The American Revolution(1775)

I. First Continental Congress1. Discuss acceptable forms of protest &

reaction2. Assert the rights of colonialsrepeal

the Coercive Acts3. Urged colonies to

1. Build up military reserves2. Organize boycotts of British goods

Declaration of Rights & Grievances4. Sent to the king to correct the wrongs

against the colonists1. Acknowledged parliament to regulate

trade & commerce2. The Association—”boycott committees”3. Agreed to meet May of 1775, if their

grievances were not met.5. Parliament did not respond6. War would break out before the

delegates could meet again.

The Shot Heard ’Round the World!

II. The Fight Begins

1. Lexington & Concord1. British General Thomas Gage2. Seize armaments & rebels in Concord3. Minutemen—waited in Lexington to stop

the British in their tracks4. “The shot heard around the world”5. Minutemen forced a treat of the British,

250 KIA

Bunker Hill

2. Bunker Hill—June 17, 17751. Colonists were defeated2. 1000 British KIA and WIA

3. Significance1. Massive casualties on the British2. King declared the colonies in

rebelliondeclaration of war3. Hessians mercenaries (Germany) were

hired by the king4. Colonists viewed this as a motive for a war

of annihilation.

III. Strengths/WeaknessesColonies vs. Britain

1. British Advantages1. Larger population2. Greater financial resources3. Professional army4. Large Navy5. Indians generally allied with the British6. Many Americans, Tories loyalists7. Black, offered freedom, for service

2. British Disadvantages1. Britain’s military stretched thin2. European style of fighting3. 3,000 miles from home4. Destroy Washington’s Army

3. Colonial (Patriot) Advantages1. Fighting for liberty & way of life2. Excellent Officers3. Guerilla Warfare4. French help after 17785. Protracted war—British lose their will

4. Colonial Disadvantages1. Smaller army2. Continental Congress had no power

to tax or create currency3. Most Americans Loyalists or

indifferent4. Supply shortages5. A long war

Who is easier to see and shoot?

The Second Continental Congress(1775)

Olive Branch Olive Branch PetitionPetition

IV. Second Continental Congress

1. May 17751. Congress drew up military plans2. Declaration of the Causes and

Necessities of Taking Up Arms1. American army, led by Washington2. American navy, disrupt British shipping

2. Olive Branch Petition1. Last gesture of peace to stop war2. July 17753. Reasserted colonial loyalty to the

crownasked King George III to intervene with Parliament on their behalf

4. The king refused

V. Common Sense

1. Thomas Paine, Jan. 17762. Read all over (120,000 sold)3. Attacked the entire system of

monarchy and empire4. “Monarchy & hereditary

succession have laid the world in blood & ashes”

Common Sense (cont’d)

5. Used Locke’s natural rights to justify British rebellion

6. It would be contrary to common sense to allow the injustices to continue

Richard Henry Lee

VI. Declaration of Independence (1776)

1. Richard Henry Lee-Lee’s Resolution

1. American colonies should be independent states

2. Confederate form of government formed for future discussion

3. Foreign relations should begin with other countries

Declaration of Independence (1776) (cont’d)

2. John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson (who wrote the declaration)

3. Enlightenment (Locke) influence4. 1st part (includes Preamble)

1. Necessity of independence; for basic natural laws and rights

5. 2nd part1. Lists abuses/maltreatments of the king

and his gov.

6. July 4, 1776-formally approved7. Before the Declaration of

Independence was signed, a committee was appointed to draft the 1st constitution—the ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION!!!

VII. Independence (Not Dependence)

1. Patriots--independence2. Loyalists or Tories—sided with

Great Britain3. Indifferent

VIII. Battle of Saratoga

1. Albany, NY, 17772. British Gen. Burgoyne defeated

by General Horatio Gates3. Turning Point

1. France joined the Americans

IX. Battle of Yorktown & the Treaty of Paris 1783

1. Yorktown, 17811. Last major battle of the Revolution2. Washington & the French force the

surrender of British General Cornwallis

Battle of Yorktown & the Treaty of Paris 1783 (cont’d)

2. At Paris 17831. Formal recognition of the United States as

a country2. Boundary stretched west to the Mississippi

River3. Fishing rights off Newfoundland4. Americans agreed to repay debts to British

merchants5. Promise not to punish Loyalists that

remain in the U.S.

New National Symbols