The Revolutionary War

1. Victory obtained against all odds

2. Inflation will ruin post war economy

3. Congress is weak and ineffective

4. Victory brings large amount of new land

George Washington’s strengths

Strong leader and strength of character

People trusted and were willing to follow him

Already wealthy and aristocratic

A political decision not a military one

April 75 To July of 76 An Inconsistent War

Americans claimed loyalty to king while also raising armies and fighting British soldiers

May 1775 Ft. Ticonderoga (NY) victory by Ethan Allen

June 1775 Bunker (Breed’s) Hill in Boston (a loss but also a win)

July 1775 – Olive Branch Petition

Sent by Continental Congress to the king

Americans professed loyalty to crown and asked for an end of fighting

After Bunker Hill, the London government refused to consider peace

September 1775 – King hires German mercenaries ( Hessians) to fight colonists

Colonists shocked because the king was bringing in foreign troops to a “family” disagreement

Hessians good soldiers, although many deserted to stay in America and get land

Fall 1775 Colonists attack Canada, led by Arnold and Montgomery, but the plan fails (wanted 14th colony)

January 1776 – Common Sense published

Thomas Paine, had just come from England One of the most influential pamphlets

ever written Sold 120,000 copies in only few months Called separation from Britain

“common sense” “How can a smaller body (like Britain)

control a larger body (like America)”

Continental Congress: towards independence

On June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee of Virginia pushed resolution calling for independence

On July 2, 1776 resolution passed after much debate

Declared “all men are created equal”

Spoke of “natural rights” that all had Because King George III had violated the

colonists’ natural rights, they were justified in rebelling

Jefferson writes declaration as part of committee of 5

Abigail Adams wants women’s rights included but they are not

Argument for freedom of slaves is dropped

Formally adopted on July 4th

Impact of the Declaration of Independence Established colonists as

independents, not British subjects seeking reconciliation

Allowed America to realistically request foreign aid (THIS IS KEY TO ANY CHANCE OF VICTORY)

Influenced many other struggles for freedom in the future

Loyalists (“Tories”) People in America loyal to the crown

Patriots People who fought for the revolution

Revolution only supported by a minority of the population; many stayed neutral

Military disasters for Americans during the summer and fall of 1776

At the Battle of Long Island (NY) Americans retreated in panic (aka Battle of Brooklyn)

Washington escaped to Manhattan Island, then to White Plains, then crossed the Hudson and Delaware Rivers with the British close behind

Washington sneaks into New Jersey, across the Delaware River From Pennsylvania, on two different occasions

On December 26, 1776 Americans captured 1,000 Hessians sleeping (Battle of Trenton)

Eight Days later, Jan. 1777 the Americans defeated British at Princeton and again retreat back across the river

Burgoyne’s invasion in 1777 at Saratoga

7,000 British troops moved slowly south from Canada because of heavy baggage and many women

Instead of moving north Gen. Howe goes to Philadelphia and camps there while Washington freezes at Valley Forge and his troops train under Baron Von Stueben

Burgoyne was forced to surrender at Saratoga in Oct. 1777 to American General Gates

The importance of Saratoga, N.Y. Allowed France to enter the war on

the side of the Americans because now they could believe America would win (before were hedging their bets)……Treaty of Alliances negotiated by Franklin and signed Feb. 1778

War starts to involve many world powers

In 1778 France declared war on Britain

In 1779 Spain and Holland entered the war against Britain

War spread from just North America to Europe, South America, the Caribbean, and Asia

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Importance of France

America would not have achieved independence by itself

The fighting in America became secondary for Britain to fighting the European powers after 1778

From 1778 to 1783 France provided Americans guns, money, equipment, 1/2 of all troops and basically all of the navy

Before 1778 Britain’s basic strategy had been to blockade and control the coast with navy

After 1778 the French navy threatened the blockade

The British evacuated Philadelphia and concentrated on base in New York

From mid 1778 until Yorktown (in 1781), Washington used the American army to hold the British in New York

June 1778 – Monmouth (New Jersey) Washington attacked British troops

retreating from Philadelphia

Heat of the day led to many soldiers collapsing

The battle was indecisive, but about 1/3 of the British Hessians deserted

Molly Pitcher helps out

The westward pioneer movement continued during the war

For example, in Kentucky: Lexington named for the

Massachusetts town where the fighting began

Louisville was named for the French king Louis XVI

Privately owned ships (basically pirates) are Authorized by Congress to attack English merchant shipping

They brought in gold, hurt the enemy, and raised American morale with victories

Insurance rates and losses of ships led to British merchants pressuring Parliament to end the war

1780 to 1781 was the darkest period of the war for America

Inflation was very high

The government was bankrupt; would only repay debts at 2.5 cents on the dollar

Many colonists begin to feel the war would never end

In 1780, General Benedict Arnold turned traitor Felt unappreciated by the Americans

Promised to sell out West Point

The plan detected when messenger captured

Arnold fled to British and became an officer in the British army

Cornwallis marched into a trap at Yorktown, Virginia

French sailed to the Chesapeake, fought off the British fleet, and trapped Cornwallis from the sea

Washington trapped Cornwallis from land

On October 19, 1781 Cornwallis and 7,000 men were forced to surrender

After Yorktown British public was sick of the war and wanted it to end

Tory government collapsed and was temporarily replaced by Whigs (who where anti-king and antiwar)

3 Americans in Paris negotiated peace Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John

Jay

Treaty of Paris of 1783 ( What US Gets)

Britain recognized the independence of the US

Generous boundaries were granted to the US Mississippi to west; Great Lakes to north

Land all the way to Spanish Florida (recently captured from British by Spain) to south

US kept control of important fishing areas in Newfoundland (displeasing Canadians)

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Treaty of Paris of 1783 (What Britain Gets)

Loyalists not to be persecuted in the US Congress recommend that confiscated

Loyalist property be restored States honor debts to British creditors

Problem: Loyalist property and debt issues not obeyed by the US, leading to future conflicts with Britain

America is the only country that gained from the Revolution

Britain was defeated France incurred massive debt,

leading to the French Revolution America gained independence and

their country Spain was a shell of its former self

Colonists Achieve Victory but now face the problem of “What’s Next”.

Inflation is very high

Articles of Confederation are weak and unsustainable

Victory brings land and desire for expansion but no rules/law about how to do so