New York and the American Revolution

Learning Goals

New York State's location led to New York playing a key role in

the American Revolution

New York's waterways played a key role in Britain's plans to

capture New York SO many key battles were fought in New

York State

Not all colonists had the same view about the revolution

The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the revolution

The leaders of the American Revolution came from all 13 colonies and had different

lifestyles

The American Revolution had a lasting impact on New York

Vocabulary

AmericanRevolution

French and Indian War

tax

parliament

Stamp Act

protest

Boston Tea Party

militia

Patriots

Loyalists

Continental Congress

Continental Army

Declaration of Independence

traitor

boycott

Sons of Liberty

tariff

Independence

freedom liberty

repeal

minutemen

neutral

representitive

Parliament Britain's law

making assembly

tax Money a

government collects from its people

tariff Tax on goods

shipped into a country

representative Someone chosen

to represent the people in an assembly, congress, parliament, or other lawmaking group

Stamp Act A tax that British

Parliament put on the people of the colonies – any official papers and newspapers sold in the 13 colonies had to have special stamps on them, to get the paper stamped colonists had to pay a tax

protest To argue or make

a statement against something

boycott Refusing to buy

goods as a form of protest.

repeal To take back a

law or tax

Boston Tea Party When a British ship arrived in

Boston a group of Patriots (Sons of Liberty) dressed as Native Americans boarded the ship, broke open the chest of tea and dumped the tea into the Boston Harbor. This was a protest to the tea tax

Boston Tea Party

French and Indian War A war the British fought against

France and some Native Americans. Some colonists fought along side of the British

Whose land? After French and Indian War many

colonists wanted to move onto land that once belonged to France

Native Americans didn’t want this Britain didn’t want to go to war with the

Native Americans Britain passed a law saying colonists

couldn’t move onto lands in the west Colonists were angry over this law

“No taxation without representation” French and Indian War was

expensive British Parliament passed the

Stamp Actwhich said colonists had to pay a tax

onall official papers and newspapers.

“No taxation without representation”

Colonists were used to making their own laws. Colonists were angry over the tax. Tax had been passed in Britain by Parliament. The colonists didn’t have a representative in Parliament, so they didn’t think it was fair for Parliament to tax them

Boycotts The colonists protested against the

Stamp Tax. They refused to buy paper goods

that required the tax (boycott) They had marches and even burned

stamps Eventually the Stamp Tax was

repealed

No taxation without representation

New taxes - tariffs Even though Britain took back the

Stamp tax they imposed new taxes These taxes were on goods sent to

the colonies by England (tariffs) Taxes were on clothing, paper,

cloth, glass and tea Many colonists started refusing to

buy these British goods (boycott)

Boston Tea Party In 1773 a ship carrying tea from

England was in Boston Harbor A group of patriots called the Sons

of Liberty rowed out to the ship at night, dressed as Native Americans

They opened chest of tea and dumped it into the Boston Harbor in protest of the tea tax

Boston Tea Party

Liberty Freedom

freedom State of being

free

independence Politically free –

self governing

American Revolution War in which the

colonies fought for freedom Great Britain

Revolution Abrupt overthrow

of a government

Patriots Colonists who

supported freedom from Britain in the American Revolution

Sons of Liberty A secret group of

colonists started by Samuel Adams to protest unfair laws and taxes made by Britain to the colonies. Sons of Liberty were Patriots.

Loyalists Colonists who

supported the King and Great Britain during the American Revolution

neutral Not taking sides

in an argument or war

militia A volunteer army

made up of local men who trained and did drills on a regular basis.

minutemen Name given to

farmers and villagers who were ready to fight at a moments notice, often they would join the militias to help fight.

(ready to fight in minutes)

Continental Congress An official

meeting of leaders from the 13 colonies. This group made very important decisions

Declaration on Independence A document

explaining why the colonists wanted freedom from British rule, written by Thomas Jefferson.

Continental Army Army formed by

the Continental Congress, made up of soldiers from all colonies, led by George Washington.

traitor A person who

works against their country

“The British are coming!” Britain sent more soldiers to the

colonies Colonists did not want to give in,

many joined volunteer armies called militias, these soldiers were known as minutemen

 http://www.earlyamerica.com/paul_revere.htm

“Shot heard ‘round the world” Colonists had weapons stored in a building in

Concord, Massachusetts 700 British soldiers marched out of Boston

toward Concord Paul Revere’s job was to ride to warn the

minutemen that the British were coming! The first battles of the war took place in

Lexington and Concord

http://www.earlyamerica.com/shot_heard.htm

Fort Ticonderoga – New York Next battle took place in our state of

New York Patriots decided to attack a British fort

on Lake Champlain. Soldiers (called Green Mountain Boys)

and rowed across the Lake and surprised the British. Fort was captured without fighting

Many weapons were captured that would help in later battles

Fort Ticonderoga

Continental Congress Leaders from 13 colonies got

together to make some important decisions for the colonies (Continental Congress)

Congress decided to form the Continental Army – official army of the colonies- George Washington chosen to lead this army.

Continental Congress *Most important decision the congress

made was that the 13 colonies should be a free or independent country no long under British rule.

Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write statement or document that explained why the colonies wanted freedom

Declaration of Independence

the war Britain did not accept the

declaration and they fought to keep the colonies under their control

British army wanted to capture New York City and New York

New York’s importance British Army wanted New York under their

control New York had New York City and New York

Harbor New York had many important waterways:

Hudson River, St. Lawrence River, Mohawk River, Great Lakes and Lake Champlain

New York was also centrally located among the other colonies so capturing New York could “cut off” the colonies from each other

Battles in New York Washington’s Army lost major battles in

Long Island and Harlem Heights (both part of today’s New York City) This gave British troops control over New York City

Washington pulled his army out of NYC and many loyalists from all over the colonies moved to New York City where they felt safe.

British Army also defeated Washington in White Plains causing the army out of NY

Turing Point of the war British had a plan to take over New York

entirely. Three different armies would march along New York waterways to meet at Albany, taking over each area as they marched

One army would head south from Canada along the St. Lawrence River

Another would march east along the Mohawk River and a third march North along the Hudson from NYC

Battle of Saratoga – NY

American army decided to try and stop the British near Saratoga

Americans used a new technique in fighting – instead of fighting out in the open, or from the fort, they hid in the woods.

This surprise style of fighting worked Eventually – after two separate battles

the British surrendered to the Americas

Why a turning point? Winning in Saratoga stopped the British

from taking over New York which was key to America winning. (because of its waterways and location to the other colonies)

Winning also showed France that we were able to hold our own with the British and France decide to help us.

France still considered Britain an enemy – so they sent us money, ships, and soldiers.

West Point – New York Benedict Arnold – general in charge of

West Point Made a deal with the British – for money

he would let the British take over the fort West Point was saved and Arnold was

caught – known as a traitor Today when someone is know to be traitor

they may be called a “Benedict Arnold”

Battle of Yorktown - Virginia Last major battle of the war French ships and soldiers helped

Washington’s army surround the British at Yorktown

British were force to surrender Almost 2 years later the British and the

American leaders signed a peace agreement that stated the United States of America was a free and independent country