Chapter 5

• King George III ascended to throne in 1760 – first in line to speak English and live in England

• Britain sought to tighten control over colonies and raise funds to help pay for war

• Interest on British debt consumed half of annual government revenue

• British citizens already heavily taxed – time for colonists to pay their share

King George III

• American colonists insisted taxes unfair as they had no representation in Parliament – neither did many citizens in Britain

• Smuggling huge enterprise in colonies – British cracked down with general search warrants to find smuggled goods

• Colonists believed writs (warrants) destructive to “English liberty”

Assignment

• AssignmentStudents will use textbooks (both new and old) to create a chart showing the

events leading up to the American Revolution. The three perspectives for each topic to research are

• The Crown’s View – What did the Act do and what did the British government want to accomplish with it?

• The Colonial View – what was the colonial reaction to the specific event? (If there were mixed reactions note all)

• Results – what happened as a result of the event overall? How did it bring the government and colonies closer to war?

• Chart should address Sons of Liberty, Circular Letter, Boston Tea Party, and the First Continental Congress

Event The Crown’s View The Colonial View Results

Proclamation of 1763

The Sugar Act 1764

The Stamp Act 1765

The Quartering Act

The Declaratory Act 1766

The Townshend Acts 1767

The Boston Massacre

The Gaspee Incident

The Tea Act 1773

The Coercive Acts 1774

• Tensions grew not only with Britain but within the colonies as well

• Settlers on the frontier had long history of conflict with more settled regions of the colony

• North and South Carolinian settlers protested lack of representation in assembly, lack of courts/law, and corruption

• Armed settlers eventually put down by colonial militia

• Tenants on wealthy New York manors refused to pay rent and seized land

• Uprising put down by militia and British troops

• Small farmers took up arms in Green Mountains (Vermont) against encroaching wealthy New York landowners

• Ethan Allen and Green Mountain Boys came to control the region Ethan Allen

• Actions by First Continental Congress caused many in Parliament to call for showdown with rebellious colonies

• Over 4,000 British regulars already encamped in Boston

• British believed resistance to the crown concentrated in New England

• Based on experience of French and Indian War, British did not believe colonial militias would fight outside their local areas

British regulars

• Minority of British ministers were against action as it might disrupt trade – others believed any conflict would be more difficult than believed (Edmund Burke)

• London ordered action in January 1775 but word did not reach General Gage in Boston until April

• Britain declared Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion – colonial militias organized into “minute men”

• Gage intent on seizing weapons cache at Concord 20 miles west of Boston

• Messengers warned countryside and patriot leaders who were to be arrested

• The truth about Paul Revere

Paul Revere’s “Midnight Ride’

• British troops entered Lexington April 19th

• Met by ~70 Minute Men • Militia withdrawing when

shots rang out – 8 Minute-Men dead

• British continued to Concord and destroyed supplies

Shots fired between militia and British regulars at Lexington

• British forced back at Concord Bridge by rapidly increasing numbers of colonials• Retreating British attacked length of march – reinforced by 1500 additional regulars• British reached Boston with 273 casualties – Americans fewer than 100 (reality?)

British troops crossing Concord Bridge

• Colonial response shocked British

• Colonials including Ethan Allen and Green Mountain Boys and Benedict Arnold also seized Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point

• Actions brought reinforcements from other colonies including Virginia Fort Ticonderoga – Lake Champlain, New York

• May 10, 1775, Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia

• More radical than the first• George Washington attended wearing

his uniform• Congress organized the various militias

surrounding Boston into the Continental Army and appointed Washington its commander

George Washington

• Boston impregnable to assault but vulnerable to artillery on heights outside city

• Continentals built fortifications on Breed’s Hill (thought it was Bunker Hill)

• British assaulted the position several times and finally took the position but suffered severe casualties

Colonial militia preparing to fire on British troops advancing up Breed’s Hill (Bunker Hill)

British suffer massive casualties as they make three successive attacks on Breed’s Hill (Bunker Hill)

Out of ammunition, American colonials are overwhelmed by the British. Most of the American casualties occurred at this time

• The colonists lost some 400 versus over 1,000 British• The Olive Branch Petition - battle caused the Continental Congress to

issue one last plea to the king to end hostilities (in reality a sop to moderates)

• General Gage was replaced by veteran General William Howe and the king declared the colonies in open rebellion

• Congress condemned the crown with its adoption of the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms

• Congress authorized an attack on Canada, and created committees to seek foreign aid and arms

• It also authorized the establishment of the Navy and privateersPrivateer attacking British ship

• Declaring actual independence still being debated

• Hard to accept casting off of ties to mother country

• Some patriots (mostly upper class) feared disorganized mob violence that had accompanied protests against British acts

Mob pulls down statue of King George III in New York

• Idea of democracy scary – new concept• Two events in 1776 pushed the colonies to make

the final step to independence The British hiring of Hessian mercenaries The publication of Common Sense

• Written by Thomas Paine• Pamphlet attacked not only king but

monarchy itself• Read by virtually everyone in every colony

• In spring of 1776 Congress authorized opening of American ports to foreign commerce, and urged colonies to set up state governments with constitutions

• A committee was selected to write a justification for independence – included Ben Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson

Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson

• The Declaration of Independence was primarily written by Jefferson with some editing by Franklin, Adams, and the Congress

• It was officially adopted July 4th, 1776, two days after a vote for independence was made

• The Declaration consists of four parts The Preamble – explains why Congress drew up the Declaration Declaration of Natural Rights – states that men have certain

unalienable rights that government cannot grant or take away List of Grievances – list of attacks on American people’s rights

by King George III Resolution of Independence by the United States - declares the

colonies are “free and independent states” with the full power to make war, form alliances, and trade with other countries

• The Declaration was written in part for foreign consumption – its main impact was to anger Great Britain

• Many foreign men offered their services to the new country

• Revolution was not new – but the orderly and thoughtful manner in which the colonies were pursuing the break was without precedent

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…”

• American advantages There was some reluctance in

Britain to war with the colonies The British army though large was

inefficient and ill-directed Britain hesitant to commit large

numbers of troops with so many enemies in Europe

Distance from Europe Early American victories –

Montreal, near-capture of Quebec

• American disadvantages Money and weapons were

continually in short supply Colonists resisted military

conformities and discipline The Continental Army had to be

invented from the ground up Supply problems due to inefficiency

and corruption Little knowledge of camp

construction and sanitation American militia made up mostly of common farmers, laborers, and shopkeepers

• British advantages Superior British resources including

population (9 million versus 2.5 million) Huge industrial capacity Large stocks of war materiel Mastery of the seas Well-trained and experienced army Highly centralized (and often ruthless)

government

British regulars

• American colonies not united – many Loyalists (Tories)

• Numbers probably 1/5th Loyalist, 2/5th Patriots, the rest neutral or fence-sitters

• Tories lacked organization• Tories and Patriots both attacked

on citizen level• Battles between Patriots and Tories

were the most vicious (civil war?)

• Battle of Long Island – Americans easily outflanked and defeated

• Howe’s indecision allowed Washington to retreat to Manhattan

• Howe could have used navy to bottle up Continental army on Manhattan but chose direct assault that allowed Washington to escape again

Washington’s army escapes Brooklyn during the night

Battle of Long Island

• Washington eventually crossed into New Jersey followed closely by the British

• New York campaign showed weaknesses of Continental Army but also ability of Washington to learn from his mistakes

• Washington crossed into Pennsylvania while Howe set up garrisons across Delaware River

• Many American troops nearing end of enlistment – Washington decided on surprise attack on Christmas Day at Trenton garrisoned by hated Hessians

• Attack was complete success with capture of over 900 enemy

• British attempt to corner Washington ended with his escape again and a successful attack on British at Princeton Continental Army victorious at Princeton

Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze 1851

Battle of Trenton

• When spring came Washington had fewer than 5,000 troops• British devised grand three-pronged strategy

General Burgoyne would lead British force from Canada down Lake Champlain towards Albany

LTC St. Ledger would move towards Albany from the west at Fort Oswego General Howe would lead a third force up the Hudson from NYC The goal was to cut the colonies in half and isolate New England

Burgoyne

St. Ledger

Howe

• Burgoyne captured Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain but advance bogged down due to heavy artillery and wagons of personal baggage and champagne

• St. Ledger also slow - stopped to attack American Fort Stanwix where he was forced to turn back due to attacks by Benedict Arnold

• Howe never set out on his part instead wasting time trying to trap Washington

• Instead of meeting Burgoyne, Howe attacked Philadelphia

• Moves by Howe allowed Washington to reinforce troops opposing Burgoyne

• Washington defeated at Brandywine in attempt to protect Philadelphia from British

• General Gates waited for British attack at Saratoga

• Burgoyne failed in attacks on American entrenchments

• American militia flocked to area- swelled American numbers

• In two major battles at Saratoga British mauled by Americans under Benedict Arnold

• Burgoyne finally placed under siege and forced to surrender

Breaking through British defenses at Saratoga

Battle of Saratoga

• French – anxious to avenge loss to British during Seven Years War

• Saratoga helped Americans persuade France to join in on their side

• France and Spain recognized the American government and supplied arms and money

• News of Saratoga made Parliament fear American-French alliance – willing to lift all coercive acts and pledge not to tax

• The British were too slow in making their proposal - Americans already signed treaty with France – British proposal rejected

• War broke out between France and Britain• After loss of Philadelphia Washington went into winter

quarters at Valley Forge• Army supply system collapsed

• Troops suffered starvation and exposure• Congress debated replacing Washington

with General Horatio Gates “hero of Saratoga”

• Hundreds of soldiers deserted and officers resigned

• The Continental Army survived and emerged smaller but tougher and better trained

• Baron Von Steuben – Prussian officer appointed by Washington to train American troops

Washington at prayer – Valley Forge

• 1778 Howe was replaced by General Clinton

• While moving from New Jersey back to New York, Clinton’s British army was attacked by Washington’s forces at Monmouth Court House

• The fight was a draw but the Americans claimed victory and held the field of battle

Molly Pitcher – patriotic myth?

• Hoping to capitalize on Tory support in the South, the British switched their focus to the Southern colonies

• They promised freedom to any slave who would join them

• Georgia was overrun and Charleston surrendered – America’s greatest defeat in the war

• British and Tory ruthlessness caused many fence-sitters to join the Patriot cause

• Many guerrilla bands emerged – hit and run tactics against the British • Gates was given command of American forces in the South and was

defeated – replaced by General Nathaniel Greene• War in the South turned into civil war as Patriots and Tories battled

• Nathaniel Greene and Daniel Morgan achieved several victories against British forces

• British forces under Cornwallis withdrew into Virginia and concentrated at Yorktown

Battle of Guilford Court House

American frontiersmen annihilate Tory force at King’s Mountain

Tarleton’s British and Tory forces smashed at Cowpens by Americans under Daniel

Morgan

• The French navy defeated a smaller British naval squadron in the Chesapeake and bottled in Cornwallis at Yorktown

• The French army convinced Washington to march South and place Yorktown under siege

• Cornwallis was forced to surrender

• Blacks participated in Battle of Bunker Hill• Washington against recruiting blacks but

changed mind after British began recruiting

• >5,000 blacks served in militias, Continental Army, and Navy

• Rhode Island formed a black regiment of slaves giving them their freedom

• Virginia also freed slaves who fought for American side

• Blacks served in integrated units – not seen again until Korean War

• Many slaves escaped to the British and some fought for the British while others did camp work

• 17 of Washington’s slaves escaped and some fought for the British

• After the war, some blacks were taken to colonize Sierra Leone, some were sold back into slavery in the Caribbean, others settled in Canada

• Yorktown was only one of many defeats of the British – they lost battles in the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean

• The British national debt had doubled

• The British agreed to recognize the new American government

Battle of Yorktown

• America had agreed with France not to sign a separate peace

• France and Spain did not want to see a new America become too powerful

• The American agents, especially Franklin and John Jay, realized the French were not looking out for the American’s best interests and negotiated a separate peace with Britain in 1783