CHAPTER 7THE WAR FOR AMERICA

1775-1783

Continental Army Uniform

Second Continental Congresss

May 10, 1775 in Philadelphia. 1. Top raise money, and supply an army. 2. To explore ways to reconcile with

Britain. End result is they have to ponder the

treasonous act of declaring independence.

Players in the game…. John and Samuel Adams- Favor independence John Dickinson- Reconcilation Ben Franklin- Just back from London, maybe a

spy!

Issues at the congress

Government without a king is unworkable.

Suicidal to lose British protection against France and Spain.

The fear of their trading economy with Britain.

Delegates from Boston, on the other hand felt the British power most with what acts? And they favored independence.

What is the first step in building an Army?

Building an Army

All delegates agreed military buildup was necessary.

George Washington was chosen as the Commander, why him?

Thomas Jefferson writes the “ Declaration on the cause of necessity of taking up arms”

“ To die a freeman rather than to live as slaves”

Offered currency issue of 2 mil paperback, not backed by gold or silver.

Battle of Bunker Hill

June 16, 1775 2500 Brits under General Howe went

through the water and up a hill to attack instead of boxing the Americans in.

2 times they charged and retreated and the third charge they succeeded.

A very costly victory for Britain, 226 dead, 800 injured.

Americans had 140 dead and 271 injured and 30 captured.

Smallpox

Gen Howe stayed in Boston for 9 month inoculate his troops against smallpox.

From 1775-1783 130,000 died in America from Smallpox, mainly Indians.

500 in Boston caught smallpox, and were booted out by Howe.

This action caused Americans to think that the British were using smallpox as a weapon.

Olive Branch Petition

The final straw in the cry for reconciliation.

The petition confirmed loyalty to the monarchy and blamed troubles on British ministers and Parliament.

Asked that each colony be an individual parliament under the kings monarchy.

King George III rejects the petition and calls the colonist rebel and traitors.

“ Common Sense”

Written by Thomas Paine, an Englishman who came to the states in 1774.

In his pamphlet he states that a Republican Government can replace the monarchy.

What is a Democracy? More than 150,000 sold in more than a

week. Abigail Adams had and issue with the cry of

Liberty in the south, what was the issue? Abigail Adams called for what in here letters

to her husband?

Thomas Paine

Declaration of Independence

One key factor is the alliance with France, they will only help if we separate from Britain.

All states in favor except.. Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and South Carolina.

June 1776 Richard Henry Lee introduces resolution calling for Independence.

Thomas Jefferson wrote most of the declaration.

What does the pre amble state? What is the rest of the document state?

Declaration of Independence

Issues that had to be worked out.. 1. Charging the king of slavery? 2. Blaming the king of causing Pontiacs

uprising. What was the only state to have

abstention? Did that last? Why did the men who signed it not print

their names on the copies that were sent out to the public?

Pre Amble to Declaration When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one

people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness

Grievances Listed He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their

offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of

Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance. For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested

with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection

and waging War against us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and

destroyed the lives of our people He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to

compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

Summation

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Group Project

Create a Declaration of Independence from Pearland High School and Mr. Berger as the King.

Make sure you have a preamble, list grievances and a summation or conclusion.

Can be done on paper or computer generated, and will have to be acted out in front of the class.

The grade will count for one test grade and is due Tuesday October 16, 2012

1775-1776

Britain had issues with supplying an army 3,000 miles away, and were fighting to regain allegiance not destroy.

Americans had to change from a local militia to a full blown Army.

Enlistment was 1 yr, then $20 bonus for three year, for duration a land grant of 100 acres?

Did women serve in the Army? If so as what? What was the man to woman ratio?

Did black men fight? For which side?

British Strategy

Divide and Conquer was the plan. Had to defeat continental army, restore

governments, but not destroy enemy country, or steal food. How was this possible?

New York was the key, port access and Hudson River would cut off New England and New Jersey and Pennsylvania would follow.

Felt the Carolinas would support them in choking out Virginia.

1775-1776 cont.

1775 Americans capture Montreal, Benedict Arnold moves for Quebec but loses and troops get smallpox.

August 1776 battle for New York, Gen Howe has 8,000 Hessians, where are they from?

They beat Washington and his 20,000 troops at Long Island, Then take Ft Lee and Ft Washington and 3k prisoners.

Dec 25 Washington takes the Hessians and Trenton, then Princeton and into New Jersey.

Then sits for winter to inoculate his troops. What could the British have done to pretty much end the

war in New York? Why did they fail to do so?

Patriots vs Loyalist

Who is a patriot? Who is a loyalist? Who did the mohawk, cayuga, seneca and odonaga fight

for? Who did the onieda and tuscarora fight for? What chain did this break up? Mohawk leader” Joseph Brandt” did what to hurt to

colonist? Who are Tories? 1775- any loyalist is considered a traitor. And could

receive a punishment like be tarred and feathered, property confiscation, deportation.

What happens to the wife of a traitor if the land is confiscated?

Financial issues led to Government bonds and land grants, then inflation sets in.

Burgoynes Army b

British General John Burgoyne Took over 7,800 soldiers in Canada, had 1,000 camp followers, 400 Indian Warriors, 400 horses and thirty trunks of his belongings, his goal was to cut off New England.

Burgoyne was stuck south of Fort Ticonderoga. Gen Howe left New York to attack Philadelphia. Gen. Barry St. Leger and his German and Indian

troops in the battles of Fort Stanwix, and Oriskany. What is the worst part of these two battles?

American General Benedict Arnold pushed St. Leger back to Canada, how does this effect Burgoyne?

Battle of Saratoga

Burgoyne is stuck at Saratoga and American General Horatio Gates shows up with 7,000 troops

Burgoyne attacks first and prevails but loses 600 men, 3 weeks later the Americans attack and the British lose 600 more men, and their cannons.

October 17, 1777 Burgoyne surrenders. At the same time this happens Gen Howe takes over

Philadelphia. After his the British Government proposes a negotiated

settlement, not including Independence, what do the Americans respond with?

Issues at Valley Forge? Who takes the blame for these issues?

Valley Forge

War in Indian Country

What was life like in the central New York area with the Indians?

George Washington orders John Sullivan and 4500 troops to do what to the Iroquoian villages? What happened at Fort Niagara?

White Eyes and the Delaware tribe? What Effect does this have on who the Indians side with?

What did George Rogers Clark do in Fort Vincennes in 1779?

By 1780 most Indians were out of their land with the British or the Spanish, not helping the Americans, why?

French Alliance

February 1778 An Alliance is signed, what event allowed this to happen?

What was the most important thing France provided?

What did France want out of this war? Why were they so hesitant to formally

support the Americans?

War after France Enters

Most of the English were ready to quit, but the King made them push on.

The new strategy was to abandon New England and head south to the Valuable Crops where loyalist were then head up the coast back to New England.

Brits under General Clinton take Georgia easily and make 1400 militia swear to the King.

May 1780 they take Charleston, South Carolina and 3300 American Prisoners.

Gen Cornwallis vs Gen Gates at Camden, worst battle for the Americans.

Benedict Arnold

Was a hero of several American battles, but in 1780 becomes a traitor.

Sells secrets to Gen Clinton in New York. Appointed Commander of West Point by

Washington, and was going to give it to the British.

His treason inspired a renewal of patriotism at a very low time in the war.

The Guerilla warfare in the south, how did this effect the British and the loyalist? What happened at Kings Mountain?

Yorktown

Cornwallis loses battle at Cowpens in South Carolina, then heads to capture Williamsburg and Charlottesville in Virginia, almost capturing Thomas Jefferson, the went to Yorktown for reinforcements.

Comte De Grasse and his French fleet defeat the British in Chesapeake Bay.

Comte de Rochambeau and Washington with 16000 men surround Cornwallis and his 7500 men.

Cornwallis realized he had no chance and surrendered, basically ending the war for Britain.

Treaty of Paris 1783

Britain Agreed the US was a nation. Border set at Mississippi River. Britain agreed to withdraw its troops

quickly, but this took 10 years. What was the hardest part of getting the

British out of the 3 cities it occupied, New York, Charleston, and Savannah?

What did they do with the British flag in Manhattan as they left?

Quiz

Why were many Americans reluctant to declare independence?

Why did the Americans need the support of the French to ensure victory?

Why did the British Southern strategy ultimately fail?

Why did the British exercise restraint in their efforts to defeat the rebellious colonies?

Tell me about Deborah Sampson?