the american revolution - administrationassistance and the roles of benjamin franklin and the...
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The American Revolution The Ideological, Military and Diplomatic aspects of the fight for Independence
Standards
• SSUSH3 The student will explain the primary causes of the American
Revolution.
– c. Explain the importance of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense to the movement
for independence.
• SSUSH4 The student will identify the ideological, military, and diplomatic
aspects of the American Revolution.
– a. Explain the language, organization, and intellectual sources of the Declaration
of Independence; include the writing of John Locke and Montesquieu, and the
role of Thomas Jefferson.
– b. Explain the reason for and significance of the French alliance and foreign
assistance and the roles of Benjamin Franklin and the Marquis de Lafayette.
– c. Analyze George Washington as a military leader; include the creation of a
professional military and the life of a common soldier, and describe the
significance of the crossing of the Delaware River and Valley Forge.
– d. Explain Yorktown, the role of Lord Cornwallis, and the Treaty of Paris, 1783.
Thomas Paine authors “Common
Sense”
• Published anonymously
January 1776
• At that time, it had the
largest circulation of any
book in Am. History
• “Common Sense”
presented the colonists
with a powerful argument
supporting independence
from Great Britain.
Intellectual Sources of the
Declaration of Independence
• John Locke (left) and Charles Montesquieu
John Locke
• Lived in England during the height of the
Enlightenment. (1632-1704)
• Most famous work: Two Treatises of
Government (Social Contract)
• In TToG he describes the state of nature and
argues that all men are created equal by God.
(Charles) baron of Montesquieu
• Lived in France during Enlightenment
(1689-1755)
• Extremely influential thinker in French
history; his ideas paved the way for
French Revolution
• Most famous for his articulation of a
Separation of Powers theory (executive,
legislative, judicial)
Thomas Jefferson
• Principal author of the
Declaration of
Independence
• Influence heavily by Locke,
Montesquieu and other
Enlightenment thinkers
• Supporter of separation of
church and state
• Slave owner from Virginia
• Plantation home
(Monticello) on back of US
nickel.
Preamble to Declaration of
Independence
• 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.
The French to the Rescue
• After the defeat of the French
in the French/Indian War,
England con’t to fight France in
Europe.
• Most Indian tribes supported
the British cause and were
supplied by England to attack
colonist using guerilla warfare.
• Americans and French vs.
British and Native Americans
Benjamin Franklin
• Quaker who helped establish PA as a power-house colony
• Noted Inventor (acquired hundreds of patents)
• Kite-flying w/ the Key
• Ambassador to France. Helped organize military assistance. (Model Treaty)
Look Familiar?
• Eye of Providence
• “The eye of an all-
seeing, omnipotent
God
• Symbol of the
Freemasons in which
Franklin was a
member.
Marquis de Lafayette
• French general who
assisted America in
the Revolution
– Money, supplies,
troops, naval strength
• Served alongside
General George
Washington
• Influential in the
defeat of Cornwallis
at Yorktown
Statue of Lafayette in D.C.
George Washington
• “Father of USA”
• Gained military
experience in the
French/Indian War
• Chosen as
commander in chief
of Continental Army
by 2nd Continental
Congress.
Life as a Common Soldier
• Life was extremely rough
• Harsh winter conditions
• Very little supplies and
rations
• Army was still in infancy,
not much unity at this time
• Difficult for Washington to
combine state militias into
one unit
• At left, Washington with
troops at Valley Forge, PA
Crossing the Delaware
• Leutze, 1851. What are the historical inaccuracies in this work?
Answers
• Washington could not have stood as such because of the harsh winter conditions. He would have fallen in the river.
• The crossing occurred at night.
• Stars and Stripes Flag was not in existence at this time.
• Why do you think these anachronisms are included in the work?
Washington as a War Hero
• Surprise crossing of the Delaware at night
on Christmas Day took the British by
surprise.
• The crossing of the Delaware showed that
Washington was an able military leader
who could use strategy to successfully
defeat the British.
• Washington was then able to easily take
the British stronghold of Yorktown, all but
securing American victory.
Seige of Yorktown
• British General Cornwallis surrenders to French and American forces at Yorktown, VA October 1781.
• Fighting ended but war not officially over until Treaty of Paris in September of 1783.
A gift from France
• Statue of Liberty
• In her hand, the book is
entitled “1776” in Roman
numerals
• Broken chains remain at
her feet
• Ellis Island, New York
City; would welcome
millions of immigrants to
American shores