French and Indian War

Relationships

During the latter part of the 17th Century, Britain had a few domestic issues to deal with that caused them to overlook their colonies

While they still commanded a great deal of authority over the colonies, they cared little for the day to day operations of them, so long as the money and raw materials kept coming in

The colonies thrived under this situation because it forced them into becoming somewhat self sufficient

This is known as ‘benign’ or ‘salutary’ neglect…

The Birth of an American Identity

As Colonial development progressed, the colonies developed their own identity

A main instigator in this was the ‘Great Awakening’, which saw a renewed religious fervor in the colonies and in Britain

While it began in Europe, it also sparked an intellectual revival amongst the colonists.

People began reading more, and in turn took the knowledge gained from these readings and applied it to their environment.

The Great AwakeningOne of the first ‘American’ movements was the Great

Awakening because the first small revivals began in the colonies

The main revival began in Europe and spread throughout the colonies, causing people to return to church

The ‘hook’ that got people’s attention was that God was angry and you need to repent

Important results of the Great Awakening were the creation and expansion of colleges and universities here in the colonies and it took on a life of its own that differed from Europe.

Enlightenment

While the Great Awakening swept across much of Europe and the colonies, another more secular movement had impact on the educated elite

The Enlightenment began in Europe with philosophers like Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Voltaire.

They emphasized our ability to think for ourselves, using reason to guide us.

Soon their writings appeared in colleges in the colonies, and many of the upper class colonists were greatly influenced by their ideas

Beginnings of a World Conflict

Western Pennsylvania was claimed by both the French and British, so individual colonies occasionally sent out their militia to protect their interests

George Washington’s men ambushed a French Scouting party in 1754 out near Ft. Necessity (close to Pittsburgh)

French Army returned and with superior numbers easily defeated the British and Washington retreated back to Virginia

French and English had been rivals in the area since the beginning of exploration in the region

English had settled along the coast while the French explored farther inland – along the St Lawrence river, Great Lakes, and Mississippi River

The Albany Plan of Union

Ben Franklin sought to unify the war effort for the British within the colonies

Another goal was to work out a unified war effort in the Northern Colonies

The delegates approved the plan but colonist rejected it feeling that they didn’t want to surrender that much power to someone other than themselves

Early Stages of War

Early in the war the French held early advantage.

In 1755 they won a decisive battle in Western Pennsylvania with about 900 French troops and Native Americans who defeated the British.

British no match as they used old fashioned tactics of fighting in straight lines in open spaces

British General Braddock was killed and an aide – George Washington was forced to retreat.

Washington aided the British retreat and noted the bravery of colonial Militia (armed citizens who serve as soldiers in an emergency).

Turning Point and British Victory

1756 – British officially declare war on France (thus beginning the Seven Years War)

1757 – William Pitt becomes British Prime Minister (highest ranking official in British Parliamentary gov’t) and feels that the entire British Empire is at stake.

Pitt persuaded Parliament to raise taxes and borrowed huge sums of money to finance the war.

What would be the long term significance of that?

The Turning of the Tide

With the money to spend on the war, soon the British overwhelmed French in Western Pennsylvania and Canada

They won the important battle of Louisbourg which was an important port on the gulf of St Lawrence and then worked their way down the St Lawrence River towards the Great Lakes

At the same time, they won Fort Duquesne (which was later named Fort Pitt and then later the city of Pittsburgh) and then Fort Niagara.

The Fall of Quebec Quebec seen as “prize” to the

English

The city was surrounded by high cliffs on three sides

The British were commanded by James Wolfe and the French by General Marquis de Montcalm.

British 9,000 troops and French 7,500.

British tried to attack it head on, but it failed

British tried a siege which meant they would trap the French in their positions although Wolfe only had limited time for this to work.

Fall of QuebecThe British were pressed for

time- winter was approaching

They marched their soldiers at night up a narrow path outside the city

Montcalm foolishly ordered his soldiers to fight the British instead of staying in the city

The British defeat the French, both Wolfe and Montcalm are killed

The victory opens the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes to the British

The Treaty of Paris

The French and Indian War ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763

Under the Treaty of Paris; France turned Canada over to Britain and gave up all land claims

East of the Mississippi River. France kept the city of New Orleans British gave Cuba to Spanish in exchange for Florida Spain had been an ally to France in the War

The most important facet of the Treaty of Paris was the Proclamation of 1763

As per the proclamation, no American colonist could claim land west of the Appalachian Mountain range.

Consequences

Policy of ‘benign neglect’ came to an end

Britain had so much debt that they needed to now tax the colonies just to balance their books

The relationship between the colonies and Great Britain soon soured over the now ever present British army and officials

Of course, the British officer’s treatment of colonial militiamen had done damage already

What had begun as a positive sign of Britain’s care of the colonies soon caused the colonists’ angst because they could no longer relate to each other

Issues Behind the Revolution

Britain’s Financial Problems John Stewart, Earl of Bute had

replaced William Pitt as Prime Minister

Bute was replaced by George Grenville in 1763

Britain had increased costs to maintain its empire…cider tax in the apple growing region of England had caused riots

Colonies in North America were prospering

Britain had decided to draw on its prospering colonies and impose new taxes and enforce old duties

The Sugar and Quartering Acts

Sugar Act 1764– lowered the tax on imported molasses and encouraged colonists to buy more imported molasses rather than smuggle in molasses illegally

Anyone caught smuggling molasses would be tried in British court rather than colonial courts

Quartering Act 1765– Required colonists to provide housing and supplies to any British Troops who stayed behind after the French and Indian War… never was a real problem

Reaction against these acts was mild compared to future acts

The Stamp Act - 1765

Stamp Act required a tax on all newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents, and most other printed materials

Marked the first time colonists had been taxed for the express purpose or raising money for England

Reaction would be widespread – The Stamp Act Congress would be formed in 1765 with delegates meeting from 9 colonies in New York

The Stamp Act Congress

Organizer – James Otis of Massachusetts

This was an attempt to organize the protest over the Stamp Act and included the cooperation of 9 colonies

The protests worked out well because the British eventually got rid of the Stamp Act

Since 9 colonies worked together, it was an early example of colonial cooperation

The Sons of Liberty

Another way to show their displeasure over the stamp act was to Boycott British goods

The group that started the initial group was formed in Boston and called the Sons of Liberty and was led by Samuel Adams

The Sons of Liberty threatened violence (they also followed through on some occasions) against British officials

British merchants became angry at the loss of money due to the boycott and the Stamp Act was repealed in 1766

Declaratory Act - 1766The Stamp Act’s repeal was but a temporary victory for the

colonists

Almost immediately, the parliament passed the Declaratory Acts, which pretty much said that they could pass any law in regards to the colonies without their consent.

Already displeased at the notion of ‘taxation without representation”, this act served only to increase tensions in the colonies

The Townshend Acts - 1767Parliament placed import taxes on lead, paint, tea and glass

Revenue from these duties went directly to supporting British troops, royal governors and royal judges. Power of the purse was very much lost to the colonists

A customs commission was created

New York assembly was suspended for failing to comply with the acts

This further angered colonists who again boycotted British goods.

The Boston Massacre

Britain placed extra troops in Boston as a result of the protest of the Townshend acts (Sons of Liberty).

March 5, 1770 an unruly crowd threatened a group of British soldiers who opened fire on the crowd

5 colonists including one African American – Crispus Attucks died.

As a result, Parliament cancelled the Townshend taxes and left only a duty on Tea as a reminder of their authority. Colonists still boycotted British Tea

Cool fact: John Adams successfully defended the soldiers who were tried after the massacre

Two Views of the ‘Massacre’

Take 5 minutes to discuss the difference between these two depictions of the Boston Massacre… How do they differ in their portrayal of the colonists?

The Real Boston Massacre

The Boston Tea Party1773 Parliament passed the Tea Act granting the East India

company the right to sell tea in America without paying normal tax.

This made their tea much cheaper than the smuggled tea of American merchants

On December 16, 1773 some members of the Sons of Liberty boarded a ship loaded with tea in Boston Harbor

They threw over 300 chests full of tea into the harbor which were worth around 1.3 million dollars today.

The Coercive Acts The British weren’t very happy about the Boston Tea Party and they wanted

the colonists to pay for the destroyed ‘property’

In 1774 the Parliament passed the Coercive Acts which were meant to punish the residents of Massachusetts for their actions

There were five parts: The Boston Port Bill, The Massachusetts Government Act, the Administrative Justice Act, The Quartering Act, and the Quebec Bill

The Boston Port Bill closed Boston Harbor until the money had been paid back – how do you think this affected the colonists?

The Massachusetts Government Act placed Ma under the control of the military and basically suspended town meetings

The Administrative Justice Act said that any British soldiers accused of a crime must be tried in Britain instead of the colonies

The Quartering Act now mandated colonists to house soldiers in their homes

The Quebec Bill

The first four parts of the Coercive Acts mostly affected whom?

Although most colonies felt that Massachusetts was getting a raw deal, they didn’t stand up for them

However, when the Parliament passed the Quebec Bill, that changed

The Quebec Bill extended the boundary of Canada down to the Ohio River and extended certain rights that had been taken away from the American colonists

Why would this cause some controversy?

American colonists weren’t allowed to settle there because of the Proclamation of 1763 even though colonists had land claims out there

First Continental Congress

The Committees of Correspondence urged a response to the Intolerable Acts

The result was the formation and meeting of the First Continental Congress which met in Philadelphia in September of 1774

56 delegates came from every colony except Georgia

Leading figures included George Washington, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. Samuel Adams was the most rebellious of the delegates although there were moderate delegates such as John Dickinson of Pennsylvania and John Jay of New York

The First Continental Congress

Several measures were passed by the congress:Renewed boycottCall to all the people of the colonies to arm

themselves and form militiasCongress also made a direct appeal to the King

with grievances and asking for understandingCongress agreed to not meet again if the crisis

was resolvedKings response: “There is rebellion in New

England and blows must decide”.

Lexington and Concord The King had labelled them

“rebels” although they called themselves “patriots”

Massachusetts formed a militia and had a stockpile of weapons stored in the town of Concord, about 20 miles from Boston

The British were ordered to seize this stockpile but patriots heard of this and Paul Revere, Dr Samuel Prescott, and William Dawes were sent to ride on Horseback and warn he militia on April 18 1775.

Revere got to Lexington, about 5 miles from Concord around midnight

Lexington and ConcordThe British arrived at Lexington

close to dawn on April 19.

The British ordered the colonists to lay down their weapons which at first they did. Then a shot was fired and the British returned the fire and killed 8 colonists within minutes

As the British marched on to Concord, some 4,000 patriots shot at them from trees and behind stone walls.

What had seemed like an easy British Victory at dawn turned into a costly defeat.

The Battle of Lexington and Concord70 British Soldiers

were killed and 170 wounded before the British found safety in Boston

Battle of Lexington and Concord officially began the Revolutionary war

Ideas Behind the Revolution

The American Revolution took place on two levels;

Struggle for power between the American Colonists and Great Britain Settled on the battlefield

Colonists rethinking of the role of citizens, government, and the relationship between the two.

It was during this time that Americans learned to demand that government respect citizens’ rights

Common Sense

“Common Sense” was a 47 page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine which first appeared in Philadelphia in January of 1776

Written in a simplified manner which made it easier to understand

Position clearly in favor of a separation with Britain

Direct and clear style helped influence many that a separation was not only feasible, but necessary.

The Second Continental Congress

“Common Sense” appeared in Philadelphia shortly before the meeting of the Second Continental Congress in May of 1775

A month before, Troops had fought at the battle of Lexington and Concord

Some important new faces appeared; Benjamin Franklin of PA; John Hancock of MAThomas Jefferson of VA

At first, delegates were deeply divided.

Samuel Adams, John Adams, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee favored independence while moderates led by John Dickinson favored compromise

Second Continental Congress

1775 – the Congress, led by Dickinson drafts the “Olive Branch Petition” which urges King George III to halt the fighting in order to attempt some kind of compromise.

Document expressed colonists loyalty and desire for compromise

November 1775 – King Refuses petition and fighting continues

Declaration of Independence June, 1776, congress appoints a committee to draft a document

explaining the reasons for separation

Members:Thomas Jefferson: VA planter and LawyerJohn Adams: Boston LawyerRoger Sherman: CT JudgeRobert Livingston: NY, lawyer and son of wealthy NY familyBenjamin Franklin: PA

Declaration of IndependenceCommittee chose Jefferson to draft the document

Jefferson’s ideas based on the Enlightenment, which emphasized science and reason as the key to improving society

Writing influenced by earlier political thinkers, the most notable being John Locke

Declaration itself was divided onto four parts.

Declaration of Independence Four Sections:1. Introduction – Jefferson explains the purpose of the

declaration2. Jefferson explains the political ideas on which the

document is based. The belief is that people had “natural rights”, a notion important in the writings of John Locke.

- These are rights that people have simply because they are human and not because a government gave these rights to them. Jefferson refers to these as “inalienable rights” that could never be taken away. These rights are “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.

Declaration of Independence2. Continued: according to Locke, people formed

governments to protect their natural rights. If the government failed to act in the best interest of the people, then the people had the right to revolt and replace the government with a new one.

3. In the third section was a long list of “wrongs” the colonists had been delivered by the British King. For example, taxation without representation

4. The fourth and final section was titled “Resolution of Independence by the United States”…..”these United Colonies are… and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States.”

Declaration of IndependenceDocument adopted and ratified by the Congress on July 2,

1776 but it was read on July 4 to the public

Not everyone signed it at first… they did it later

Document defined the basic principles upon which American government and society would be based.

Citizens would have a voice in their own government.

Revolutionary WarThroughout the meetings of the Second Continental

Congress and the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, there was still fighting as the war had already begun.

The Siege of Boston

After Lexington and Concord, the British retreated to Boston and were surrounded by 20,000 patriots

British had about 6,000 troops in Boston. The patriot presence prevented them from being more mobile and crushing the rebellion

The Siege of Boston Keeping the British in Boston was important to the colonial militia.

Unfortunately they lacked ammunition and supplies.

In May, Colonial Militia under the command of colonel Ethan Allan crossed Lake Champlain and surprised the British Troops at Fort Ticonderoga, NY.

The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga helped the Patriots gain supplies and ammunition

Battle of Bunker Hill June 1775, Americans occupied two hills north of Boston,

Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill

British attacked in their formal formations at Breed’s Hill first. They were repelled by the patriots and came again only to be repelled again

By the third attempt, the Americans had run out of ammunition and the British overtook the hill

The British then easily captured Bunker Hill which was defended in a far more weaker fashion.

Costly to British as they lost 1,100 out of 2,400 men.

Americans only lost 400 troops.

British Leave BostonGage wanted to leave Boston but Howe advised against

it. Gage’s Army remained pinned down in Boston

Gage planned to invade Rhode Island and New York.

Washington arrived from Philadelphia where he had been named commanding general of the patriot forces by the continental congress.

Washington turned the militia groups into the Continental Army.

British leave BostonJanuary 1776 General Henry Knox brings patriot

forces and the cannons that had been seized at Fort Ticonderoga.

Washington placed these guns on Dorchester Heights south of Boston. From there the patriots could shell Boston and Boston Harbor forcing the British to retreat to Canada.

They took 1,000 loyalists with them. Loyalists were colonists still loyal to the British throne who felt threatened if they stayed behind.

Strengths and WeaknessesBritishStrengths: Well Equipped, well trained and organized army.

50,000 loyalists who fought for British

African Americans fought with British as the British promised slaves if they fought they would be freed.

Native Americans fought for British, mostly Iroquois

British hired “mercenaries” – foreign troops paid to fight for them. Colonists referred to them as Hessians as most of these troops were German.

Strengths and WeaknessesBritish weaknesses:

War not popular in Great Britain

Many British citizens resented paying taxes to pay for the war and sympathized with the Americans

British had to fight in hostile territory

Commanders resisted adapting to new tactics

The LeadersBritish

Thomas Gage

Would have suppressed the intolerable act rebellion and returned to England. If there was more trouble, he would return with an army of 10,000 and crushed the rebellion

William Howe – Numerous chances to defeat Washington

Henry Clinton – overly cautious

John Burgoyne – hesitant at start which was costly

Colonies

George Washington

Lousy tactician Good at putting good

people in key roles

Benedict Arnold:Excellent General, would later switch to the British side

Strengths and WeaknessesAmericans:

Strengths: Opposite of British weaknesses

Familiar terrain

Used tactics from French and Indian War

Weaknesses:

Washington never absolutely sure of numbers as troops would leave after their term was up. New troops would arrive but it was uncertain as to how many.

Americans lacked a well supplied resources in troops

Fighting in the NorthSummer of 1776; British strategy was to

concentrate on the middle colonies.

British attacked and captured New York

Continental Army driven from New York to PA

Congress fled Philadelphia as they were afraid for their own safety.

Trenton and PrincetonTraditionally Armies did not fight during the winter which

was an unwritten rule.

At Trenton and Princeton in Dec 1776, and Jan 1777 Washington broke this rule.

On Christmas Night 1776, Washington took some 2,400 troops across the Delaware River to Trenton and captured about 1,400 Hessians – nearly the entire force. This was the Battle of Trenton

He left fires burning in his camp to let the British think that his army was still there.

PrincetonA few days after the Battle of Trenton, Washington

marched his troops (approximately 5,000) on a cold and icy night time march

They were attacked by the British the next morning by the British under general Charles Cornwallis

The Americans repelled the attack.

Victories at Trenton and Princeton served to greatly boost the troops morale and convinced more colonist to join the war effort.

British Attack from the NorthJuly 1777, Howe moves his 15,000 troops south

from NY to Philadelphia to attack the Continental Army

British win battles of Brandywine (outskirts of Phila) and Germantown

At the time Howe attacked Philadelphia , Burgoyne brought troops out of Canada that included English, Canadian, Native American and foreign troops.

SaratogaBurgoyne, with about 8,000 troops attacked and recaptured

Ticonderoga with a plan to move southeast to Albany. By doing this, they would cut off New England from the rest of the colonies

In retreating, the colonists downed trees and destroyed bridges making the journey slow for the British

As the British retreat was slowed, the Continental Army was gaining numbers.

In Mid-September 1777, The Americans under the command of Horatio Gates attacked the British

These attacks took place near Saratoga, New York and was won by the Americans in October.

European AlliesFrance had secretly aided the Americans

throughout the warDespite this, the continental congress sent

Benjamin Franklin to Paris to gain open alliance from France

Feb 1778, France signed the Treaty of Alliance with the Colonies

France would supply money, troops, naval help, and supplies.

In fighting France, Britain would now have to defend itself in Europe.

Spain, and the Netherlands also joined the fight against the British.

European AlliesOther Europeans had volunteered to fight for the

colonies or help them before the Treaty of Alliance

Marquis de Lafayette and Johan de Kalb of France both became generals in the American army.

Polish military engineer Thaddeus Kosciusko helped build defenses

German Baron Friederich von Steuben successfully trained forces in the Continental army.

Winning the WarWhile the British were able to occupy almost every colonial

city, Washington knew that the colonies could still win the war

They had to simply continue fighting and outlast the British

The Winter of 1777-1778 was a winter of hardship for the Americans. While the British were in Philadelphia, well fed and warm, the Continental Army was at Valley Forge PA

Colonial Army had little food, shelter, or supplies. Many did not even have shoes

Financing the WarPart of the reason for the hardship was money

States were asked to help finance supplies but they had no ability to raise money through taxation

Paper money was made but was not backed by gold. Should the British win the war, the money would be worthless

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania farmers sold to the British in gold as it was more money than the paper the colonial army could pay.

Colonists’ HardshipsBritish set blockades to prevent American imports

and exports

Since even necessities were scarce, many colonists took advantage and engaged in profiteering, selling basic and scarce items at unusually high prices.

This combination of hardships caused inflation, which is a steady increase in prices over time which reduces the consumer’s ability to spend.

War in the South1779 – focus of the war shifted to the south

British seized Savannah, GA in 1778 and Charleston SC in 1780

War in the South was brutal because many who fought for the British were tories.

The Patriots won the battle of Kings Mountain on the Carolina border, and Cowpens in the same area.

The British, led by Cornwallis headed Northeast and won the battle of Guilford Courthouse in NC in March of 1781

YorktownWashington brought troops to the south from NY

The French Navy set up a blockade of the coast of Virginia and successfully drove off the British

Cornwallis, on the peninsula of Yorktown, now faced an army twice his size.

In October fighting broke out at the Battle of Yorktown

Cornwallis was trapped on the peninsula with no escape; There were no reinforcements from the British Navy who had been driven off by the French

On October 18, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered to Washington

Treaty of ParisTreaty signed nearly two years after the surrender at Yorktown Included 4 countries: England, France, Spain and the United

States6 major provisions:

1. Great Britain recognized the independence of the United States of America

2. The northern border between the United States and Canada extended from New England to the Mississippi river and primarily along the Great Lakes

3.The Mississippi River was established as a boundary between the United States and the Spanish territory to the West

4. Florida, gained from the British after the French and Indian war was returned to the Spanish

5. Great Britain would withdraw its troops from United States territory

6. Congress pledged to recommend to the states that the rights of American Loyalists be restored and that no future action be taken against them. Persecution of the Tories continued long after the war.