The War for IndependenceThe War for Independence

1775-17831775-1783

First Continental Congress: 1774First Continental Congress: 1774

Met in Philadelphia in response to Intolerable Met in Philadelphia in response to Intolerable Acts – NOT to declare independenceActs – NOT to declare independence

Samuel Adams, John Adams, George Samuel Adams, John Adams, George Washington, Patrick Henry all attendWashington, Patrick Henry all attend

An attempt to express grievances to the KingAn attempt to express grievances to the King Differences in views between radicals and Differences in views between radicals and

moderatesmoderates

Concord and Lexington: April 1775Concord and Lexington: April 1775

General Gage sent troops General Gage sent troops to arrest Sam Adams and to arrest Sam Adams and John HancockJohn Hancock

Also to raid a militia Also to raid a militia ammunition siteammunition site

William Dawes and Paul William Dawes and Paul Revere ride to warn them Revere ride to warn them “British are coming”“British are coming”

““Shot heard round the Shot heard round the world”world”

American Colonies:American Colonies:

Strengths:Strengths: Outstanding leadership Outstanding leadership

(GW, Franklin, etc)(GW, Franklin, etc) Agriculturally self Agriculturally self

sustainingsustaining Competent marksmenCompetent marksmen Moral advantage in Moral advantage in

fighting for a just causefighting for a just cause

Weaknesses:Weaknesses: Badly organized – Badly organized –

infighting between infighting between statesstates

Jealousy amongst Jealousy amongst coloniescolonies

Economic difficultiesEconomic difficulties Lack of military Lack of military

experienceexperience

Britain:Britain:

Weakness:Weakness: Enormous distanceEnormous distance Difficult to occupy large Difficult to occupy large

coastlinecoastline Fighting against an idea – Fighting against an idea –

how do you contain that?how do you contain that? Weak leadership – Weak leadership –

egotistical, arrogantegotistical, arrogant France waiting for France waiting for

revengerevenge

Strengths:Strengths: High population (7.5 High population (7.5

mill vs. 2.5 mill in mill vs. 2.5 mill in Amer)Amer)

Superior navy and Superior navy and militarymilitary

20,000 slaves join 20,000 slaves join BritishBritish

Can entice Native Can entice Native AmericansAmericans

1776: Declaration of Independence1776: Declaration of Independence

““We hold these truths to be self We hold these truths to be self evident that evident that all menall men are created are created

equal”equal” Did Thomas Jefferson mean that literally? Did Thomas Jefferson mean that literally?

Then what about slaves?Then what about slaves? This followed several “olive branch petitions” This followed several “olive branch petitions”

to reach out to the Kingto reach out to the King Follows Thomas Paine: Common SenseFollows Thomas Paine: Common Sense

Two Parts:Two Parts:

Preamble:Preamble: Restated theory of John Restated theory of John

LockeLocke ““all men are created all men are created

equal”equal”

Grievances against the Grievances against the king:king:

Claimed king had Claimed king had violated contract with violated contract with American colonies – American colonies – Jefferson gives a list of Jefferson gives a list of how sohow so

This is written to King This is written to King of England as well as to of England as well as to king of Franceking of France

British Military Strategy:British Military Strategy:

Phase I: New England 1775-1776Phase I: New England 1775-1776

Gage: This is a “Boston Gage: This is a “Boston issue” – so, let’s end it in issue” – so, let’s end it in BostonBoston

Loss at Concord shows Loss at Concord shows British need to retreat to British need to retreat to Boston (well defended)Boston (well defended)

Attempts to seize high-Attempts to seize high-ground fail at Bunker HIllground fail at Bunker HIll

Sail down Hudson River Sail down Hudson River and seal off New England and seal off New England with a blockadewith a blockade

Phase II: Mid-AtlanticPhase II: Mid-Atlantic

Phase II: Mid-Atlantic RegionPhase II: Mid-Atlantic Region

William Howe: In command of forces – takes William Howe: In command of forces – takes up residency in NYCup residency in NYC

Drove Americans out of Long Island and into Drove Americans out of Long Island and into NJ and PANJ and PA

Plan: Sail down Hudson River and seal off New Plan: Sail down Hudson River and seal off New England with a blockadeEngland with a blockade

Oct 1777: Johnny Burgoyne to sail down Oct 1777: Johnny Burgoyne to sail down Hudson – Attacked by Ethan Allen and Green Hudson – Attacked by Ethan Allen and Green Mtn Boys of VermontMtn Boys of Vermont

Phase II (Cont’d)Phase II (Cont’d)

Battle of Saratoga: France joins American causeBattle of Saratoga: France joins American cause Winter 1777: Howe warm in NY while GW cold in Winter 1777: Howe warm in NY while GW cold in

Valley Forge, PAValley Forge, PA Iroquois unofficially align with BritishIroquois unofficially align with British 1777: GW crosses the Delaware to attack the sleeping 1777: GW crosses the Delaware to attack the sleeping

“Hessians” (German mercenaries hired by the British)“Hessians” (German mercenaries hired by the British) Brits move into Philadelphia – closer to stamp out Brits move into Philadelphia – closer to stamp out

resistanceresistance

Phase III: The SouthPhase III: The South

France in the war, and recent losses in New France in the war, and recent losses in New England and Mid-Atlantic force them SouthEngland and Mid-Atlantic force them South

Many “Tories” down thereMany “Tories” down there 1778: Admiral Howe replaced by Sir Henry 1778: Admiral Howe replaced by Sir Henry

ClintonClinton Clinton: Moved troops from Philadelphia back Clinton: Moved troops from Philadelphia back

to New Yorkto New York 1778: Benedict Arnold turns to British side – 1778: Benedict Arnold turns to British side –

huge loss for Washingtonhuge loss for Washington

The South (Cont’d)The South (Cont’d)

Dec 1778: Brits capture Savannah, GA and Dec 1778: Brits capture Savannah, GA and move into Charlestown, SCmove into Charlestown, SC

Goal: harass patriotic fervor in the SouthGoal: harass patriotic fervor in the South Americans: capture 1100 loyalists Americans: capture 1100 loyalists Lord Cornwallis (Brit) crushed American Lord Cornwallis (Brit) crushed American

general Horatio Gatesgeneral Horatio Gates Gates replaced by Nathaniel Greene – loses to Gates replaced by Nathaniel Greene – loses to

Cornwallis, but able to stop any advancement Cornwallis, but able to stop any advancement by the Britishby the British

Yorktown: Oct 1781Yorktown: Oct 1781

Battle of YorktownBattle of Yorktown

Combination of Washington Forces and Combination of Washington Forces and French leader RochambeauFrench leader Rochambeau

““Back Cornwallis” against the Coast – caught Back Cornwallis” against the Coast – caught between forces on land and French navybetween forces on land and French navy

British forced to surrenderBritish forced to surrender

Treaty of Paris: September 1783: Treaty of Paris: September 1783:

Recognition of Independence from the BritishRecognition of Independence from the British American territory expands from South of American territory expands from South of

Canada to GeorgiaCanada to Georgia Americans agree to re-pay loyalists for lost Americans agree to re-pay loyalists for lost

land (Hutchinson, etc)land (Hutchinson, etc) Lands west of Appalachia not defined (not Lands west of Appalachia not defined (not

sure who owns it – later fight?)sure who owns it – later fight?) Brits never really leave from interiorBrits never really leave from interior

War and changes in American War and changes in American society: Loyalists and Minoritiessociety: Loyalists and Minorities

Merchants dependent on Imperial system lose Merchants dependent on Imperial system lose everythingeverything

Anglican church officials shunnedAnglican church officials shunned Passive Quaker churches diminishedPassive Quaker churches diminished Most British elite lose houses, property, Most British elite lose houses, property,

livlihoodlivlihood

War and changes in American War and changes in American society: American Elitesociety: American Elite

Continued to influence societyContinued to influence society Many would argue with each other over issues Many would argue with each other over issues

of Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist measuresof Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist measures

War and changes in American War and changes in American society: Native Americanssociety: Native Americans

American victory weakened overall state of American victory weakened overall state of nativesnatives

Most natives saw British as “lesser” of two Most natives saw British as “lesser” of two evils, and more likely to winevils, and more likely to win

Increased demands for white settlers in the Increased demands for white settlers in the WestWest

War and changes in American War and changes in American society: Womensociety: Women

Many dependent on tradesmen or farms – find Many dependent on tradesmen or farms – find trouble during Rev Wartrouble during Rev War

Some follow husbands in the campsSome follow husbands in the camps Molly Pitcher: Carried pitchers of water to the Molly Pitcher: Carried pitchers of water to the

men in battlemen in battle Abigail Adams: Hopes her husband can create a Abigail Adams: Hopes her husband can create a

“code of laws”“code of laws” Ideal of “republican motherhood” – job to teach Ideal of “republican motherhood” – job to teach

kids republican valueskids republican values

War and changes in American War and changes in American society: American Economysociety: American Economy

No imperial trading partnerNo imperial trading partner Spanish, French and other Europeans feel they Spanish, French and other Europeans feel they

have access to American trading rightshave access to American trading rights Lack of produced materials now that we broke Lack of produced materials now that we broke

free from Britainfree from Britain Most of Europeans seek to make gains from Most of Europeans seek to make gains from

American freedom – now that we’re all alone American freedom – now that we’re all alone unprotectedunprotected

Big Questions:Big Questions:

Now what? How do we effectively run our Now what? How do we effectively run our own country?own country?

What will we do for an economy? Finance? What will we do for an economy? Finance? Currency?Currency?

Domestic defense?Domestic defense? Protection against tyranny from ourselves?Protection against tyranny from ourselves?