War and Revolution: (notes go through end of the War - 1783

America's first “Civil War” (debatable terminology)

• a. Against the British• b. Patriots (Whigs) vs.

Loyalists (Tories)

Loyalists and other British Sympathizers

• 20% of all whites (Mostly NY and NJ)

• Recent British emigrants and French Canadians

• 20000 escaped slaves• most Indian tribes

Opposing Sides…British advantages:• 11 mil. to 2.5 mil.• world's largest navy• one of the best

professional armies

British disadvantages:• difficulty recruiting• 21,000 loyalists• 30,000 Hessian

mercenaries• financial strain was

formidable

American advantages:• didn't have to conquer the

redcoats, only resist until support faded

• Americans mobilized smaller population more effectively

American disadvantages:• 20% of free population

opposed to the revolution• good guerrilla fighters but

poorly trained for heated battles

• few experienced officers

Revolution in the North: 1775–1776

Early fighting in the north primarily covered New York to the border of Canada. The US was led early on by General Benedict Arnold.

Second Continental CongressRepresentatives

brought money to help establish the…

Continental Army(i.e. pay soldiers, buy guns, bullets, food,

and uniforms

Paper Currency (p. 174)

George Washington - Commander of the Continental Army

George Washington• Chosen commander because experience in imperial

wars with France• Much of the success of the campaign rested in his

ability to inspire his men to continue fighting despite numerous defeats.

Martha Custis Washington

The Olive Branch PetitionMost colonial delegates still

hoped for reconciliation and offered the Olive Branch Petition to George III

Olive Branch Petition:• Cease fire at Boston• Repeal of the Coercive Acts• Negotiations to establish

American Rights

British ignored this and declared colonists in rebellion Dec. 1775

Thomas Paine: Common Sense (1776)

• Paine's political pamphlet brought the rising revolutionary sentiment into sharp focus by placing blame for the suffering of the colonies directly on the reigning British monarch, George III. First and foremost, Common Sense advocated an immediate declaration of independence, postulating a special moral obligation of America to the rest of the world. Not long after publication, the spirit of Paine's argument found resonance in the American Declaration of Independence. (www.earlyamerica.com)

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The Declaration of Independence: Who was involved?

• Benjamin Franklin• John Adams• Robert R.

Livingston• Roger Sherman• Thomas Jefferson

War In Earnest… (1776-1777)

• 1776-1777 most fighting - New York (Long Island) and New Jersey (Trenton and Princeton)

• New Jersey = battleground between Loyalists & Whigs.

• Most Loyalists moved to Canada, England or the British West Indies at the end of the war.

Early Fighting in New Jersey

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Trenton, NJ (Dec. 25, 1776)The effect of the battle of Trenton was out

of all proportion to the numbers involved and the casualties. The American effort across the colonies was galvanized and the psychological dominance achieved by the British in the preceding year overturned. Washington’s constant problem was to maintain the enthusiasm of his army for the war, particularly with the system of one year recruitment and Trenton proved a much needed encouragement. (www.britishbattles.com)

Princeton, NJ (Jan. 3, 1777)• The effect of the battles of

Trenton and Princeton were to clear most of New Jersey of the British presence. The battles impressed upon the European powers that the Americans were able to confront the British Army and the decisive intervention of France and Spain in the Revolutionary War came a step closer. General Washington showed himself to be a leader of resource and decision.

– (www.britishbattles.com)

NewYork – Pennsylvania

Theater, 1777–1778•Brandywine Creek, PA•Germantown, PA•Valley Forge, PA•Monmouth Courthouse, NJ---•Saratoga, NY•Lake Champlain, NY

Brandywine Creek, PA (Sept. 11, 1776)

• Brandywine is not considered a decisive battle. Nevertheless it hastened the loss of Philadelphia to the British. The British failed to exploit their success.– (www.britishbattles.com)

Germantown, PA (Oct. 4, 1777)

• The British won the battle although failing to follow up the success, permitting Washington to withdraw and reform his army behind fortified positions.– (www.britishbattles.com)

Valley Forge, PA (Winter 1777-78)• Valley Forge is the story of the

six month encampment of the Continental Army of the newly formed United States of America under the command of General George Washington, a few miles from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Though no battle was fought here from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778, a struggle against the elements and low morale was overcome on this sacred ground. (www.ushistory.org)

Monmouth, NJ (1778)• The Battle of Monmouth was

an indecisive engagement in the American Revolution fought on June 28, 1778, near Monmouth Courthouse (now Freehold), N.J.

• During the battle, the heroism of the wife of one of the American soldiers who assisted the American forces gave rise to the legend of Molly Pitcher.It was the last major conflict in the North and the war's biggest one-day battle.

Saratoga, NY (Sept. 19, 1777)The Turning Point

• the Battle of Saratoga was the turning point in the Americans' War of Independence.

• Americans sought French diplomatic recognition and military alliance

• Oct. 1777 at Saratoga an American victory convinced Louis XVI (16th) the Colonies were a viable ‘country’

• Feb. 1778, France recognized the USA• June 1778, France declared war on

Britain (Spanish and Dutch also declared war on England)

• British troops were diverted elsewhere

War in the South, 1780–1781

8. Victory in the South• 1778-1780: British focused on the Carolinas• Headed back to Virginia in 1781 and established a base on Yorktown Peninsula, Virginia• Surrounded in Summer 1781 by American and French armies and a French fleet under Admiral De Grasse• October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered. Fighting ended.

Revolutionary War in the South

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Charleston, SC - May 1780

• Port of Charleston captured by the British as part of their “Southern Strategy”

Camden, SC - August 1780

• Continental Army General Horatio Gates defeated badly by British General Lord CharlesCornwallis

General Nathanael Greene - “The Fighting Quaker”

• Arguably the most ABLE officer in the Continental Army besides Washington

• Appointed to replace the southern commander ()after the fall of Charleston, SC

• Tactics weakened Cornwallis in the South and forced the British to withdraw due to heavy casualties.

Cowpens, SC - Jan. 1780• Patriot victory which

surprised the British• General Francis Marion

“The Swamp Fox”

King’s Mountain, SC - October 7, 1780• A pivotal and significant victory by

American Patriots over American Loyalists during the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War.

• The battle fought on October 7, 1780 destroyed the left wing of Cornwallis' army and effectively ended Loyalist ascendance in the Carolinas.

• The victory:– halted the British advance into North

Carolina, – forced Lord Cornwallis to retreat from

Charlotte into South Carolina, and – gave General Nathanael Greene the

opportunity to reorganize the American army.

Guilford Courthouse, NC - March 15, 1781• British won a

“Pyrrhic” victory• British entered VA.• Americans returned to

Carolinas - denied British complete control of Carolinas

Yorktown, VA - Oct. 19, 1781surrender of General Cornwallis

• “Oh God, it’s all over!”• Cornwallis trapped on

Yorktown peninsula• Forced to surrender British

forces to Continental Army

Washington at Verplank’s Point (p. 164)

Cornwallis at Yorktown

The Revolutionary War in the WestGeorge Rogers Clark's Campaign, 1778–1779

Frontier campaigns• British, USA and Indians fought a vigorous series of battles in trans-Appalachia.• Whoever won would control land west of the Appalachians.• General George Rogers Clark victorious

Map 6.3 Native Americans and the War in the West, 1778-1779 (p. 177)

The Peace of Paris… 1782-1783• Americans represented by

John Adams, John Jay, and Benjamin Franklin (June 1782)

• British recognized American independence

• British removed all troops from American soil.

• Mississippi River became western boundary of USA

• New Orleans, East and West Florida went to Spain

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A Black Loyalist Pass, 1783 (p. 186)