– Key People & Key Battles Chapter 4 - “A World Turned Upside Down”

Warm Up Activity: Use a half sheet of notebook paper Americans: List two weaknesses and two strengths of the American forces: The British: List two weaknesses and two strengths of the British forces:

To Late to Apologize: A Declaration You Tube Video Clip

Benjamin Franklin  American Renaissance Man, Elderly by this time.  Scientist, printer, ambassador to France, inventor, writer, statesman.  Very respected, very involved in politics.  Major contributor to Declaration of Independence and writer of Constitution.

Thomas Jefferson  Wealthy plantation owner Virginia, Monticello  Spoke 5 languages, brilliant mind in all subjects.  Main writer of Decl. of Ind. and Constitution.  Governor of Virginia, later 3 rd. US President.  Founded University of VA

Samuel Adams  Leader of Sons of Liberty, from Boston.  Very Vocal opponent of British Taxes and Rule.  Very involved in Politics, brewing beer was a very minor role.

John Hancock  Merchant (smuggler) and Politician from Massachusetts.  One of Wealth men in 13 colonies.  Famous Signature on Decl. of Ind. (large).

Declaration of Independence  Based on ideas of Enlightenment.  John Locke philosophy (natural rights / Life, liberty, property).  Pushed by John Adams, mainly written by Thomas Jefferson.  Ratified July 4, 1776

Some Key Battles of the War Most of the fighting was done in the summer months. Winter – too rainy, roads are too muddy to move troops and supplies. Sickness is rampant in both armies during cold months.

The Battle of Bunker Hill June 16,1775 Fought outside Boston. It is a fortified area on Breed’s Hill filled with several thousand colonists. The battle shows that the colonists will fight and that the British are beatable! Famous quote, “Don’t fire till you see The whites of their eyes!”

A personal view of the American Revolution “The ball first cut off the head of Smith, a stout heavy man, and dashed it open, then took Taylor across the bowels; it then struck Sergeant Garret of our company on the hip, took off the point of the hip bone. Oh, What a sight it was to see within a distance of six rods those men with their legs and arms and guns and packs all in a heap!” Connecticut Soldier, 1777

The Battle of Saratoga, August- October 1777 Large British army is bogged down with luggage in dense woods of Northern New York colony The British are harassed by colonial guerilla forces and end up stretching their supply lines through forest. Very slow progress with all their wagons in woods. The British will eventually surrender (6000 men, 27 cannon, 5000 arms) to the Colonial forces led by General Horatio Gates Saratoga is important because it is a major defeat for the British and shows the French that the colonies may be able to win the war. This battle is highlighted in America “The Story of US, Episode 2 – Revolution.”

Winter at Valley Forge  Forced to stay close to keep British in Philadelphia area, Washington is forced to spend winter of 1777 – 1778 at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.  11,000 troops with little to no supplies or shelter.  Small Pox breaks out, Washington makes a controversial move to try and inoculate troops.  Bring in Prussian commander to train troops, helped become professional army…

Washington Crosses the Delaware  Having retreated for the past six months, Washington needed a victory to keep his men.  He crossed the frozen Delaware River Christmas night to surprise the British that held Trenton, New Jersey. Defeated the Hessians who held the position.  Very gutsy move, captured 1000 Hessians with only 4 colonial deaths, but had to withdraw.  Boosted moral of colonial forces.

Washington Crosses the Delaware

Gen. John Burgoyne: Surrender to Gates, 1777

A personal view of the American Revolution “ The men that was wounded in the thigh or leg, they dashed out their brains with their muskets and run them through with their bayonets, made them like sieves. This was barbarity to the utmost.” Sergeant New Jersey Regiment, 1778

The Battle of Saratoga, August- October 1777 Saratoga is considered the turning point of the war. The French will begin to supply arms, men and their navy to help the colonies.

The Battle of Yorktown, October 1781 The Americans and the French will corner the British on a small peninsula and bombard them with cannon fire. The British will surrender and end the American Revolution. The colonists will win the American Revolution with this victory. Video Clip – America’s Final Victory 1781

The Battle of Yorktown, October 1781

Several key battles were fought in the Carolinas

The Treaty of Paris, 1783 THE WAR ENDS WITH THESE CONDITIONS “free, sovereign and independent states” British must remove all troops from forts Boundary for United States is the Mississippi Loyalist would have rights and property protected captured slaves must be returned to owners