Chapter 7

The American Revolution

(1774-1783)

Chapter 7The American Revolution

(1774-1783)

Section 1

The Revolution Begins

The First Continental Congress First Continental Congress met September 1774 in

Philadelphia 56 delegates including John and Samuel Adams Georgia was the only colony that did not send

representatives John Dickinson believed peace should be made with

Britain; Patrick Henry said there was no way to avoid a fight

Compromise = colonists continue to boycott British goods but colonial militias warned to be prepared to fight

Assembled a list of 10 resolutions to present to King George III – Declaration of Rights listed freedoms they believed they should have; agreed to meet again in May 1775 if the king did not agree

The “Shot Heard round the World”

Local militia members called themselves “minutemen” – ready to fight on a minute’s notice

April 1775 – British General Thomas Gage decided to take away minutemen’s weapons and ammunition (stored in Concord)

Sons of Liberty learned of plan – Paul Revere and William Dawes warned minutemen that the British were coming (April 18th)

April 19th – around 70 minutemen gathered in Lexington near Concord; met much larger group of British troops

The “Shot Heard Round the World” continuedNo one knows who fired the first shot (“shot

heard round the world”) but it caused fighting to begin Battle ended in minutes; 8 colonists dead, 10

wounded British marched to Concord where they found few

weapons (colonists had already moved them); set fire to a few buildings

Colonists called British “redcoats” because of the color of their coats; made easy targets

News of the fighting angered and shocked many colonists

The Second Continental Congress

May 1775 – representatives from 12 of the colonies (excluding Georgia) met in Philadelphia; convened after the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord

Had to decide how to react to fighting; decided not to break away from Britain

Made plans to create a Continental Army to defend the colonies – chose George Washington to command this army – did not know if he could build a strong enough army

Olive Branch Petition – July 5, 1775 – offer of peace; rejected by King George III; Washington already gathering troops Fighting in the colonies spread

Early Battles

Fort Ticonderoga in Northern New York – guarded access to Lake Champlain (a key waterway) Effort led by Colonel Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen May 10 1775 – surprise attack during early morning storm Took fort, large supply of weapons

Minutemen held Boston under siege – by using Boston’s hills for attacks and defense

Battle of Bunker Hill – colonists built up defenses on Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill to protect Boston from the British Most of the fighting took place on Breed’s Hill Showed colonists could hold their own against the British

Washington drove the British out of Boston (birthplace of the rebellion)

Chapter 7The American Revolution

(1774-1783)

Section 2

Declaring Independence

Paine’s Common Sense Thomas Paine argued for breaking away from

Great Britain in his pamphlet Common Sense Became popular because of message and style –

common person speaking to common people (allowed him to reach wider audience)

Stated system of monarchy was not fair – people, not kings and queens, should make the laws

Stated colonies should demand their independence Idea of independence gained more and more

supporters

Declaring Independence June 1776, Second Continental Congress created a

committee to write a document declaring the colonies’ independence

Committee members = John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman Thomas Jefferson = main author

Declaration of Independence expressed 3 main ideas Unalienable rights – “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness;”

inspired by John Locke King George III had violated colonists’ rights Colonies had the right to break away from Britain

July 4, 1776 – continental congress approved the Declaration of Independence; broke all ties to British Crown; United States of America = born; full-scale revolution

Choosing SidesPatriots – colonists who chose to fight for

independenceLoyalists (Tories) – colonists who

remained loyal to Great Britain Believed British rule was best way to maintain

peace and prosperity

Loyalists became targets of abuse by Patriots – remaining in the colonies became more difficult once the Declaration of Independence was signed Fled country – most went to Canada

Other Reactions to the Declaration

Some pointed out the Declaration ignored many colonists Did not address the rights of women

Issue worried Abigail Adams (wife of John Adams) Did not recognize rights of enslaved African Americans

Slavery was legal in all colonies First draft of declaration attacked slave trade, but removed

at insistence of southern colonies Raised questions about whether slavery should exist in place

that values liberty

Massachusetts abolished slavery in 1783; by 1784 the rest of New England had taken steps to end slavery

Chapter 7The American Revolution

(1774-1783)

Section 3

Dark Hours for the Revolution

Comparing Strengths and WeaknessesBritish seemed much stronger at the beginning

More money and resources Powerful military; navy was the largest in the world; soldiers

were mostly well-trained professionals

Colonies No navy at all Army made up of poorly trained local militias – few had ever

fought together Advantages

Many Americans supported the revolution – British army had to deal with hostile citizens

British had to ship supplies across the Atlantic Patriots were fighting for a cause that they believed in

(some British soldiers were mercenaries, or hired foreign soldiers)

A Call to ArmsWashington’s first task was to organize and

raise more troops for the Continental ArmyMore than 230,000 serve during the course of the

war; 145,000 joined local militiasFew volunteers had combat experienceWashington faced with question of whether to recruit

African Americans Many already serving in local militias Many southerners did not want to include black soldiers –

Washington soon banned them from serving in the army Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation – Virginia’s

governor promised freedom to any slave who fought for the British In response, the Continental Army began allowing free

African Americans to enlist

Other Sources of Help

American Indians fought on both sides; Patriots tried to persuade them to remain neutral in the war

Mohawk leader Thayendanegea – one of Great Britain’s key allies; a/k/a Joseph Brant

Women also helped the Patriot cause Ran farms and businesses while men were away Raised money for supplies or joined sewing groups Served as messengers, spies, or nurses Mary Ludwig Hayes (Molly Pitcher) – woman best

known for wartime service; brought water to thirsty troops

British Victories American military leaders wanted to invade British

Canada and make it a “14th colony” Patriots defeated in Canada and New York General Richard Montgomery led Patriots to take the

town of St. John’s, Canada; captured Montreal General Benedict Arnold and Montgomery brought

troops together and planned attack of Quebec Attacked during snowstorm on New Year’s Eve Americans defeated; Montgomery killed

General William Howe led the British to drive the Patriots off of Long Island 6 months after Patriot defeat at Quebec Forced Continental Army, led by Washington, to keep

retreating – pushing them out of New York

Chapter 7The American Revolution

(1774-1783)

Section 4

The Patriots Gain New Hope

Victory in New Jersey General Howe sent troops to New Jersey in November 1776

Thought war would be over soon Confident over victories in Canada and NYC, he gave troops

a rest, settled in New York City for the winter, leaving New Jersey in hands of Hessians (German mercenaries hired to fight for the British)

Howe’s delay allowed Washington to gather reinforcements Washington and men crossed the Delaware River on

Christmas night 1776 Battle of Trenton – American victory – surprise attack

Lasted less than an hour Patriot forces captured more than 900 Hessians with just 5

American casualties Battle of Princeton – American victory – surprise attack

Turning Point at SaratogaDefeat at Trenton and Princeton

embarrassed the BritishPlanned to cut New England off from rest

of coloniesPlan called for British troops to take back

Fort Ticonderoga – led by General John Burgoyne Would march south after capturing fort 2nd force would march east from Lake Ontario

and General Howe’s troops in NYC would move north

All three would join together in Albany, NY

Turning Point at Saratoga (continued) Burgoyne captured Ticonderoga by early July but route to

NY covered with fallen trees (cut by colonists) – slowed him down

General Howe decided to attack Philadelphia before marching to Albany

Battle of Brandywine Creek – Washington vs. Howe; British victory, but his delay left General Burgoyne’s army badly outnumbered

Burgoyne did not know that Howe and force from western Canada were both late Made it to Albany, but was severely outnumbered

Battle of Saratoga – American victory (greatest yet); patriot troops led by Horatio Gates; Burgoyne’s entire army captured; British shifted their focus to the Southern colonies Win greatly boosted morale and led to increased foreign support for

the Patriots

Foreign Allies France and Spain had been secretly helping the Patriots 1776 – Patriots sent several delegates to France, including

Benjamin Franklin, to increase French support Victory at Saratoga convinced France that America

could win the war May 1778 – Continental Congress approved alliance with

France Spain joined the war against Britain in 1779

Provided much of their help on the western frontier Bernardo de Galvez (governor of Spanish Louisiana) was key ally

to the Patriots Marquis de Lafayette – fought and gave money to the

patriot cause (beginning in 1777); Washington was impressed by his passion for the Patriot cause

Officers from Poland aided the Patriot cause by donating their army engineering and cavalry skills to the army

Winter at Valley ForgeWashington settled his troops at Valley Forge,

Pennsylvania in December 1777 Suffered shortages of food and clothing During that winter, 1/5 of soldiers died of disease and

malnutritionBy the end of winter, troops were frustratedBaron Friedrich von Steuben came to the aid of

Washington Led with combination of respect and fear Taught American troops basic military skills Drills worked – turned Continental Army into well-trained

group of soldiers

The War at Sea Continental Congress created the Continental Navy and

marines in 1775 By February 1776, navy only had 8 fighting ships Small fleet was no match for larger British fleet Patriots tried to attack individual British ships; attacked

British supply ports and merchant ships John Paul Jones – one of the most successful American

captains One of his most famous victories was against the British warship Serapis

“I have not yet begun to fight!” British surrendered

Continental Navy used fewer than 100 ships during the war

Chapter 7The American Revolution

(1774-1783)

Section 5

Independence!

The War in the West

George Rogers Clark explored and mapped the frontier; made plan to capture some small forts and Indian villages Goal = build army while weakening the British Gathered soldiers from small towns

First target = British trading village of Kaskaskia – would give the Patriots control of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers Surprised leaders of Kaskaskia – they surrendered without a

fight (July 4, 1778) Battle of Vincennes – recaptured this town from the

British in late February 1779 Never able to capture Fort Detroit (Britain’s major

base on the frontier) Efforts greatly weakened British army in the West

The War In The South General Henry Clinton led British campaign in the South Strategy of freeing slaves who joined them worked well in the South Quamino Dolly – Georgian slave who showed the British a secret

trail to the port city of Savannah – used to capture the city 2nd major city to fall to the British = Charleston, SC British destroyed Patriot property as they marched through the south One of the most serious Patriot defeats was at Camden, SC

led by Horatio Gates Lost their southern army

Southern Patriots did not stop fighting; switched to guerrilla warfare – became known for swift hit-and-run attacks

Francis Marion – “Swamp Fox” – organized a group of guerrilla soldiers that destroyed British communication and supply lines

Victory at Yorktown

Early 1781, war going poorly for the Patriots Low on money to pay soldiers and buy supplies Entry of foreign allies had not ended the war quickly British controlled much of the South Benedict Arnold turned traitor

General George Cornwallis moved British troops to Yorktown, VA (peninsula bounded by Chesapeake Bay and the James and York Rivers) Prepared to attack a small patriot force led by Marquis de Lafayette

George Washington was in New York planning strategy with French General Comte de Rochambeau Had recently arrived in NY with a large French Army

Washington saw chance to trap Cornwallis As French fleet was taking control of Chesapeake Bay, Washington and

Rochambeau moved their troops south and surrounded Cornwallis’s forces Patriots held Yorktown under siege for weeks

Steadily wore down British defenses Cornwallis surrendered – marched out of Yorktown on October 20, 1781 Lord North (British Prime Minister) was shocked – “It is all over!”

The Treaty of Paris

Patriots captured the largest British army in North America at Yorktown

June 1781 – committee from the Continental Congress began peace negotiations with the British American delegates were John Adams, Benjamin

Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens Treaty of Paris of 1783 – Great Britain

recognized the independent United States Set the nation’s new borders – Great Lakes

bounded the North; Mississippi River = western border; 31º North latitude = southern border

British accepted American rights to settle and trade west of the original 13 colonies