AMERICA SECEDES FROM THE EMPIRE. Chapter 8

Transcription

1 AMERICA SECEDES FROM THE EMPIRE Chapter 8

2 SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS (MAY 1775) Met in Philadelphia All 13 colonies present No demand for Independence Demanded their rights Established army and navy Authorized privateers to attack British Washington named chief of Continental Army Washington was respected, southern and wealthy

3 Fort Ticonderoga (May 1775) Ethan Allen, Benedict Arnold and Green Mountain Boys captured the fort and its cannons and gunpowder Brought cannons to Boston Battle of Bunker (Breed s) Hill (June 17, 1775) Americans led by General British attacked fort Americans stop 2 advances before yielding on 3d attack 1,000 British killed proved American army could stand up to British Olive Branch Petition (July 1775) Sent to king asking him to stop Parliament s actions and stated American loyalty to Britain King refused to accept petition in August 1775 Declared colonies in rebellion, therefore guilty of treason Hired Hessian mercenaries to fight Americans

4 Invasion of Canada (Fall 1775) Americans believed French Canadians would jump to American side American invasion contradicted claim of defensive war Two American armies, one led by Richard Montgomery, other by Benedict Arnold French Canadians supported British because of Quebec Act and American anti-catholic attitudes British Flee Boston (March 17, 1776) Washington puts cannons from Ticonderoga on Dorchester Heights Forced British General Howe to abandon Boston

5 COMMON SENSE (JANUARY 15, 1776) Written by Thomas Paine Became extremely popular Made the argument why America should be independent Called not only for independence, but a republic as well Allow people to rule for themselves Republicanism Had roots in ancient Greece, Rome and Renaissance Popular with British politicians who want to limit King s power Colonies were receptive Angry at King s treatment Experience with colonial assemblies, town meetings, churches, social mobility Virtue needed for successful government Sacrifice self interest for public good Conservative republicans opposed social equality

6 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Richard Henry Lee proposed resolution for Independence on June 7, 1776 which was passed on July 2, 1776 Congress decides a formal statement of the reasons for independence Thomas Jefferson was the primary writer of the Declaration Tried to state what everyone already believe Relied on common sense logic Addressed the entire world Used phrases from British legal history and natural rights After giving explaining why people may rebel in general he gave long list of specific reasons why Americans SHOULD Concluded by stating America did everything it could to avoid this step Ignored Parliament only focused on King

7 We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of People to alter or abolish it

8 AMERICANS IN REVOLUTION PATRIOTS LOYALISTS Minority of population supported revolution Militia controlled country areas and places where Britain lacked ability to have strong military presence Responsible for educating people about the necessity of the Cause Most common in New England and backcountry areas Also known as Tories About 16% of population Believed they would be rewarded once King won war Tended to be wealthy, educated, businessmen, government and royal officials More in South, New York City, Charleston, New Jersey, Pennsylvania Younger generations More established generations Presbyterians and Congregationalists Anglicans 80,000 leave their property was confiscated when they left

9 FOREIGNERS FIGHTING FOR AMERICA Von Steuben Prussia Taught bayonet and trained army Kosciusko Poland Built fortifications Marquis de Lafayette France General in American Army Pulaski Poland Created Cavalry, helped with tactics Baron de Kalb Germany Army administration, led attack on Charleston, SC

10 Two phases of revolution fighting mostly in North fighting mostly in South, British hoped Loyalists would help

11 Battle of Long Island (August 1776) British army retreat from Boston to NYC in March 1776, British navy arrive July 1776 Washington moved army to NYC after British leave Boston Washington s army was routed and retreated across Manhattan into New Jersey If Britain destroyed army, revolution would have ended Retreat across New Jersey (November- December 1776) many militia deserted enlistments for regular army would end December 31 st Continental Army almost fell apart

12 The Crisis by Thomas Paine Paine wanted to improve morale of troops and support from the public Paine wrote about the importance of staying faithful to the cause during the dark times

13 Crossing the Delaware (December 25, 1776) Washington needed a victory before enlistments lapsed on December 31 to restore faith of troops Decided to attack Trenton, NJ George Washington Crossing the Delaware, 1851 Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, American Battle of Trenton (December 25, 1776) Washington surprised and defeated Hessians Encouraged soldiers to re-enlist Battle of Princeton (January 3, 1777) Washington maneuvered to attack rear of British army in Princeton forced Britain to retreat from New Jersey Victories increased enlistments and morale Revolution was saved

14 Burgoyne s March on Albany (June-October 1777) Purpose of plan was to isolate New England Colonies from the rest of the colonies British Three Part Plan General Burgoyne was to invade from Montreal via Lake Champlain and Hudson River Benedict Arnold had delayed Burgoyne at the Battle of Lake Champlain in late fall of 1776, which forced the British to retreat to winter headquarters in Montreal and postpone invasion until spring of 1777 Lt. Col. St. Leger was to invade along Mohawk River from Western NY General Howe was to invade from NYC along Hudson River

15 Failure of Burgoyne s plan St. Leger Loyalist and Indian allies defeat Americans at Battle of Oriskany British hear Benedict Arnold was arriving with reinforcement Causes St. Leger to abandon fort and stop invasion Howe Decided to chase Washington and attack Philadelphia Defeated Washington at Brandywine and Germantown in 1777 Did not support Burgoyne s invasion of Albany Settled down in Philadelphia instead Burgoyne Marched from Montreal expecting to meet with St. Leger and Howe but moved very slowly Militia used guerilla attacks against Burgoyne along march Burgoyne s army surrounded and defeated by General Horatio Gates at Saratoga (north of Albany) on Oct 17, 1777 Considered turning point of war Britain offers America home rule following the defeat

16 Valley Forge Continental Army spent winter quarters at Valley Forge Most men died of disease, starvation, exposure Symbolizes suffering of colonists during Revolution Washington heard of Saratoga victory at Valley Forge Baron von Steuben used time at Valley Forge to drill and train American soldiers into a professional army

17 AID FROM FRANCE Franklin at Court in France France and Spain wanted to help America to weaken Britain American foreign policy objectives Wanted to end mercantilism and colonialism globally Wanted freedom of seas and trade Rule of law instead of force to govern international relations Reflected American ideals inspired by Enlightenment March 1776, Silas Deane and Ben Franklin sent to France to get help Franklin was very charismatic, played up difference between American values and European Victory at Saratoga convinces French to join on America s side France did not want a negotiated solution to conflict that left Britain in North America February 6, 1778 America and France sign treaty of Alliance Was a military alliance Offered formal recognition of American independence Transforms American Revolution into a world war Improves chances of American victory

18 GLOBAL SPREAD OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION Spain and Netherlands (Holland) join on side of America Armed Neutrality Group of nations (Russia, Denmark-Norway, Sweden, Holy Roman Empire, Prussia, Portugal) Allowed for attacks on British merchant ships Conflict spread to South America, Caribbean and Asia France gave America half of its army and all of its navy following alliance June 1778 British defeated at Monmouth NJ by Washington French presence forced Britain to abandon Philadelphia and retreat to New York City French army arrived summer 1780, lead by Comte de Rochambeau

19 SETBACKS FOR INDEPENDENCE Benedict Arnold July 15, 1780 Arnold offers to turn West Point over to British General John Andre Arnold frustrated because he did not believe he was being recognized for his efforts in American Cause Would give Britain control of Hudson River and cut New England off from other colonies Southern Strategy General Clinton put in charge of British forces Decides to move war to South Believed more loyalists would support British Fewer big battles, slower pace Fighting was bitter neighbors and family fought against each other Georgia conquered Charleston, SC (one of largest colonial cities) fell May 1780 Battle of Camden, SC (August 1780) Battle of Cowpens (Jan 1780), Kings Mountain (Oct 1780) were American victories, begin turning tide in South

20 American Guerilla War Swamp Fox Francis Marion Led guerilla attacks against British strongholds Nathaniel Green and Daniel Morgan Led Continental Army Avoided large battles Slowly broke up British army General George Rogers Clark Battles in Western Frontier British Indian allies attacked American settlements Iroquois Confederacy split Oneida and Tuscaroras support America Seneca, Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga joined British, led by Joseph Brant (Mohawk chief) Believed British victory would slow American settlement in Ohio Valley Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1784) Indians forced to cede most of land to Americans George Rogers Clark led American forces across Ohio Valley Freed lands in Illinois and Indiana Gave America control of West

21 Naval War America had a small navy Mostly small ships and privateers that raided merchant ships and British supply ships Privateering encouraged led to corrupt behavior and encouraged piracy Privateering led to British merchants pressuring Parliament for peace John Paul Jones John Paul Jones Led small group of ships on attacks through Atlantic even raiding British coast Led Bonhomme Richard against RMS Serapis off coast of England Refused call to surrender by staying I have not yet begun to fight

22 Economic Effect of War War create hyper inflation From reduction in trade and use of paper money Continentals was form of currency Became almost worthless American government almost bankrupt Some profited by selling goods to both sides

23 Battle of Yorktown Marquis de Lafayette forced British led by Cornwallis toward Yorktown, VA Cornwallis hoped to be resupplied via sea and the British navy French Navy led by de Grasse blockaded Yorktown from sea Americans led by Washington and French by Rochambeau attack Cornwallis Cornwallis army forced to surrender October 19, 1781 Effectively ended the war Washington had to keep army in field to ensure adequate peace

24 Treaty of Paris 1783 British defeats in America, West Indies, India, Gibraltar, Mediterranean led to collapse of Tory government and rise of pro-american Whig government American delegates Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Jay Agreed to treaty without French against orders from Congress Spain wanted Gibraltar and trans-allegheny area France wanted America weak, so it could be controlled Jay secretly contacted British to arrange a peace treaty Peace Treaty signed September 3, 1783 Britain, France, Spain and United States agreed

25 Treaty of Paris 1783 England recognize US independence US boundaries set at Mississippi River US have trading access to river Americans could fish off Canada America should pay debts owed to Britain Congress agreed to recommend returning Loyalist property

26 Effect of War on Women Women ran farms, businesses and families during war Women supported troops during battle Abigail Adams John Adams wife Gave him information about home front while he was in Congress Molly Pitcher at Battle of Monmouth 1778

27 Effect of War on Blacks British promised freedom to blacks who fought for crown Many slaves joined British Americans eventually allow Blacks to join Continental army Detail from "The Death of Major Pierson," , oil painting by John Singleton Copley depicting a black soldier fighting for the British during the American Revolution. Black soldiers in Dunmore's Royal Ethiopian Regiment had "Liberty to Slaves" embroidered on their uniforms. Tate Gallery

28 Effect of War on Loyalists Fled to western territories 60,000 joined British Army Went to England or Canada Reduced French influence in Canada William Franklin Governor of New Jersey son of Benjamin Franklin Had homes and property taken by Patriots

29 Why Britain Lost Problems communicating across ocean Loyalist support not as strong as expected America had too much land for Britain to occupy and control No single capitol of US America succeeded by making the war long