The American Revolution

Second Continental Congress• Re-united in Philadelphia just weeks after

Lexington and Concord– Agreed to support the war, but divided on what goals

should be– Many felt complete independence was required,

others felt simply a redress of egregious British acts would do.

• Olive Branch Petition– Document sent to King George III declaring themselves

loyal subject to the crown, but listed grievances.– Also sent document declaring failure to redress

problems might result in bitter responses.

The Cause Gains Support• British rejected Olive Branch Petition– Passed Prohibitory Act closing colonies to all overseas trade

and agreed to none of the concessions• British used natives, slaves, and mercenaries to fight

against colonists• War became too expensive, and modest requests

didn’t seem worthwhile • “Common Sense”– Pamphlet unanimously written by Thomas Paine– Convinced Americans the problem was the British

constitution itself that allowed King George and ministers to abuse their own people, it was simple “Common Sense” for them to break completely from such a government.

Declaration of Independence• Continental Congress rejected British actions,

declared American ports open to all countries except Great Britain, began actively pursuing allies.

• Appointed a committee to draft a Declaration of Independence– Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin– Jefferson was primary writer, minor revisions by other 2– Was mainly a collection of other writings and ideas

already expressed by colonial governments, assemblies, and groups like the Sons of Liberty

– Two parts: explained belief in Social Contract, second was list of ways Britain had violated the Contract.

Mobilizing for War• Selected George Washington to command a

Continental Army– Admired, respected, and trusted by all Patriots– Commanded forces during French and Indian War– Early and Devout believer in complete Independence

• Providing supplies for Army– Without British industry the volume of necessary supplies

couldn’t be obtained• Paying for an army– Congress couldn’t levy taxes directly from the people, only

request it from state governments– When they finally decided to print paper money they

printed too much, each state printed their own, and inflation occurred.

America vs. Great Britain• British Advantages– Better Navy– Better supplies from a wealthy and powerful empire– Coherent structure of command

• American Advantages– Fighting on their own land– By in large had a deep belief in their cause, while many

British half-heartedly supported the cause– Had powerful foreign allies that distracted British, mainly

France.

Three Phases of Revolution1. New England Phase2. Mid-Atlantic Phase

3. Southern Phase

Military Strategies

The AmericansAttrition [the Brits had a long supply line].

Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down]

Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies

The BritishBreak the colonies in half by getting between the No. & the So.

Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally.

“Divide and Conquer” use the Loyalists.

New England Phase• Siege at Boston– Colonial militias and early Continental army led by

Washington surrounded the city of Boston with Gen. Gage’s British Army inside.

– Boston was center of British military actions in America• Battle of Bunker Hill– Actually took place on Breed’s Hill– Strategic location with high ground overlooking Boston

and the Harbor.– First time colonists met traditional British regulars in

battle and held their own.– They had every military advantage and still lost though

Bunker Hill – June 1775

Canadian Invasion / British Relocate• British forces realized Boston was incapable of

defense and left in Spring– Took loyalists with them and headed for Nova Scotia

• With British free from Boston, Washington sent Benedict Arnold with a force to Quebec to remove any threat from the North.– With heavy casualties and frustration the siege on

Quebec failed.– Congress sent a civilian group to Canada to gain

diplomatic support.– Even Ben Franklin couldn’t convince Canadians to join

the cause.

Second Phase / New York and PA• The most conventional and traditional part of the

war– Americans overmatched and nearly lost

• Shock and Awe– 32,000 well-trained troops under William Howe landed

in New York– Washington had 19,000 poorly armed and untrained,

and NO NAVY• British overwhelming victory in Manhattan, chased

Americans across the plains of New Jersey across the Delaware River and into Pennsylvania

Washington Crossing the Delaware

British Divide and Conquer• Gen. Burgoyne led invasion from Canada South,

while Howe would cut off any Americans from the Southern states– Howe decided instead to attack Philadelphia, after

quickly securing the capital Washington was forced to camp for winter at nearby Valley Forge

– Congress relocated to York, PA• With little help from Howe, Burgoyne faltered in

New York• While Washington struggled through the bitter

winter in Valley Forge, Baron Von Steuben trained his army

Saratoga and the Turning Point• American diplomats traveled overseas to encourage

European powers to recognize America as a country and support the effort– Most notable was the efforts of Benjamin Franklin in

France– Franklin became a celebrity of sorts in Paris and

intrigued not only among French aristocrats but also King Louis XVI

• Victory at Battle of Saratoga– Last battle with Burgoyne in New York, with the last of

his troops surrounded he was forced to surrender– Major victory that convinced France to get into the war

Third and Final Phase/ the South• Infiltration from within– Rather than preparing for full scale war, they tried to

enlist loyalists from the South where they thought more loyalists resided.

– Most white southerners refused for two reasons• Fear of retaliation from Patriot neighbors• The British promised freedom to any slaves who fought for

them, this upset many who otherwise might have helped them.

• A slippery Enemy– American militias blended in with civilian population

and walked among them moving freely through the countryside.

British Success and Nathanael Greene• British military quickly seized Savannah and

Charleston and then moved inland• American militias proved difficult to pin down, but

they won every traditional battle.• After Lord Cornwallis was able to crush forces

under Horatio Gates he was replaced by the talented Nathanael Greene

• Greene broke up the Continental Army into smaller units that could move more quickly and win smaller strategic battles – Won major victories at Cowpens and Guilford

Courthouse

World Turns Upside Down at Yorktown• Cornwallis was ordered to move north and wait

for reinforcements at Yorktown, VA• British Navy was constantly harassed by French

navy and couldn’t receive much needed supplies• Washington’s army closed in from the North while

Greene surrounded him from the South• Cornwallis was forced to surrender on October 17,

1781– Claimed to be ill and made a subordinate officially

surrender for him

Finding Peace in Paris

• Franklin, Adams, and John Jay met in Paris with English diplomats along with French.– Were under strict orders to cooperate with wishes

of the French, but some of their demands of the British were unreasonable.

– Fearing this would hinder the process, they proceeded without informing French diplomats and signed a preliminary treaty.• Franklin had to pacify French to avoid problems.

Treaty of Paris

• Formally signed on September 3, 1783– America was granted clear recognition of

independence– Territory from the southern border of Canada to

Northern border of Florida– From the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River

New Governments• Republicanism– Must have a political system where power comes from

the people, not supreme authority like a king.– Emphasis placed on the ideal of Civic Virtue• Small, independent landholders hold majority of power, the

basic American political ideology

– Unfortunately, women, slaves, and native Americans were often left out or exploited, still the early American system was much more tolerant than European governments.

State Governments• General feeling that the unwritten constitution of

England had opened the door for corruption.– Need for each state to have a written plan for

government.– Agreed the powers of Executive should be limited• PA actually eliminated the Executive branch of government

altogether.• Every state forbade their governors from holding a seat in

legislatures to keep the branches separate.

– Later, many of the states saw a need for stronger governors and amended their Constitutions.

The Articles of Confederation• Confederation – a band of loosely united

independent states that come together to achieve a purpose.

• Congress would remain the only institution of national authority.– 13 members, one from each state– Authority to conduct war– Create appropriate treaties with foreign nations– Borrow money from states, issue currency

Problems with The Articles• Needed 9 of 13 votes to pass a law and all 13 had

to approve any amendment.– Laws rarely were passed, and most states refused to

enforce them if in disagreement.• No President or Executive officer to enforce any

laws.• Congress could not regulate trade, draft troops, or

collect taxes directly from the people.– Could only ask for funds and soldiers, often states

refused.

Debt, Depression, Daniel Shays• The war was extremely expensive– Under the Articles, each state was responsible for debts

incurred by their militias.• The boom of wartime production was soon

followed by the bust of post-war economy.• Inflation– Each state printed its own currency and therefore the

value of U.S. dollars dropped• Each state raised taxes considerably higher than

before the war.

Shays’s Rebellion• Daniel Shays – captain of the Connecticut army

during the war.– Farmer living in western Massachusetts.– Couldn’t pay taxes and Massachusetts government

threatened to take his land.– Shays’ followers wanted tax relief and advanced on

arsenal in Springfield, but were eventually stopped by a militia funded by wealthy Boston merchants.

• While a military failure, Shays’s Rebellion was the last straw pointing to failures of the Articles.