonists
• Attitudes
• Strategy
• Advantages
Choosing sides: For or Against?• Loyalists
• Patriots
• Quakers
• Native Americans
New York – Summer, 1776
• Howe & Howe (GB) led 30,000+ soldiers and mercenaries
• Washington had 20,000 poorly trained and under equipped men
• By Fall, Continental Army pushed across Delaware and troops dwindled to 8000
• Big What if? for American history
Battle of Trenton – Christmas, 1776
• Washington led troops across DE River into PA
• Attacked a group of Hessians guarding garrisons
• Defeated Hessians who were drunk from holiday
• Significance/Effects:• Many men re-enlisted
Fall of Philadelphia – September, 1777
• Howe (GB) sailed south from NY in Spring
• Washington failed to block redcoats at Brandywine Creek
• Thus, allowing GB to secure Philadelphia
Saratoga – October, 1777
• The Plan:• Burgoyne & Howe (GB) attempt to cut off New England from rest of colonies
• The Problems:• Burgoyne continued to lose men in smaller fights with Americans• Burgoyne did not know Howe was in Philadelphia, and was not coming to meet
him
• The Result: • American Victory• Drastic change in GB war strategy – Keep troops near coast!• Turning point in War
Saratoga – A Turning Point
• Bolstered French supported
• FR Recognized American independence
• France refused to make peace with GB, until GB recognized American independence
Surrender at Saratoga
Because I lost a bet…The Leadership of Mad Anthony Wayne
• Local boy – Paoli
• Became a general in 1776
• Involvement in Battles• Paoli Massacre• Monmouth
Valley Forge - Winter of 1777 – 1778
• More than 2000 men died from the conditions
European Allies
• Volunteers
• Friedrich von Steuben• Prussian Captain• Taught field maneuvers, firing
techniques
• Marquis de Lafayette• French aristocrat• Lobby for French aid• Command army in Virginia
Lafayette & Washington at Valley Forge
Von Steuben drills Continental Army at Valley Forge
War Heads South
• After defeat @ Saratoga, British change strategy
• Cornwallis (GB)• Sailed south to Charles Town, S.C w/ 8500 men
• Easily defeated Americans• Why Charles Town?
• Able to establish forts • Enjoyed much success in 1780
• BUT Cornwallis is moving into NC
The Legend of Benedict Arnold • 1779
• 1780
• Why did he do it?
Cornwallis crosses into N.C. - 1781
• Met with opposition, and forced to retreat
• Grueling chase ensues between two armies• American Victories @ Kings Mt.
& Cowpens• Unexpected! Were
outnumbered!
Surrender at Yorktown – October 1781
• Cornwallis makes camp• Poor strategic position
• French supply 6000 additional troops
• Surround British• French Naval force • 17,000 American & French
troops • After 3 weeks, Cornwallis
surrenders• October 1781
Surrender at Yorktown
Treaty of Paris - 1783
• US, Great Britain, France, & Spain
• Confirms US Independence
• Treaty Provisions• US land:
• Atlantic Ocean to Mississippi Rv.• British creditors could collect debts
Egalitarianism
• A belief in the equality of all people• Began to spread during the Revolution
• Ironically applied to only white males