AMERICA SECEDES FROM

THE EMPIREChapter 8

Second Continental Congress

After Lexington and Concorde, Minutemen swarm around Boston.

Second Continental Congress met in Philly a month later. All 13 colonies send representatives this time.

Sentiment for independence?

George Washington

Select George Washington to head the army

Most significant early act of Second Continental Congress Why not an obvious

choice? Political reasons for

choosing Washington?

Washington’s Strengths

Outstanding leader of men. Strong character. Did not

seek political power and believed in principles of democracy.

Moral force of patience, discipline and fairness.

Strong emotions. People trusted him Served without pay

Ticonderoga

May 1775 Ethan Allen and Benedict

Arnold captured British forts of Ticonderoga and Crown point in upper New York.

Gain precious powder and a number of cannons.

Problem—cannons are hard to move.

Bunker Hill June 1775 Bunker Hill/Breeds Hill. Brits under Siege in Boston. Militia puts forces on Breeds Hill. Brits under Gage blundered by assaulting the hill

directly. Reason? Brits beaten off twice and take heavy casualties,

but capture the hill on third try. 1/8 of all Brit officers lost in the war are lost here. Americas take a moral victory Gives Americans false confidence.

Hessians

June 1775, Sec. Cont. Congress adopts the Olive Branch Petition What does it say? How does Geo. III respond? Significance?

Sept. 1775 Geo III hired thousands of German troops to help crush the rebellion. Reactions?

The Abortive Conquest Of Canada Oct. 1775, Americans start a

two-pronged invasion of Quebec.

Motive? Conflict with thesis of war. Almost works militarily, but falls

short. Richard Montgomery Benedict Arnold Results?

Invasion of

Canada

Brits Leave Boston

March 1776 Brits forced to evacuate Boston because of Henry Knox

What does he do? Evacuation Day

Knox: Chief of Artillery; First Sec. of War

Thomas Paine: Common Sense

Despite the fighting, most colonists deny any intention of Independence. Reasons?

Paine jolts people out of this view with his pamphlet “Common Sense” His basic arguments?

Concept of civic virtue

Declaration of Independence

June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee moved for a declaration that Colonies were free and Independent.

Adopted July 2, 1776. Cont. Congress commissions

an explanation of basis for resolution: Declaration of Independence Basic Purpose?

Written by Jefferson with help from Franklin and John Adams

Declaration of Independence Natural rights John Locke’s theory on the Rights of Man Part I: Purpose and basis of government is to

protect fundamental rights of individuals Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness

Part II: Bad Acts by King violating these rights. Part III: Why colonies have no choice and are

justified in being independent Bottom Line:

Patriots And Loyalists

Loyalists (Tories) Percentage of

Pop.? Type of people? Where located? Occupations? 80,000 leave;

200,000 stay; 50,000 fight for Brits.

Middle War July 1776, Brits invade New York; Battle of

Long Island Washington retreats down Manhattan and

into New Jersey Christmas Night. Washington Crosses the

Delaware River. Captures Trenton and Princeton.

Why is this such a huge victory?

What’s wrong with this Picture?

Burgoyne’s Blundering Invasion

British Plan in 1777 Burgoyne down Lake Champlain

route. Howe would move north to

meet-up with him up the Hudson valley

Split New England from the rest of colonies

Arnold defeats Burgoyne on Lake Champlain Significance? Benedict Arnold

Valley Forge

Howe fails to move north to help Burgoyne Attacks Washington,

instead Washington defeated twice

and goes into winter quarters at Valley Forge

Valley Forge Terrible conditions: Cold

and little food Baron von SteubenBaron von Steuben

Baron von Steuben turns the Baron von Steuben turns the Continental Army into a REAL Continental Army into a REAL armyarmy!!

Saratoga

Burgoyne defeated at Saratoga by Gates/Arnold Oct. 17, 1777.

Surrenders his entire command. Most significant win for U.S. Why? Arnold is the reason for win, but Gates

gets the credit Consequences?

Strange French Bedfellows French support US secretly

and provide a great deal of powder and arms

Why won’t they support openly?

We need their money and their navy

Impact of Saratoga Franklin is minister to

France and very popular

Treaty with France

1778 France offered the Americans a treaty of Alliance. Treaty of permanent

alliance Terms? Consequences for

US? This treaty became a

problem later.

Colonial War Becomes World War

In 1778 the Revolutionary War becomes a World War.

France in against England in 1778. Spain and Holland come in against England in 1779.

Spanish and French Navy combined are bigger than GB

GB now up to their eyeballs in war. Armed Neutrality

End of War in the North Nature of French Contribution Withdrawal of British Navy to

New York Battle of Monmouth

Courthouse Charles Lee

Washington pins the Brit’s northern forces around New York for the rest of the war.

War moves to the south

Blow and Counter Blow

Summer of 1780, 6000 French arrive under Comte de Rochambeau.

1780, Benedict Arnold turns traitor Brit. strategy? Oct. 1779 Brit. invade Savannah, Ga. 1778-79, Brits overrun Georgia. May 1780 Brits invade Charleston, S.C.. 5000

US soldiers and 400 cannon surrender Nature of fighting in the South

Fighting in the South

Nathaniel Greene in charge of US forces in the South.

His strategy is to hit and run. Force the Brits to chase him, Take them away from supply

bases on the coast Force them to use supplies.

Works Brilliantly.

War in the South, 1780–1781

The Land Frontier And The Sea Frontier

Most Indians sided with the Brits

Iroquois Confederacy split 1784, the pro-British Iroquois

forced to sign the treaty of Fort Stanwix

George Rogers Clark goes west and captures Forts Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Vincennes Significance

Yorktown And The Final Curtain Things bleak for US in 1780-81 But, Cornwallis, had withdrawn back to the

Chesapeake Bay at Yorktown, Va. Why? Washington and Rochambeau come down from

the New York area and bottle up Cornwallis. The French Navy beat off the Brits at the mouth

of the Chesapeake Cornwallis is cut off and surrenders NOT the end of the war, but decisive victory

Peace At Paris

After Yorktown many in England, especially, Whigs, weary of war.

George III wants to keep fighting Lord North’s ministry had collapsed and

Whigs in control Franklin, J. Adams and John Jay sent to

Paris as peace negotiators. Their instructions? How and why they violate them

Terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1783

North America After Revolution

US in 1787