American Revolution 1775-1783

The Coming Revolution First “Battle” – Lexington and Concord, Mass. – April 19, 1775 : “Shot Heard Round The World” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6ikO6LMxF4) British troops, under leadership of Thomas Gage, sent to Concord from Boston to arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock and to seize colonial military supplies in Concord. Warned by Paul Revere (in his midnight ride), Adams and Hancock escaped and the Lexington, Massachusetts Militia (the Minutemen) assembled on the Lexington village green to meet the British…not sure who fired the first “shot heard round the world,” but the Americans were forced to retreat and the British kept marching toward Concord, where they destroyed some military supplies. On their way back to Boston, however, the British were attacked and suffered 250 casualties (and humiliation)…Oh, it’s on!

Lexington/Concord

ENTRY #11 Read the two accounts of the Events at Lexington and Concord. Compare and contrast the two articles…how are they similar and how are they different? Which is the Patriot account of events at Lexington and Concord; which is the British account? How do you know?

Patriots Vs. Loyalists Opposing Sides in the debate over war 1. Patriots – in favor of independence, many former Regulators 2. Loyalists/Tories – wanted to remain part of England - political elite, recent immigrants 3. Less of a debate in the North (higher percentage of patriots), BUT in the middle colonies and in the south, there was not as much “patriotism” Ex. the general population of NC was 1/3 Patriot, 1/3 Loyalist, 1/3 Neutral at start of war – majority became Patriot by end of war http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g0UV1kHYSk

The Coming Revolution Second Continental Congress Mecklenburg Resolves – May 31, 1775- proclaimed that "all Laws...derived from the Authority of the King or Parliament, are annulled and vacated," and that the Provincial government "under the Great Continental Congress is invested with all legislative and executive Powers...and that no other Legislative or Executive does or can exist, at this Time, in any of these Colonies.“ Second Continental Congress May-June, 1775 – Philadelphia Created a Continental Army (“Declaration of the Causes and Necessities for Taking Up Arms”) Chose George Washington as Commander-n-Chief of the Continental Army C. Olive Branch Petition

Declaring Independence Common Sense – published January 9, 1776 Written by Thomas Paine (but published anonymously) First written work to state that the colonies should be independent … a runaway bestseller!!! Paine's arguments against British rule in the American Colonies: It was absurd for an island to rule a continent. America was not a "British nation"; but was composed of influences and peoples from all of Europe. Even if Britain were the "mother country” of America, that made her actions all the more horrendous, for no mother would harm her children so brutally. Being a part of Britain would drag America into unnecessary European wars, and keep her from the international commerce at which America excelled. The distance between the two nations made governing the colonies from England unwieldy. If some wrong were to be petitioned to Parliament, it would take a year before the colonies received a response. The New World was discovered shortly before the Reformation. The Puritans believed that God wanted to give them a safe haven from the coming persecution of British rule. Britain ruled the colonies for her own benefit, and did not consider the best interests of the colonists in governing Britain. Declaration of Independence A. Approved by Second Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776—signed by John Hancock President of the 2nd Continental Congress B. Not signed until August 2nd, 1776 C. Contained three main ideas 1. All men possess Unalienable Rights 2. England had violated the colonists’ rights 3. Colonies had the right to break away from England

Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775 (NOTE: Second Continental Congress still in session and debating; Declaration of Independence yet to be finalized) First “real” battle of the Revolutionary War On the Outskirts of Boston, on Breed’s Hill (oops, battle incorrectly named) British actually won the battle, but Americans (Massachusetts Militia) claimed an emotional victory, having inflicted heavy casualties on the British

The Prohibitory Act August, 1775 Parliamentary response to the Olive Branch Petition Declared the colonies to be in rebellion, and closed all American Ports. Effectively the British Declaration of War Later, Parliament forbade all trade with the American colonies

Halifax Resolves – April 12, 1776 – Resolution adopted by North Carolina on April 12, 1776. The adoption of the resolution was the first official action in the American Colonies calling for independence from Great Britain during the American Revolution. The Halifax Resolves helped pave the way for the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence less than three months later. Some Trivia: Two dates on North Carolina’s state flag May 20, 1775=Mecklenburg Resolves April 12, 1776=Halifax Resolves

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE A. Approved by Second Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776—signed then by John Hancock, President of the 2nd Continental Congress B. Not signed by all 56 signators until August 2, 1776 C. Written by Thomas Jefferson – originally contained a clause outlawing slavery – southerners would not approve D. Thus, the Declaration of Independence did not address the rights of slaves or women – New England states abolished slavery on their own by 1784 Signers from NC – William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn Signers of the Declaration of Independence were legally committing treason, a crime which was punishable by death.

Signing of Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson

ENTRY # 12 Read the Declaration of Independence Make a list of 4-5 Main Ideas

Declaration of Independence MAIN IDEAS: 1. All men possess Unalienable Rights (God-given rights that can not be taken away) a.   Life b.  Liberty c.  Pursuit of happiness 2. The People establish governments to protect those rights…Instead, Great Britain had violated the colonists’ rights 3. Since government derives power from the people, the people have a right, and a duty, to change a government that violates their rights. 4. Therefore the colonies were declaring their independence from Great Britain

Advantages at the Outset of the War British Professional soldiers and officers Best army in world Best navy in world More financial resources Almost 60,000 American loyalists fought on the side of the British (20-30% of colonial support) American Fighting for a cause** (Home & Independence) Support of about 40% of the colonial population Fighting on their own land Approximately 5,000 African Americans fought as Patriots, having been promised freedom

War in the North 1775-1776 – British won most battles: Low points of war for Patriots: Winter of 1776: lost NYC (Britain maintained control of New York City and some of the surrounding territory until the war ended in 1783; thousand of Americans will spend the war as POWs in British ships) September, 1777: lost Philadelphia Retreat to Valley Forge Winter of 1777-1778: at Valley Forge, Pa (starvation, exposure, dysentery, smallpox; also had not been paid for months) – 2500 American Soldiers dead by February, 1778 Bright spot: Battle of Trenton – December 25/26, 1777 A morale boost in the midst of defeat 1000 Hessians (German mercenaries taken prisoner replenishment of colonial troops and weapons

Battle of Saratoga Turning point of war in the North: Battle of Saratoga October 17, 1777; upstate New York British forces from Canada trying to link up with other British forces marching from the West and South Defeated British plan to split the colonies in half (New England from the other colonies), when British forced to surrender Encouraged France and Spain to join the Patriots against England Alliance with France in 1778 sent supplies, money, troops, navy – key to American victory

Valley Forge Marquis De Lafayette - led the French forces at Yorktown Steuben - trained the Americans at Valley Forge

War in the South After Saratoga (turning point of the war), British focused on the southern colonies (Virginia and the Carolinas) – because more loyalists in South British were successful at first, winning most southern battles Patriots resorted to Guerilla warfare – hit and run, (terrorist-style) – Francis “the Swamp Fox” Marion Nathanael Greene became commander of Continental Army in the South British were commanded by Charles Cornwallis – who decided to move north through North Carolina to meet main British army further North. Battle of Guilford Courthouse March 15, 1781 Greene moved to NC and waited for Cornwallis at Guilford County Courthouse (now Greensboro) British won, but were badly weakened— 1/4 of British troops dead or badly wounded

End of War Cornwallis was surrounded by American and French armies & French navy at Yorktown, Virginia British surrendered on October 20, 1781 – last major battle of war British people, discouraged by loss at Yorktown, decided war was not worth the cost ($ and loss of life) Treaty of Paris signed 1783: Treaty of Paris Britain recognized US as independent Borders defined N/S/W/E Americans to pay debts owed to British merchants and honor Loyalist claims to confiscated property American fishing rights off coast of Canada