THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

First Continental Congress (Sept. 1774)

• Brought colonists together as Americans (9 colonies present)• It issued a Declaration of Rights protesting Great Britain’s

actions.• All delegates agreed that Parliament was exerting too much

control.• Agreed not to import or use British goods• Agreed to stop exports to Britain

• Formed a force of minutemen, colonial soldiers who would be ready to resist a British attack with short notice

Second Continental Congress (May 1775)

Authorized raising of army, money to pay for it, and appointed George Washington as commander of the forces

Olive Branch Petition: written by the Continental Congress to King George III Reaffirmed American loyalty to the crown Hoped to reconcile with the king

King George III rejected it, and Britain responded by Declared colonies in a state of rebellion Dispatched thousands of troops Closed all colonial ports

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths• Well-trained military• Ample resources• Alliances with Loyalists

Weaknesses• Fighting in unfamiliar

territory• Fighting far from home

Strengths• Strong military leadership• Fighting on home territory• Alliance with France

Weaknesses• Small, untrained military• Shortages of resources• Weak central government

British Army Continental Army

Loyalists vs. Patriots

2/5 of U.S. pop’n Mostly from the

middle colonies/southern

Were seen as ‘traitors’

1/5 of U.S. pop’n Mostly from VA

and NE states (esp. Mass)

Made up of local militia members Low supplies, low

pay, poor equipment

Loyalists/Tories Patriots/Whigs

This means that 2/5 of the pop’n was NEUTRAL during the war!!!

Additional Troops

Split the Iroquois Confederacy

Many sided with the British, who promised to squash American settlement westward

Originally not accepted by G.W.

When the British promised freedom to A.As as a recruitment tool, the Patriots allowed them

Native Americans African Americans

Major Leaders

Continental Army: George Washington: Commander of Americans Forces Nathanael Greene: Top Strategist Henry Knox: Artillery Expert Benedict Arnold: Commander under Washington

British Army: General Charles Cornwallis General John Burgoyne Benedict Arnold (after he turned traitor in 1781) William Howe

All considered America one of the worst places to serve

Thomas Paine- Common Sense Stated that America fighting for its freedom

was a matter of ‘common sense’ Smaller Great Britain should not control all of

America Condemned monarchy and particularly the

rule of George III Called for an American declaration of

independence, not just a protest against taxes The pamphlet sold more than 100,000

copies. It was one of the first American bestsellers.

Declaration of Independence Written by Thomas Jefferson Document listed rights and grievances against King

George III Preamble Declaration of rights (‘natural rights’) List of Grievances (against the King) Resolution

John Hancock first to sign in large print Anyone who signed it and was caught would be

hanged “We must all now hang together, or most assuredly

we will all hang separately." - Benjamin Franklin

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Britain recognized United States as an independent nation Mississippi River-Western boundary of U.S., Great Lakes

as the Northern boundary, Florida-Southern boundary Americans would have fishing rights off the coast of

Canada Americans would pay debts owed to British

merchants and honor Loyalist claims for property confiscation during the war Allow British troops to leave/Loyalists to stay U.S. would have access to Mississippi River– extending

the western boundary to the River