The American RevolutionChapter 6

Objectives: You will be expected to

• identify the major eras in U.S. history through 1877 and describe their defining characteristics

• explain the significance of the following dates: 1776

• analyze the leadership qualities of elected and appointed leaders of the United States such as George Washington

Objectives:

• analyze causes of the American Revolution, including mercantilism and British economic policies following the French and Indian War

• explain the roles played by significant individuals during the American Revolution, including Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, King George III, Thomas Jefferson, the Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Paine, and George Washington

Objectives:

• explain the issues surrounding important events of the American Revolution, including • declaring independence, • writing the Articles of Confederation, • fighting the battles of

•Lexington, •Concord,

•Saratoga, and

•Yorktown,and• signing the Treaty of Paris, 1783

Objectives:

• identify the influence of ideas from historic documents including the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, on the U.S. system of government

• identify colonial grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence and explain how those grievances were addressed in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights

Objectives:

• define and give examples of unalienable rights

• analyze the contributions of people of various racial, ethnic, and religious groups to our national identity

• identify the political, social, and economic contributions of women to American society

Our Story Begins…

• In the English colonies, located on the Atlantic coast of North America, where colonists have become increasing dissatisfied with conditions imposed on them by the British government and frustrated by the king and Parliament’s responses to their petitions.

Causes of the Revolution

• Mercantilism: Colonies exist to benefit the parent country by provided raw materials and markets for manufactured goods

• Taxes to repay the large debt from the war

• Reinforcement of the Navigation Acts to stop colonial manufacturing and illegal trade with other nations (smuggling)

•British mercantilist policies after the French and Indian War

More British Mercantilist Policies

• Proclamation of 1763• Quartering Act• Colonial Belief that their rights as

Englishmen were being violated• Ignoring the tradition of colonial self-government• Trial by jury suspended in some areas

• Taxation without Representation (in Parliament)• Sugar Act• Stamp Act• Townshend Acts• Tea Act

To tax or not to tax… ?

TAX!

Causes of the Revolution

• Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts • Put Boston under martial law• Suspended trial by jury• Appointed General Sir Thomas Gage royal

governor of Massachusetts• Banned town meetings (local government

in New England)

• King George III’s eventual refusal to respond to colonial petitions

First Continental Congress

• September 1774 – Delegates from all the colonies except Georgia arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• They wanted to unite the colonies against Britain.

Disunity in the Colonies

• Patriots – supported war vs. Britain

• Loyalists – didn’t think there was a good enough reason to fight Britain; remained loyal to Britain

• Patriots were in the minority when the war broke out.

Loyalists Patriots Neutral

Loyalists and Neutrals

• Loyalists opposed the war • Most lived in the Carolinas and Georgia• Wanted to protect government jobs or

official positions or didn’t think colonies could win

• Neutrals – didn’t take either side• Quakers – pacifists• Western farmers who were far from the

conflict

Loyalists Patriots Neutral

Money Problems

• To pay for the war, Congress and the states printed hundreds of millions of dollars of paper money.

• The paper quickly lost its value and in turn led to inflation.

• Congress stopped issuing paper money because no one would use it. – “Not worth a Continental”

Advantages and Disadvantages

British Army Colonists

•strongest navy in world•experienced, well-trained army•larger population•support of Loyalists in colonies

•fighting on own ground•great determination to protect area & for the cause•more at stake in the fight fought harder•GEORGE WASHINGTON- courage, honesty, determination

•British officers underestimated Patriots and made major errors•had to “invade” colonies and supply troops from across the sea in England•relied on mercenaries

•lacked regular army, navy•soldiers lacked experience, weapons, ammunition•volunteers enlisted for a short time (1 year or less) then went home – GW constantly had to train new, inexperienced troops•neutral (Quakers) & Loyalists groups wouldn’t assist them

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Timeline of Major Events

• First Continental Congress meets• Lexington and Concord – April 19, 1775• Ticonderoga• Bunker Hill – May 1775• Second Continental Congress Meets• “Common Sense” published - 1776• Independence Declared – July 4, 1776• Trenton - 1776

Timeline of Major Events

• Saratoga – 1777 – TURNING POINT• “The Crisis” published - 1777• Valley Forge – winter of 1777-1778• French Alliance – 1778• War in the South – 1778-1781• Charleston - 1780• Yorktown – 1781• Treaty of Paris - 1783

The Midnight Ride of … William Dawes?

• April 18, 1775• Paul Revere, William

Dawes, Samuel Prescott ride to alert minutemen at Lexington and Concord that the British were marching toward them.

• Paul Revere – better publicity?

Minutemen to Arms! The Redcoats are

coming!

Lexington and Concord (Mass.)

• April 19, 1775• First battles of the war!• King George III: The colonies

are in a state of rebellion.• General Gage sent a detachment

led by Major Pitcairn to arrest leaders of the Sons of Liberty (Sam Adams and John Hancock) in Lexington and to seize the militia’s supplies stored at Concord

• Fighting breaks out on Lexington Green and at the Old North Bridge in Concord.

British vs. militiamen, Lexington, April 19, 1175.. IRC. 2005. unitedstreaming. 7 November 2006http://www.unitedstreaming.com/

Battles at Lexington and Concord

• Militia Leader: Captain John Parker• British defeat minutemen at Lexington

but are chased back to Boston from Concord, fired upon along the way by minutemen using guerilla tactics

• Hancock and Adams escaped, and some of the militia’s supplies were hidden before the British arrived.

• “The Shot Heard ‘round the world” – would lead to colonial independence and inspire revolutions around the world

Reenactment of the charge of the American militia.. IRC. 2005. unitedstreaming. 7 November 2006 http://www.unitedstreaming.com/

The Shot Heard ‘Round the World

• From a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson called, “Concord Hymn”:

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,

Their flag to April's breeze unfurled;

Here once the embattled farmers stood;

And fired the shot heard round the world… "Minuteman Statue." Minuteman

National Park - History and Culture. National Park Service. 9 Nov 2006 <http://www.nps.gov/mima/historyculture/index.htm

Fort Ticonderoga – May 1775

• Patriots led by Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys capture the fort.

• Cannons are taken from the fort to Boston and used in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Benedict ArnoldBenedict Arnold (1741-1801).. IRC. 2005. unitedstreaming. 7 November 2006http://www.unitedstreaming.com/

Second Continental Congress – May 1775

• Created to govern the colonies. • Actions

• Olive Branch Petition• Not accepted by King George III• Instead, he sent German mercenaries

(Hessians) to fight the colonists

• Most important: created Continental Army under the command of George Washington

Privates in the Hessian Grenadier forces.. IRC. 2005.unitedstreaming. 13 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

The Continental Army

• Disorganized and undisciplined

• Lacked training, supplies, money

• Militia members were used to electing officers and serving for only short periods

The Continental Army

• Congress had difficulty enlisting soldiers and raising an army to fight the War because colonists were unwilling to transfer power to Continental Congress – really like 13 different wars run by separate colonies. Congress established the Continental Army but depended on states to recruit (enlist) soldiers.

• Washington would have trouble throughout the course of the war

Battle of Bunker Hill – June 1775

• Patriot Commander: William Prescott: “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”

• Patriots surrendered when they ran out of ammunition, but the victory was costly for the British.

• The British learned that the war would be longer and more difficult than they expected.

A 1775 map of Boston.. IRC. 2005. unitedstreaming. 7 November 2006http://www.unitedstreaming.com/

“Common Sense” – January 1776

• Thomas Paine’s pamphlet

• Called for complete independence from Britain

• Convinced many to support the Patriot cause

Title Page from Thomas Paine's Common Sense. Corbis. 2006.unitedstreaming. 10 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

From “Common Sense”

Independence

• Declared July 4, 1776• Second Continental Congress• Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed

resolution for independence• Thomas Jefferson wrote much of the

Declaration of Independence• First Signer: John Hancock, president of

the Second Continental Congress

1. The preamble states that people forming a new government should explain their reasons

2. Statement of the natural rights people have and the reasons for creating or dissolving governments:

3. List of grievances against Parliament and how their petitions had been ignored

4. Announcement of American independence and a pledge of, “our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor” to support it.

The Declaration of Independence

Unalienable Rights

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.

Disaster in New York – Winter 1776-1777

• Washington and the Continental Army suffered a series of brutal defeats against General Sir William Howe in New York. The Continental Army was repeatedly outnumbered and outmaneuvered.

• They were forced to retreat first to New Jersey then across the Delaware River to Pennsylvania.

• Soldiers deserted in great numbers; others went home because enlistments were up.

• The Continental Army seemed near collapse.

Nathan Hale

• Nathan Hale volunteered to spy on British troops; the 21-year-old masqueraded as a teacher.

• He was discovered and hanged without a trial in 1776; his last words reported were, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

• Washington needed more troops, so he asked Congress to enlist free African Americans which alarmed Southerners who feared the enslaved Africans would revolt

• By the end of the war, every state except South Carolina enlisted African Americans like Lemuel Hayes and Peter Salem.

• Rhode Island had an all African American regiment in 1778.

• Despite this assistance, the Continental Army was at a low point during the winter of 1776-1777.

African Americans Join the Fight

Thomas Paine to the rescue… again!

• New pamphlet, “The Crisis”• Renewed vigor and support for the Patriot

cause• Washington read it to his troops on Christmas Day

1776

These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

"Thomas Paine." Wikipedia. Wikimedia, Inc.. 10 Nov 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_paine>.

Victory at Trenton – December 1776

• Gen. Howe left his troops in winter quarters in Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey while he left to spend the winter in New York

• Washington and men crossed the icy Delaware River on Christmas night, 1776

• He surprised the Hessians in Trenton and captured 900.

Victory at Princeton - January 1777

• Patriots defeated British troops at Princeton soon after.

• These victories raised morale and convinced many to enlist in the Continental Army

Princeton

New British Strategy – Hudson River

• Realizing they needed a new strategy, Britain decided on a three-pronged attack on the Hudson River Valley in New York, to isolate New England from the rest of the colonies.

• They expected to defeat New England and then move south to conquer the remaining colonies.

3-Prong Attack on Hudson River Valley

1. General John “Gentleman Johnny” Burgoyne would lead 8,000 troops from Canada.2. Lt. Col Barry St. Leger would move east from Lake Ontario.3. General Howe would move north from New York City

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The three forces would meet at Albany, NY and destroy Patriot forces.

Howe’s Blunder

• Howe bombarded Philadelphia, eventually capturing and occupying the city, but not before the members of the 2nd Continental Congress escaped.

• Determined to capture the delegates and send them to England for trial for treason, Howe delayed moving north to meet Burgoyne’s army and remained in Philadelphia. Sir William Howe (1729-1814).. IRC. 2005.

unitedstreaming. 13 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

My Bad!

Burgoyne progressed slowly

Meanwhile, problems delayed British plans to take Albany

• British General Burgoyne’s army traveled more slowly than planned because of his desire to travel in luxury, harassment by Patriot groups, traveling with many Loyalist civilians seeking British help

• After a defeat by the Green Mountain Boys in Bennington, he retreated to Saratoga, NY, short of supplies and men.

General John Burgoyne (1722-1792).. IRC. 2005.unitedstreaming. 13 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

The Battle of Saratoga – Oct 1777

• Burgoyne’s problems• Expected British forces

did not arrive due to Howe’s delay in Philadelphia.

• Horatio Gates (Patriot) blocked the path south. Burgoyne was surrounded by an army 3x his own in size

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Oops! My Bad!

Horatio Gates (1727-1808).. IRC. 2005. unitedstreaming. 7 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

The Battle of Saratoga – Oct 1777

• October 17, 1777 – Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga & 5700 British soldiers handed over their weapons to Americans.

• The British battle plan had failed

• This battle would prove to be the turning point in the war.

Surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, New York.. IRC. 2005.unitedstreaming. 7 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

Saratoga – Turning Point of the War

• Franklin had been traveling Europe, trying unsuccessfully to persuade France and other nations to ally with the Americans. Although they wanted to see Britain defeated, they were reluctant to openly ally with the colonists, in case the British won the war.

• The British loss at Saratoga convinced France and other European nations that the Continental Army had a chance to defeat the British. They ally with the Patriots.

The Turning Point – New Allies

•France declared war on Britain and gave the Americans money, equipment, and troops – February, 1778

• Spain and the Netherlands also assisted the colonies.• The Netherlands sent gunpowder.• Spanish Governor Bernardo de Galvéz tied up the British

army along the Gulf Coast, preventing those troops from engaging the colonists and making resupply via the Gulf of Mexico difficult.

Cause and Effect: France Allies with Colonies

Valley Forge, 1777-1778

• Washington’s troops spent a harsh winter in quarters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.• The army lacked food, clothing,

and shelter. • Some men deserted; others

resigned as enlistments expired. • Almost ¼ of the Continental

Army died of exposure and disease. Reconstructed soldiers' cabins, Valley Forge, PA.. IRC. 2005.

unitedstreaming. 7 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

Valley Forge

• In early 1778, news of France’s alliance cheered the troops.

• European volunteers arrived to train the Continental Army to fight using European military tactics.

• Marquis de Lafayette• Friedrich von Steuben• Casimir Pulaski• Thaddeus Kosciusku

Marie Joseph Paul, Marquis de Lafayette.. IRC. 2005.unitedstreaming. 7 November 2006http://www.unitedstreaming.com/

New Allies at Valley Forge

• A French nobleman, Marquis de Lafayette, offered his services and became one of Washington’s trusted aides and very popular with the troops.

• Friedrich von Steuben from Germany drilled Washington’s troops and taught them military discipline, making them a more effective fighting force.

Baron Freidrich Wilhelm von Steuben (1730-1794).. IRC. 2005.unitedstreaming. 7 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com

New Allies at Valley Forge

• Casimir Pulaski, a Polish cavalry officer, helped the army and died fighting for the Continental Army in 1780

• Thaddeus Kosciusko, a Polish military engineer helped with defenses at West Point and Charleston

Casimir Pulaski (1748-1779).. IRC. 2005.unitedstreaming. 13 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

Thaddeus Kosciuszko (1746-1817).. IRC. 2005.unitedstreaming. 13 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

Other allies

• Juan de Miralles from Spain lent money, became friends with Patriot leaders, and convinced Cuba, Spain, and Mexico to send financial aid to the colonies.

The War to 1777

War in the West

• Fighting on the western frontier often involved Native Americans, who stood to benefit more if the British won than if the colonists won.

• Native Americans were more worried about American settlers than about the British.

• Conducted raids on American settlements.

A Shawnee Indian.. IRC. 2005.unitedstreaming. 13 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

British Commander Henry Hamilton

•British commander at Detroit• Rumored he offered rewards for

American scalps • “the Hair Buyer”

http://156.63.45.195/ohc/history/path/people/hamiltonh.shtml - Nov 8, 2005

Hamilton vs. George Rogers Clark

• George Rogers Clark – American commander

• Captured Kaskaskia, IL, and Vincennes, IN

• After losing Kaskaskia to Hamilton, Clark retook the fort

• Clark’s victory at Vincennes Kept American hold on Great Lakes area and strengthened position in West Detail of "A Plan of Several Villages ...". IRC. 2005.

unitedstreaming. 13 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

Help from Spain

• 1777- Bernardo de Galvéz, governor of Spanish Louisiana• Loaned $1000s• Opened port of New Orleans to Americans• Shipped tons of supplies up Mississippi River to

George Rogers Clark, to help him in 1779

• After Spain declares war on Britain in 1778, Galvéz raises an army and strikes British posts on Gulf of Mexico

• Victories opened supply lines for military goods from Spain, France, Cuba, and Mexico

Colonial Glory at Sea

• British Navy attempted to blockade the coast, to prevent Patriots and allies from supplying and reinforcing the Continental Army.

• Privateers attempted to break the blockade – captured more ships than the weak American navy

The battle between the French and British fleets.. IRC. 2005. unitedstreaming. 7 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com

John Paul Jones

• Most famous privateer, raided British ports

• Captain of Bonhomme Richard (Poor Richard – after Franklin’s almanac)

• Engaged the British ship Serapis in battle, 1779

• Jones’ ship was so badly damaged, the British captain asked if he wanted to surrender

Bonhomme Richard vs. H.M.S. Serapis.. IRC. 2005.unitedstreaming. 13 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

John Paul Jones (1747-1792).. IRC. 2005.unitedstreaming. 13 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

John Paul Jones’ Response

• Jones’ response: “I have not yet begun to fight.”

• Captured the Serapis before his ship sank

• Naval hero for Patriots

Serapis & Bon Homme Richard battle.. IRC. 2005.unitedstreaming. 13 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

The War Moves South, 1778-1781

• After the British defeat at Saratoga ends the attempt to cut off the New England colonies, the British decided on a new strategy - to move the war to the South.

• Hoped to gain support and aid from Loyalists in the Carolinas and Georgia.

• British would face more guerilla warfare in the South

Francis Marion – “The Swamp Fox”

• Harasses British troops with guerrilla tactics, raiding, sabotaging supply &

communication lines, & rescuing prisoners.• Retreated into the swamps

to hide.

Struggles in the South - Charleston

• British wanted a decisive victory to end war hard-hitting offensive in 1778

• British capture Savannah and overrun most of Georgia.

• British captured Charleston, SC, in 1780

•Worst Patriot defeat of war•Lost an entire army

Struggles in the South - Camden

• Camden, SC – 1780• Patriots lose another army

when Horatio Gates surrendered to Gen. Charles Cornwallis

• However, Cornwallis soon learns that he cannot control the countryside – guerrilla forces like Francis Marion’s catch the British off-guard and ambush them

The battle of Camden, August 1780 IRC. 2005. unitedstreaming. 7 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

Patriot Victories – Kings Mountain, SC

•Sept, 1780•Patriot Victory brought new support for independence from Southerners

•Southern farms/homes were being destroyed by war – wanted it to end

Nathaniel Greene

• Replaced Gates as commander of Southern army

• Former Quaker who had given up pacifism to fight the British

• Tactics – avoid large-scale battles; spread rumors to lead British all over the countryside chasing him, then attack when British were worn out and lower on supplies

• Split forces – some joined Marion’s guerrilla raids

Nathanael Greene (1742-1786).. IRC. 2005. unitedstreaming. 7 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

Patriot Victories – Cowpens and Guilford Courthouse

• Cowpens, SC: Daniel Morgan led half of southern army and defeated British

• Guilford Courthouse - NC: Greene’s entire forces met up vs. Cornwallis; Patriots were forced to retreat, but Cornwallis’ losses led him to abandon the Carolina campaign

• These victories opened the way for victory at Yorktown, VA Lord Charles Cornwallis (1738-1805) .. IRC. 2005.

unitedstreaming. 13 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

British Retreat – Yorktown, VA

• Cornwallis set up camp in Yorktown, VA, to await orders from Gen. Clinton and supplies

• This sets up the last major battle of the Revolution

Lord Charles Cornwallis (1738-1805) .. IRC. 2005.unitedstreaming. 13 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

George Washington at Princeton, early 1777.. IRC. 2005.unitedstreaming. 13 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

Our Hero! Boo!

Hiss!

Victory at Yorktown

• 1781 - both armies need a decisive victory to win the war

• July 1780 – French fleet arrives with 5,000 soldiers under the command of the Comte de Rochambeau

Washington’s plan

• Washington knew Cornwallis was camped in Yorktown, Virginia, where Lafayette’s troops were keeping him trapped on the Yorktown peninsula.

• Admiral Francois de Grasse headed to the Chesapeake Bay with the second French fleet.

Forces of France and U.S. trap English Army. IRC. 2005. unitedstreaming. 7 November 2006<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

The Siege of Yorktown

• September, 1781 – 14,000 American and French troops trapped Cornwallis’s 7,500 British and Hessian troops at Yorktown.

• DeGrasse’s French fleet kept Cornwallis from escaping by sea or by being reinforced or resupplied by the British Navy.

Cornwallis’ Defeat

• October 9 – bombardment of British camp began by Washington and the Comte de Rochambeau.

• British supplies ran low, soldiers were wounded or sick.

October 19, 1781 – Cornwallis surrendered.

Independence

• British armies remained in America and some fighting continued after Yorktown, but the Patriot victory at Yorktown convinced many British subjects that the war was too costly to continue.

Negotiating a Treaty

• Under pressure, the British government decided to negotiate for peace.

• Ben Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay met with British delegates in Paris to negotiate.

Signing of Preliminary Treaty of Peace at Paris.. IRC. 2005. unitedstreaming. 7 November 2006http://www.unitedstreaming.com/

The Treaty of Paris, 1783

• Great Britain recognized American independence.

• US borders: Atlantic Ocean to Mississippi River, Canada to Spanish Florida

• British would withdraw troops

The Treaty of Paris, 1783

• Americans would have fishing rights off Canadian coast

• US agreed that British merchants could collect on debts owed by Americans.

• Congress would recommend that Loyalists’ property be returned.

North America in 1783

The Newburgh Conspiracy

• Continental soldiers awaiting discharge in Newburgh at the end of the war were angry because retirement pensions not paid by Congress

• Officers threatened to refuse to disband the army, even though the war was over.

• Washington was appalled.

Washington Reacts

• Washington worried that the officers’ action could lead to a revolt that could destroy the new nation. The military could not be allowed to dominate the new government. It had to be run by elected representatives.

• He urged Congress to meet the soldiers’ demands for pay, stressing that they had been faithful to their duty and deserved more than poverty in their old age.

• Washington’s leadership ended the first threat to the new nation.

Washington’s Farewell to his troops

• By the end of November, British troops had left New York City and the war was truly over.

• December 4, 1781 – Washington said farewell to his officers in Manhattan.“With a heart full of love and

gratitude, I now take my leave of you… Having now finished the work assigned me I retire. . . and take my leave of all the employments of public life.”

– G. Washington

Washington Resigns

• He formally resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and returned to his home in Mount Vernon, VA, where he planned to live quietly

• Washington would reluctantly return to public service in a few years, when his leadership would again be critical for the new country’s survival.

George Washington

George Washington actually lost more battles than he won. However, he met his goal of keeping the army in the field.

“First in war, first in peace,first in the hearts of his

countrymen.”

Why the Americans Won

• They fought on their own land, while British had to bring in troops and supplies from overseas. Yorktown showed how dependent the British were on help from the sea.

• British occupied the cities but could not control the countryside. They were ambushed by Patriots who knew the local terrain.

Why the Americans won

• Patriots received help from other nations.• French soldiers and ships; loans• Spanish attacks on British on Gulf of

Mexico and Mississippi Valley• Financial aid from several countries• Foreign training at Valley Forge

Perhaps the most important reason…

• The American Revolution was a people’s movement, not dependent on any one battle but on the determination and spirit of all the Patriots

• Washington recognized this when he pointed to the crowds wishing his troops well on the way to Yorktown: “We may be beaten by the English…but here is an army they will never conquer.”

Influence of the American Revolution

• First colonial possession to rebel against its parent country • Inspires revolutions in France, Poland,

Mexico, Texas, the Caribbean, and South America

• Haiti would become the 2nd colony in the Americas to throw off European control.

“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”

• French Revolution – “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity” & “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights.”

• The Declaration of Independence is quoted in revolutionary movements even today.

Life on the Homefront - Slavery

• The issue of slavery was questioned, especially in light of the ideals of freedom for which people went to war.

• African Americans fought as soldiers in the Revolutionary War - they hoped that they would soon see the day when slavery would be abolished.

African Americans:• Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of

Virginia, announced that enslaved people who fought for the British side would be freed.

• Continental Army did not enlist African Americans until after 1778

Life on the Home Front - Women

• Women often took over the duties of men while the men were in the military.

• Some, like Abigail Adams, began to question their place in society.

African Americans & Women in the War

Women:•Margaret Corbin - accompanied husband, took his place when he died in battle

•Mary Ludwig Hayes –a.k.a. “Molly Pitcher” –went w/husband, took water to soldiers, took his place firing cannon when he was wounded

•Deborah Sampson – disguised self as a boy and enlisted

Since the colonists were fighting for the ideals of freedom and liberty, some began to question the lack of liberty for women and slaves.

Life on the Home Front - Loyalists

• The Loyalists in the colonies faced hard times.

•spying - arrested and tried as traitors. •victims of mob violence or ignored by their neighbors.

• Many fled to Britain, to Spanish-owned Florida, Canada, or to the frontier.

Textbook pictures and maps: http://www.glencoe.com/sec/socialstudies/ushistory/tar12003/index.php4