YOU SAY YOU WANT A REVOLUTION?

In April of 1775, the Battles of Lexington and Concord spurred war to new level

Second Continental Congress met the next month

Still bent on making amends with Britain

GENERAL WASHINGTON

George Washington was chosen as the commander of armed forces. Why??

Mainly because he was from Virginia – pacify the South

Steadfast in his will to win

refused to be paid – there was no money

COMMON SENSE

Fighting for over a year before it became a war for independence

Thomas Paine writes and sells “Common Sense”

Printed in 1776 as propaganda to fight for independence

He argued that the king was not worthy of loyalty

Also argued that America was more valuable to Britain, not other way

Also argued for a republican form of government – radical idea

WHICH HILL?

Battle of Bunker Hill in June of 1775

British controlled Boston Colonials took Breed’s

Hill and fired on British British tried to crush it

and lost. Olive Branch Petition

written and delivered George III refused it

REACTION TO THE BATTLE

George III closed door on reconciliation

Hired some 30,000 Hessians to go to America

The War is on and there is no turning back

ABORTIVE CONQUEST OF CANADA

In response to burning of Falmouth in Maine

General Montgomery took Montreal

General Arnold and Montgomery failed to take Quebec

They had to retreat

PHILADELPHIA CONGRESS DECIDED TO TAKE THE PLUNGE

June of 1776, Richard Henry Lee declared America’s Independence

July 4, 1776, Jefferson’s Declaration was adopted

It was an appeal to the world to back America

Opened the door for alliances

LOYALISTS AND PATRIOTS

Most of the aristocracy remained loyal to the king

Only about 20% of population were Loyalists

The South also had a large Loyalist population

Slaves and free Blacks joined the British to get their independence

Many fled America after the Declaration of Independence

SIGNIFICANT BATTLES

Washington defends New York and New Jersey

Loses most of his battles

In October of 1777, wins the Battle at Saratoga – wins alliances

FRANCE COMES TO THE AID OF AMERICA

Louis XVI doesn’t want a war with England – just embarrass

Franklin and others convince him to send troops and money

More importantly, France sent navy – Mainly to protect West Indies

Formal alliance formed in 1778 Most of Europe aligned with

America – Why? (Armed Neutrality)

Kind of like a world war at this point

THE FRONTIER

The Frontier is often neglected in Revolutionary history.

Indians often sided with Britain in the frontier. Why?

George Rogers Clark helped secure that portion of the battle.

He is one of the original hero “Indian Killers”

NAVAL POWER?

America had virtually no navy to speak of

Privateers (pirates) did most of the damage on merchant British ships

British merchants wanted the war over

YORKTOWN

Cornwallis was surrounded by French navy in Virginia

He was also surrounded by American and French armies

October 19, 1781 – Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown

Fighting went on for more than a year

This defeat forced a settlement

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE

Ben Franklin (PA), John Adams (MA), John Jay (NY)

Supposed to negotiate with the French

Jay knew French were trying to settle with Spain

Jay defied the Congress and met with England

Peace Treaty signed with London in 1782

PEACE DEAL

America got more land than France wanted them to have

England gave up more than America asked for

England maintained trading privileges with America

France got nothing (less than nothing)

Spain got nothing England got nothing