The American Revolution :The American Revolution An Introduction


Obstacles for Unification :Obstacles for Unification Colonists needed to overcome obstacles to unify. Geographic barriers, conflicting religions, multi-cultural identities, boundary disputes, resentments, etc. Albany Plan failed. French & Indian War source of unity.


Impact of French & Indian War :Impact of French & Indian War Americans resented British authoritarianism. Under William Pitt, the colonists eagerly participated. (Treated as partners) Fought bravely next to the British. (Participation of rangers critical to victory) Felt disrespected by the British. (George Washington)


Impact of the French & Indian War :Impact of the French & Indian War Colonists felt like a people of destiny. French menace removed. The Indians were vulnerable. (Can’t pit the French against British anymore) Land hungry colonists fled westward. Felt betrayed by the Proclamation of 1763. Weren’t we partners?


Tensions Build :Tensions Build War led to debt. Twin seeds of “republicanism” and the philosophy of “radical Whigs” colored views. Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and Quartering Act led to controversy. Viewed as violation of their rights. Grenville made the problem worse.


Tensions Build :Tensions Build Nonimporation agreements Parliament revoked Stamp Act (Increased confidence among colonists) Declaratory Act Townshend Act & “Boston Massacre” Parliament revoked Townshend Act


Tensions Build :Tensions Build British East India Company & Boston Tea Party. Public opinion divided over Boston Tea Party. “Intolerable” Acts unified colonists. First Continental Congress We were reluctant revolutionaries Lexington & Concord


British Strengths & Weaknesses :British Strengths & Weaknesses Great Britain had more people, more monetary wealth, and the best navy in the world. Could count on Indian support. Internal problems and French menace. George III and Lord North second raters. Needed to re-conquer territory.


American Pluses and Minuses :American Pluses and Minuses Americans had superb leaders. Foreign aid theoretically possible. Americans fighting defensively. Moral advantage. Americans badly organized. Economic difficulties. (Terrible inflation)


Americans Pluses and Minuses :Americans Pluses and Minuses Low supply of firearms. Low supply of food and clothes. Poorly trained militia soldiers. Regulars improved as war progressed. Black soldiers would serve with American and British armies. Women served in army too. American profiteers sold to British.


Congress Drafts George Washington :Congress Drafts George Washington Second Continental Congress met on May 10, 1775. Independence movement still not dominant. (Still raised funds for defense) Washington to lead Continental Army in Boston. (Great moral force) His selection was political.


Bunker Hill and the Hessians :Bunker Hill and the Hessians Colonists seized Breed’s Hill to menace Boston. (British foolishly attacked frontally) Olive Branch Petition rejected. George III hired German mercenaries. (More interested in booty than in duty)


Fighting Continues :Fighting Continues Two pronged attack in Canada failed. Not a well considered invasion. British set fire to Norfolk, Virginia. British evacuated Boston. Americans still hesitant to declare independence.


Thomas Paine Preaches Common Sense :Thomas Paine Preaches Common Sense Loyalty deeply ingrained. Open rebellion was dangerous. British harshness shocked them. Common Sense a huge hit with colonies. Inconsistent to fight and claim loyalty. Called for creation of a republic. Republicanism came from England.


Thomas Paine Preaches Common Sense :Thomas Paine Preaches Common Sense Government power derives from the people. (People embraced this) Americans experienced with self-governance. No nobility & relative equality of landowning farmers. Conservative members bristled at pure republicanism. (Natural aristocracy)


Jefferson’s “Explanation” of Independence :Jefferson’s “Explanation” of Independence Henry Lee said we should break cleanly from England. (July 2, 1776) Need a formal explanation to rally others to the cause. Jefferson recognized as brilliant writer. Listed British crimes and said “all men are created equal.”


Patriots & Loyalists :Patriots & Loyalists Revolutionary War was a civil war. Patriots vs. Loyalists/British They fought for influence over the many that were neutral. (Hearts & minds) British could only control areas where they had massive military force.


Patriots & Loyalists :Patriots & Loyalists Many of wealth, education, and culture were loyalists. (Violent change bad) Anglicans were loyalists. Congregationalists & Presbyterians were Patriots. Younger people were patriots. New England strongly in patriot camp. Planters were patriots.


Patriots and Loyalists :Patriots and Loyalists After Declaration of Independence, Loyalists were roughly treated. Many loyalists fled to British lines. Estates were confiscated and sold. Loyalists served as spies, incited Indians. On whole, British did not take full advantage of loyalists.


Washington’s Early Moves :Washington’s Early Moves General Howe invaded New York. Washington defeated in the Battle of Long Island. Continental army barely escaped. Howe did not rigorously give chase. Washington attacked Trenton on December 26th. Won at Princeton.


Prelude to Saratoga :Prelude to Saratoga Objective: Capture Hudson River Valley and sever New England from colonies. Howe, Burgoyne, and St. Leger were supposed to link up. Benedict Arnold forced British to retreat to Canada. (Burgoyne was delayed)


Saratoga :Saratoga Burgoyne began his journey downward. Howe did not follow through. (He attacked Philadelphia instead) Washington lost at Brandywine and Germantown. (Howe stayed in Philadelphia) Burgoyne got bogged down and trapped. Burgoyne forced to surrender.


France Joins the Fight :France Joins the Fight France wanted revenge for French & Indian War. Saratoga convinced France to help openly. (Had given needed weapons secretly) Franklin manipulated the French skillfully. US and France agreed to fight until independent. (Americans uneasy)


England in Trouble :England in Trouble War expanded into global conflict. France, Spain, and Holland team up against England. Catherine the Great of Russia gathered still more support against England. England fighting for its existence.


England in Trouble :England in Trouble French naval power brought to bear in North America. British forces withdrew to New York. Washington hemmed in the British at New York. Benedict Arnold shocked America.


War in the South :War in the South England won a string of victories in the South. (Georgia fell, Charlestown, SC fell) Loyalists fought Patriots in the Carolinas. General Nathaniel Greene fought guerrilla style war that exhausted Cornwallis.


War on the Frontier :War on the Frontier Most Iroquois joined with the British. (Urged to do so by Joseph Brant) Brant said the British would restrict Western movement. Ravaged Pennsylvania backcountry. American forces got area under control. Pro-British Iroquois lost out in Treaty of Fort Stanwix. (Lost land)


War at Sea :War at Sea American navy weak. However, privately owned ships inflicted heavy damage with privateering on the high seas. Provided gold and victories. British insurance skyrocketed. British merchants and shippers put pressure to end the war.


End of the War :End of the War Inflation out of control and government neared bankruptcy. Cornwallis had fallen back to Yorktown waiting for supplies. Admiral de Grasse blocked British fleet. Washington moved quickly from New York. (Rochambeau was with Washington)


Paris Peace Talks :Paris Peace Talks Cornwallis surrendered to Washington. Washington returned to New York. War continued another year. Patriot-Loyalist fights particularly savage. Most English people were tired of war. Suffered losses in India, in the West Indies, in Minorca, Lord North lost political support.


Paris Peace Talks :Paris Peace Talks Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay represented America. France not looking out for America’s interests. America in spirit made a separate peace with England. England was generous hoping to seduce America from France. (Re-open trade)