Essential QuestionsEssential Questions: What was the more precipitating

factor that led to the outbreak of war between the American colonies & England: politicalpolitical or economiceconomic stress?

–What factors caused the British to fail in what should have been an easy campaign to subdue the American rebels?

The Decision to Fight For Independence

Decision for IndependenceThe Lexington & Concord skirmish

was the 1st of a series of conflicts before the American call for independence from 1775 to 1776:–Fighting erupted around Boston,

NY, Charlestown, & Quebec –The 2nd Continental Congress

met to organize a war plan –King George declared the

colonists in “open rebellion”

The Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill) demonstrated that Americans were

willing to stand up to a pitched battle In early 1776, both Spain & France

began shipping war supplies to colonists

Despite growing calls for independence, the congress issued the Olive Branch Petition to King George in July 1775

King George rejected the Olive Branch Petition in August 1775

Decision for IndependenceBy 1776, the 2nd Continental

Congress served as an informal national gov’t for the colonies

But the majority of colonists were undecided about independence

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense proved to be the key factor in convincing Americans to support colonial independence

Challenged “royal infallibility”

Persuaded ordinary people to sever ties with England & its “royal brute”

Decision for IndependenceOn July 2, 1776, the Continental

Congress voted for independence On July 4, the Declaration of

Independence was issued to:–Justify the Americans’ desire to

separate from England–Articulate the principles on

which the new nation would be established

Democratic ideals (republicanism)

Natural rights & individual liberty

Declaration of Independence (1776)

The Decision for Independence The colonies divided:

–Supporters of independence were called “PatriotsPatriots” or “WhigsWhigs”

–Colonists that opposed independence were called “LoyalistsLoyalists” or “ToriesTories”

–There were many “neutralneutral” colonists who were conflicted by the prospect of independence

Patriots vs. Loyalists

Where are the Loyalists?

Why does it make sense that the Loyalists would be near cities?

Fighting the Warfor Independence

American Strengths and Weaknesses

The colonists are fighting for independence

George Washington can inspire his men to fight

France will aid the colonies with weapons, supplies and their navy

Patriots and Loyalists

Patriots were colonists who supported the break from England.

Loyalists are colonials who support England.

Colonists are divided as to whether or not they should rebel against England!

American Strengths and Weaknesses

The colonists are not a trained army

Colonists enlist for months instead of years

Short on money, weapons and supplies to fight a war

British Strengths and Weaknesses

The British have an experienced professional army

Outnumber the Continental Army

The British army is well supplied with equipment and weapons

British Strengths and Weaknesses

The British are not fighting for a cause British officers are careless and poor

leaders The British have a to cross the Atlantic

Ocean to send men and supplies for the war

The support at homes is rather weak

The Strategy of War

American Colonies– Keep the Colonial

Army together– Washington seeks to

stretch the British army away from supply lines

– Harass the enemy, defeat the British in a major battle

– Get allies to help win!

Britain– Seeks to destroy the

Colonial Army– Regain control of the

colonies by region– Take the fight to the

Colonial Army using European war tactics

– Use loyalists support against the colonies

The Outbreak of RevolutionThe British entered the war

confident of a complete victory:–Their army was 400% larger;

well-trained solders, experienced officers, & Hessian mercenaries

–Strong manufacturing base–The world’s most dominant navy

Believed the 1776 battles were a “police action” & the show of force would force rebels to submit

The Outbreak of Revolution In reality, England faced an

impossible task:– Their long supply lines across

the Atlantic would not be able to provide timely provisions

– The American terrain was large– To win, the English had to find & find &

defeatdefeat the Continental Army – Underestimated the colonial

commitment to independence

The American Revolution, 1775-1781

Where Where was the was the

American American Revolution Revolution

fought?fought?

Building a Professional ArmyWashington’s task was to defenddefend

as much territory as possible:–Relied on guerrilla tactics &

avoided all-out-war with Britain –Washington’s Continental Army

served as the symbol of the “republican cause”

–But, colonial militias played a major role in “forcing” neutrals to support the Revolution

As long as England did not defeat the Continental Army, England could not win

Slaves & Indians in the WarBlack slaves supported whoever

seemed likely to deliver freedom:–Northern slaves supported the

colonists who offered freedom for any slave who fought

–Southern slaves typically supported Britain

Native Americans feared colonial expansion & overwhelmingly supported Britain

The Continental Army had 2 all-black regiments composed of Northern slaves

Women in the WarWomen’s role in the revolution:

–Supported their husbands & sons in enlisting in militias

–Ran business affairs & continued boycotting English goods while men fought (i.e. Abigail Adams)

–Created propaganda (political satires by Mercy Otis Warren)

–Some helped in the battlefield (“Molly Pitcher”)

The Early Years: 1776-1777The initial battles of the revolution

went badly for Americans: –British General Howe forced

Washington to retreat at New York putting the Americans on the run

–Gen Howe issued a “general pardon” to all Americans who swore an oath of allegiance to George III; thousands did so

Colonial militias retaliated against those who deserted the patriot cause

The Early Years: 1776-1777The British strategy remained to

fight a “major & decisive” battle; but Continental Army was elusive

Despite British victories & 1,000s of colonial “oaths of allegiance”, Washington kept fighting

–Won small victories that renewed American wartime morale

–“Won” at SaratogaSaratoga in 1777

Howe captured New York Captured

PhiladelphiaWashington’s army almost

starved at Valley Forge

Took Trenton Took Princeton

The French AllianceSince 1775, the French covertly

aided Americans with suppliesBut after the “victory” at SaratogaSaratoga:

–France recognized America as a new, independent republic

–France promised to pressure England to agree to American independence after war’s end

–France relinquished all of its claims to territory in America

The turning point of the war!!A lot of these points

were negotiated by none other than Ben Franklin

And…England now has to worry about a possible (yet remote)

invasion of England by France

The Continental Congress refused the offer

In 1778, England offered to remove all parliamentary legislation & vowed never to impose revenue taxes on the colonists again

The Final CampaignBy 1781, Washington pushed the

Redcoats towards Yorktown (VA) Yorktown (VA) where General Cornwallis was caught between the Continental Army & the French navy

On October 19, 1781 Cornwallis surrendered; the English still controlled NY & Charles Town but the fighting virtually ended

The Loyalist DilemmaLoyalists believed in liberty too,

but feared that independence would breed anarchy in America

Loyalists were treated poorly:–The English never fully trusted

the Loyalists–Patriots seized their property;

imprisoned & executed othersMore than 100,000 Loyalists left

America when the war ended

The Treaty of Paris, 1783

The Treaty of Paris (1783)The Treaty of Paris in 1783 was

negotiated with England by Franklin, John Adams, John Jay

The terms included:– Full American independence – All territory east of Mississippi

River, between Canada & FL– The removal of the British army

from U.S. claims in America– Fishing rights in the Atlantic

North America after the Treaty Treaty

of Paris, of Paris, 17631763

North America after the Treaty Treaty

of Paris, of Paris, 17831783

Preserving IndependenceAfter 176 years of British rule, the

American Revolution began the construction of a new form of government

But...will the new United States be a government of the eliteelite or a government of the peoplepeople?

Next:Next: To what degree did 1776 bring about a social revolutionsocial revolution?