Fighting between American and British troops convince most colonists that they should seek independence from England.

SLIDE 1 Chapter 7: The War for Independence 1775 1783 The battle for American independence wins popular support in Georgia and the colonies. The Continental Army faces harsh conditions, but eventually defeats the British. SLIDE 2 Section 1: Moving Toward Independence Section 2: Declaring Independence Section 3: Fighting for Independence SLIDE 3 Section 1: Moving Toward Independence Fighting between American and British troops convince most colonists that they should seek independence from England. SLIDE 4 Section 1: Moving Toward Independence The Second Continental Congress Forming the Continental Army Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia, May 1775 Georgia had not joined Continental Association trade boycott - Continental Congress cuts off trade with Georgia Delegates vote to create Continental Army on June 14, 1775 Name George Washington commander; accepts post without pay - former British officer in French and Indian War SLIDE 5 Georgia Takes Action Patriots Rebel Georgia Patriots discuss Massachusetts events at Noble W. Jones home - plan first act of rebellion in Georgia - Noble and other Patriots steal 600 pounds of gunpowder Governor Wright realizes loss of control, writes to England for aid Patriots intercept letter; forgery sent saying situation under control SLIDE 6 1

Continued Georgia Takes Action The Second Provincial Congress Convenes Georgia s second provincial congress opens July 4, 1775 Ten of 12 parishes represented, 102 delegates - vote to join Continental Association boycott - form Council of Safety to coordinate boycott with other colonies - elect five representatives to Second Continental Congress Claim rights as British subjects and threaten independence SLIDE 7 The Battle of Bunker Hill Don t Fire Until You See the Whites of Their Eyes Patriot militia take Bunker, Breed s Hill outside Boston British attack Breed s Hill with 2,200 soldiers, June 1775 American Colonel Prescott orders not to fire until at close range Americans lose, but British lose 10 times as many men Battle of Bunker Hill proves Americans can stand up to British SLIDE 8 A Last Attempt at Peace Olive Branch Petition Congress drafts Olive Branch Petition asking to restore peace (1775) Adopts Declaration of the Causes and Necessities of Taking Up Arms - written by Thomas Jefferson - colonists would rather die than accept English enslavement King George III rejects petition, announces new acts to punish colonies - blocks American ports - sends 10,000 Hessians hired German soldiers to fight SLIDE 9 Fighting Spreads Through the Colonies Battle of Moores Creek North Carolina s militia plan to meet British near Wilmington Patriots remove planks from Moores Creek Bridge; grease supports - surprise Loyalist troops, 50 killed, 850 captured in three-minute battle The British Retreat From Boston Continental Army surrounds British in Boston; neither side backs down 2

Americans send 50 heavy cannons from New York s Fort Ticonderoga British see cannons; 9,000 soldiers retreat to Canada SLIDE 10 Continued Fighting Spreads Through the Colonies The Battle of the Rice Boats in Georgia Georgia s first battle in March 1776 English fleet in Savannah for supplies; Wright wants cooperation British want nearby rice boats; colonists burn ships instead British sail away, taking Wright; royal government ends in Georgia Council of Safety, Committee of Thirty take control of colony SLIDE 11 Common Sense is Published Booklet Changes Opinions Most Americans still do not want to break away from England Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense in January 1776 - pamphlet explains Patriot point of view; urges independence Many colonists change minds after reading SLIDE 12 Section 2: Declaring Independence The Declaration of Independence states the colonies intention to be free of British control. SLIDE 13 Section 2: Declaring Independence The Decision for Independence Continental Congress Debates Continental Congress undecided on independence, appoints committee Thomas Jefferson chosen to write a Declaration of Independence - Jefferson from Virginia colony s support is critical for success - excellent writer Ben Franklin, John Adams make minor changes Debate resumes, seven colonies including Georgia favor independence Button Gwinnett, George Walton, Lyman Hall are Georgia s delegates SLIDE 14 3

Continued The Decision for Independence The Colonies Agree Independence resolution passes second vote July 2; New York abstains Congress makes two changes to Declaration of Independence Does not want Declaration to blame British people; Jefferson agrees Slavery Threatens Their Unity Congress deletes passage blaming King George III for slave trade - passage offends Georgia, South Carolina, New England shippers - passage removed against Jefferson s wishes SLIDE 15 Continued The Decision for Independence Congress Accepts the Declaration Declaration of Independence adopted July 4, 1776 Read publicly four days later to cheers and celebration Sons of Liberty in New York destroy King George III statue - melt statue, use for bullets SLIDE 16 Signing the Declaration of Independence The Cost of Signing Document officially signed August 2; John Hancock first to sign Remaining delegates signed in order of votes by colony, north to south - Georgia s Walton, Gwinnett, Hall are last to sign Signers expect to be hanged as traitors, but none killed by British Homes of twenty signers damaged or destroyed - many become poor by war s end; sell property to help war effort SLIDE 17 Section 3: Fighting for Independence The poorly trained and equipped Continental Army defeat a much stronger British army to win independence for America. SLIDE 18 Section 3: Fighting for Independence 4

War in the Middle States Fighting in New York March 1776, British general Howe s troops flee Boston, go to Canada Washington expects attack on New York; sends army to Long Island Howe, Hessians arrive in New York in July; reinforcements come in August After months of fighting, Washington retreats to Pennsylvania - many of his soldiers die in battle SLIDE 19 Continued War in the Middle States A Desperate Situation Washington s troops discouraged, many desert army, only 3,000 remain Howe waits for spring, does not follow Washington into Pennsylvania Thomas Paine writes The American Crisis to promote the cause - series of pamphlets urging soldiers not to give up SLIDE 20 Continued War in the Middle States Washington Crosses the Delaware Washington needs victory to raise troop morale - also running out of time enlistments end December 31 Christmas 1776, Washington crosses Delaware River into New Jersey Americans enter Trenton at daybreak, surprise Hessian soldiers Hessians surrender gunpowder is wet, unusable; commander killed Victory encourages soldiers, attracts Continental Army recruits SLIDE 21 War at Sea Continental Navy Forms Over 400 British ships off American coast; small battles at sea Early in war, private ships allowed to attack British supply ships Accused of being pirates, but become first ships in Continental Navy -navy grows to 12 warships; some states have own navies John Paul Jones becomes first American naval hero Wins sea battle September 23, 1779 against world s best navy SLIDE 22 5

European Allies for the Patriots French Aid Jones delivers news of victories to France in 1777 For two years France had been secretly aiding colonies; now openly Marquis de Lafayette French noble, volunteers in Washington s army - convinces France to send 6,000-man army; hero to Americans, French Casimir Pulaski Count Casimir Pulaski of Poland also assists in Revolution - killed at Battle of Savannah, October 9, 1779 SLIDE 23 War in the South War in Georgia Americans don t give up despite losses; British turn south British take Savannah December 1778, then Sunbury, Midway, Augusta - Creek help British gain control over most of Georgia Fighting Comes to the Backcountry Patriots determined, continue fighting British in occupied Georgia Battle of Kettle Creek attack on Loyalist militia, February 1779 - South Carolina, Georgia Patriots beat Loyalists, lose just 9 men SLIDE 24 The British Try to Take the South General Cornwallis is in charge of taking North Carolina, Virginia British not used to hot, humid summers; Cornwallis postpones attack Delay lets North Carolina militia prepare, slow down British Small battles move British further from their supplies at coast British eventually forced to retreat to get supplies - Georgia, South Carolina back in American control SLIDE 25 The End of the War Battle of Yorktown Most fighting in Virginia in 1781; Cornwallis based at Yorktown - Yorktown on peninsula in Chesapeake Bay; ships deliver supplies Washington has French fleet block bay, traps British in Yorktown Washington moves south; French, Americans fire cannons on city 6

Cornwallis surrenders at Battle of Yorktown on October 19, 1781 - last major battle, though some fighting continues SLIDE 26 Continued The End of the War The War Ends in Georgia Americans reclaim Augusta, June 1781; British leave Backcountry British leave Savannah in 1782; postwar years bring prosperity The Treaty of Paris War officially ends with Treaty of Paris in 1783 Negotiations include recognition of nation and its boundaries SLIDE 27 From Colonies to States The Articles of Confederation War teaches colonies that their strength is greater when together Articles of Confederation hold the 13 new states together Country quickly outgrows Articles of Confederation - needs stronger Constitution to unite Americans 7