1. Essential Questions:
What was the more precipitating factor that led to the outbreak of war between the American colonies & England: political or economic stress?
What factors caused the British to fail in what should have been an easy campaign to subdue the American rebels?
Lesson Plan for Tuesday, August 4, 2007 (Monday is Labor Day): Students will turn in DBQ#1, American Revolution Notes, “Women in Am Rev” doc analysis to conclude class, give “Effects of Am Rev” reading for HW

2. The Decision to Fight For Independence

3. Decision for Independence
The Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill) demonstrated that Americans were willing to stand up to a pitched battle
The Lexington & Concord skirmish was the 1st of a series of conflicts before the American call for independence from 1775 to 1776:
Fighting erupted around Boston, NY, Charlestown, & Quebec
The 2nd Continental Congress met to organize a war plan
King George declared the colonists in “open rebellion”
In early 1776, both Spain & France began shipping war supplies to colonists
Despite growing calls for independence, the congress issued the Olive Branch Petition to King George in July 1775
King George rejected the Olive Branch Petition in August 1775 20

4. Decision for Independence
By 1776, the 2nd Continental Congress served as an informal national gov’t for the colonies
But the majority of colonists were undecided about independence
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense proved to be the key factor in convincing Americans to support colonial independence
Challenged “royal infallibility”
Persuaded ordinary people to sever ties with England & its “royal brute” 20

5. Decision for Independence
On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted for independence
On July 4, the Declaration of Independence was issued to:
Justify the Americans’ desire to separate from England
Articulate the principles on which the new nation would be established
Democratic ideals (republicanism)
Natural rights & individual liberty

6. Declaration of Independence (1776)

7. The Decision for Independence
The colonies divided:
Supporters of independence were called “Patriots” or “Whigs”
Colonists that opposed independence were called “Loyalists” or “Tories”
There were many “neutral” colonists who were conflicted by the prospect of independence

8. Patriots vs. Loyalists Where are the Loyalists?
Why does it make sense that the Loyalists would be near cities?

9. Fighting the War for Independence

10. American Strengths and Weaknesses
The colonists are fighting for independence
George Washington can inspire his men to fight
France will aid the colonies with weapons, supplies and their navy

11. Patriots and Loyalists
Patriots were colonists who supported the break from England.
Loyalists are colonials who support England.
Colonists are divided as to whether or not they should rebel against England!

12. American Strengths and Weaknesses
The colonists are not a trained army
Colonists enlist for months instead of years
Short on money, weapons and supplies to fight a war

13. British Strengths and Weaknesses
The British have an experienced professional army
Outnumber the Continental Army
The British army is well supplied with equipment and weapons

14. British Strengths and Weaknesses
The British are not fighting for a cause
British officers are careless and poor leaders
The British have a to cross the Atlantic Ocean to send men and supplies for the war
The support at homes is rather weak

15. The Strategy of War American Colonies Britain
Keep the Colonial Army together
Washington seeks to stretch the British army away from supply lines
Harass the enemy, defeat the British in a major battle
Get allies to help win!
Britain
Seeks to destroy the Colonial Army
Regain control of the colonies by region
Take the fight to the Colonial Army using European war tactics
Use loyalists support against the colonies

16. The Outbreak of Revolution
The British entered the war confident of a complete victory:
Their army was 400% larger; well-trained solders, experienced officers, & Hessian mercenaries
Strong manufacturing base
The world’s most dominant navy
Believed the 1776 battles were a “police action” & the show of force would force rebels to submit 21

17. The Outbreak of Revolution
In reality, England faced an impossible task:
Their long supply lines across the Atlantic would not be able to provide timely provisions
The American terrain was large
To win, the English had to find & defeat the Continental Army
Underestimated the colonial commitment to independence

18. The American Revolution, 1775-1781
Where was the American Revolution fought?

19. Building a Professional Army
Washington’s task was to defend as much territory as possible:
Relied on guerrilla tactics & avoided all-out-war with Britain
Washington’s Continental Army served as the symbol of the “republican cause”
But, colonial militias played a major role in “forcing” neutrals to support the Revolution
As long as England did not defeat the Continental Army, England could not win
But Washington avoided “general actions” (all-out war) against Britain; understood importance of keeping Continental Army intact

20. Slaves & Indians in the War
The Continental Army had 2 all-black regiments composed of Northern slaves
Black slaves supported whoever seemed likely to deliver freedom:
Northern slaves supported the colonists who offered freedom for any slave who fought
Southern slaves typically supported Britain
Native Americans feared colonial expansion & overwhelmingly supported Britain

21. Women in the War Women’s role in the revolution:
Supported their husbands & sons in enlisting in militias
Ran business affairs & continued boycotting English goods while men fought (i.e. Abigail Adams)
Created propaganda (political satires by Mercy Otis Warren)
Some helped in the battlefield (“Molly Pitcher”)

22. The Early Years:
The initial battles of the revolution went badly for Americans:
British General Howe forced Washington to retreat at New York putting the Americans on the run
Gen Howe issued a “general pardon” to all Americans who swore an oath of allegiance to George III; thousands did so
Colonial militias retaliated against those who deserted the patriot cause 22

23. The Early Years:
Howe captured New York
Captured Philadelphia
The British strategy remained to fight a “major & decisive” battle; but Continental Army was elusive
Despite British victories & 1,000s of colonial “oaths of allegiance”, Washington kept fighting
Won small victories that renewed American wartime morale
“Won” at Saratoga in 1777
Washington’s army almost starved at Valley Forge
Took Trenton
Took Princeton 24

24. The French Alliance
A lot of these points were negotiated by none other than Ben Franklin
And…England now has to worry about a possible (yet remote) invasion of England by France
Since 1775, the French covertly aided Americans with supplies
But after the “victory” at Saratoga:
France recognized America as a new, independent republic
France promised to pressure England to agree to American independence after war’s end
France relinquished all of its claims to territory in America
The turning point of the war!!
In 1778, England offered to remove all parliamentary legislation & vowed never to impose revenue taxes on the colonists again
The Continental Congress refused the offer 25

25. The Final Campaign
By 1781, Washington pushed the Redcoats towards Yorktown (VA) where General Cornwallis was caught between the Continental Army & the French navy
On October 19, 1781 Cornwallis surrendered; the English still controlled NY & Charles Town but the fighting virtually ended 26

26. The Loyalist Dilemma
Loyalists believed in liberty too, but feared that independence would breed anarchy in America
Loyalists were treated poorly:
The English never fully trusted the Loyalists
Patriots seized their property; imprisoned & executed others
More than 100,000 Loyalists left America when the war ended 27

27. The Treaty of Paris, 1783

28. The Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris in 1783 was negotiated with England by Franklin, John Adams, John Jay
The terms included:
Full American independence
All territory east of Mississippi River, between Canada & FL
The removal of the British army from U.S. claims in America
Fishing rights in the Atlantic 28

29. North America after the Treaty of Paris, 1763

30. North America after the Treaty of Paris, 1783

31. Preserving Independence
After 176 years of British rule, the American Revolution began the construction of a new form of government
But...will the new United States be a government of the elite or a government of the people?
Next: To what degree did 1776 bring about a social revolution? 29