1. Reasons for Independence –A History Of self rule Virginia House of Burgesses Mayflower Compact –Thomas Paine and a Pamphlet The Man, The Radical! –Befriended Ben Franklin in London –Recent immigrant from England Common Sense –Sold 120,000 copies in 3 months!!!!!! –Appealed to natural Law »‘an island should not rule a continent” –King George was a Brutish and undeserving of colonists’ respect –America had a MORAL OBLIGATION to the world to be independent and democratic

2. Second Continental Congress Declares Independence! –A Committee is created to draft a resolution Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Robert Livingston, & Roger Sherman Jefferson headed the committee and wrote most of the draft –Arguments All people have natural rights –Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness –When a government abuses the rights listed above, the people have a right to “alter or abolish” it –King George has acted tyrannically. Long list of wrongs done by King to colonists. Declaration gave a clear position for rebellious colonists, forcing others to choose rebellion or declare as Loyalists.

3. Reactions to Independence Public celebrations and demonstrations rang out through the colonies among the patriots The Women’s reaction –Abigail Adams took care of her children and the business of the farm –Supported independence, championed women’s rights –“…Remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to the them than your ancestors”.

4. Loyal Subjects to the King…..Loyalists –Colonial Americans opposed to independence –Also known as Tories affiliated with the political party of Lord North –Attacks made on loyalists in the colonies

5. Articles of Confederation Created by the 2 nd Continental Congress in 1777, but not approved by the states until 1781 Congress was dominant force, but it was weakened by rules –All bills required 2/3 vote for passage –Any amendment tot eh Articles required an unanimous vote –Each state had 1 vote regardless of its population or number of representatives in congress –No power to regulate commerce (trade) –No tax enforcement power (states paid taxes voluntarily) The Congress was weak while the states remained strong politically

6. Major and Minor Battles of Importance New York (Brooklyn Heights--Long Island, White Plains ) August 1776 New York U.S. forces forced to retreat to Manhattan, then New Jersey. British General Howe offered generous terms of surrender to the Americans, but they demanded independence and talks broke down. Trenton December 1776 New Jersey Hessian army crushed in Washington's raid across the Delaware River. Casualties: U.S. :4, British: 900 Princeton January 1777New Jersey U.S. recovers New Jersey from British in 10 days. British retreat to New York, where they remain for the war. Brandywine Creek September 1777 & Germantown October 1777 Pennsylvania British seize Philadelphia after these victories. Saratoga October 17, 1777Upstate New York Turning point of war. Convinced French of U.S. strength. Burgoyne surrenders 5800 men. Monmouth June 1778 New Jersey U.S. Army fought British in the longest Battle of the war. Americans Fought to a draw. British continue on to New York http://tvjersey.com/videos/259/

7. Cowpens January 1781 South Carolina Gen. Greene divided his forces and scored a victory over Cornwallis, who had a larger army. Guilford Court House March 1781 North Carolina In fierce fighting, Americans frustrate British, who control Southern cities, but not the rural areas. While winning the field, Cornwallis finally gives up attempt to defeat Greene's army and plans to link up with British supplies and reinforcements in Virginia. Yorktown October 19, 1781Virginia With 7800 French soldiers and the French fleet in the harbor, Washington accepts Cornwallis' surrender as major fighting ends

8. Treaty of Paris American negotiators (Franklin, Jay, John Adams) sought to advance American interests in lengthy negotiations –Original demands were for independence, large territorial concessions (Franklin wanted all of Canada), and fishing rights in North Atlantic. –Americans feared the French and Spanish would bargain with British at the expense of the U.S. – Ignoring the instructions of Congress, they made a separate peace with the British before full negotiations took place.

9. Major provisions –Britain formally recognized independence of U.S. –Boundaries set from Great Lakes on the North to the Mississippi River on the West to Florida on the South. No access to the Gulf of Mexico –No further persecution of Loyalists and restitution for confiscated property "recommended" to states. –Fishing access for Americans in waters off East Canada –No reference to ending slave trade, an original goal of the Americans

10. The follow through –British did recognize American Independence; however they gave little respect to the US. The same from Allies –We had no access to the Gulf of Mexico –British troops continued to occupy outposts and forts in the (old) Northwest Territory (Ohio Country) –Congress never gave any restitution to Loyalists, some 80,000 fled to Nova Scotia, Eastern Canada and England –Many states forbade slavery in their state constitutions but continued to thrive in the agricultural South. Eventually Britain would band slavery in its Empire