The American Revolution

AP U.S. History

Bunker Hill

● British Generals arrive in America Howe, Clinton, Burgoyne-want aggressive action

● The British wanted to gain the territory of Breed's Hill (part of Bunker Hill which was heavily fortified) Bloodiest Battle of the war-British gained little

ground June 17, 1775

Fort Ticonderoga

● American forces led by Ethan Allen and Bendict Arnold Took Fort on Lake Champlain Americans hoped that Canada would join in the

resistance Attacked Quebec and failed

● American hopes for Canada end here

Second Continental Congress● May 1775● Congress divided

New Englanders wanted independence from Britain Middle Colonies were not ready to go that far

● Decided to make army in Boston the main source Sent troops from other colonies Sent George Washington to command them

● Adopted the Olive Branch Petition Pleaded with King George III to restore peace Parliament passed Prohibitory Act-full scale war

Common Sense?

● Thomas Paine published a pamphlet calling for immediate independence.

● The Declaration of Independence was a formal announcement of separation and reiterated the reasons for leaving Britain Thomas Jefferson Adopted on July 4, 1776

British Strategy

● The British Army was being supplemented with German Hessians

● Move slowly and prove greater power ● Find loyalists● Force colonists to sign loyalty petitions

Washington Takes Command

● Defeated in early battles because army was under-trained, under-equipped, and badly outnumbered Howe decided to finish off American army in the

Spring Washington took advantage of this and crossed the

Delaware River and attacked the Hessians at Trenton

● His army was becoming demoralized and had many deserters-bold move!

Washington then defeated a British force at Princeton (1777)

French involvement

● France began making covert shipments of arms to the Americans

● They hated Britain and saw the war as a way to weaken Britain by depriving it of its colonies They did NOT believe in Freedom!

● This was vital to the Americans!

Valley Forge

● Howe settled in to Philadelphia for the winter after defeating Washington's armies Washington retreated to Valley Forge for the winter

● Extremely cold, uncomfortable, starvation, desertion

Baron von Steuben drilled the American soldiers● Prepared them for the Battle of Monmouth, New Jersey

and almost defeated the British led by Clinton● June 1778

Struggles

● Cornwallis will continue the campaign in the South Destroys General Horatio Gates army

● Benedict Arnold goes over the the British● Cornwallis will move north without securing

South Carolina Once the British left, patriots took over

● Francis Marion (Swamp Fox)

● British ships preyed on by privateers John Paul Jones led raids

Yorktown

● Washington sends Nathaniel Greene to defeat the British

● Cornwallis is given orders to take up defense position, and settles on a peninsula

● With the help of a French fleet, Washington defeated Cornwallis and he surrendered on Oct. 17, 1781

● Brought the collapse of Lord North Peace negotiations opened

Treaty of Paris of 1783● France and Spain delayed the agreements

Planning to achieve an agreement unfavorable to the U.S.

U.S. will set up separate agreement with British● Terms:

U.S. was recognized as an independent nation by Europe and Britain

Western boundary was at the Mississippi River Southern boundary was Florida Britain retained Canada but surrendered Florida to Spain Private British creditors could collect debts owed by

Americans States to restore confiscated loyalist property