1. What were America’s Advantages and Disadvantages going into the war?
Warm Up:
You are going to a fight, the 6’5” muscle bound heavy-weight champion of the world is fighting against an unknown who has never been in a fight and looks like he hasn’t eaten in a month. Who is your money on and why?

2. Advantages Leadership Fighting a defensive war on their own grounds
George Washington: Seasoned war leader
Benjamin Franklin: Skilled diplomat, loved by the French
Fighting a defensive war on their own grounds
Self sufficient, didn’t have to import good to survive
Saw themselves as fighting a just cause with a historical purpose

3. Disadvantages Poorly organized army Lack of unity between colonies
Lack of money and hard cash; had to print worthless paper money
Lack of military supplies, most firearms for hunting
Army lacked food at points
No navy
Unreliable soldiers who received lousy training and less pay.
Fighting against the biggest, most experienced and well equipped empire in the world with the world’s largest navy and industrial capacity.
Divided population, many loyalists were committed to the British cause

4. Attempt at Reconciliation
After the Battle of Bunker Hill (1775) Continental Congress adopts Olive Branch Petition pledging loyalty if the king would stop hostilities
King George III upset at tensions hired Hessian mercenaries to fight in the Americas, further enrages tensions
Most did not want to go to all out war

5. Thomas Paine and Common Sense
Thomas Paine was an early patriot who distributed 120,000 copies of his pamphlet Common Sense in 1776
It served as a wake up call for Americans that enraged passions and led to a call for independence from Britain
Championed a Republican form of government, leaning on political philosophies of Europe

6. Declaration of Independence
The Continental Congress reacted to the rejection of the Olive Branch Petition and Common Sense by voting for independence on July 2, 1776
Thomas Jefferson was commissioned to write the formal Declaration of Independence approved July 4, 1776 which was a letter to King George III declaring independence from England
Jefferson borrowed from ideas of the Enlightenment, notably, John Locke’s ideas of the Social Contract and Natural Human Rights

7. Loyalists vs. Patriots
16% or so of the population remained loyal to the king, centered around New York
Many were made officers in the British army
Hated by the patriots, many had their property seized during the Revolution

8. Burgoyne’s Invasion
The British planned a three-pronged invasion of the colonies in 1777 to divide the colonies in half
Burgoyne and St. Ledger were to invade from Canada, How from New York City
Howe instead decided to go for glory attacking Philadelphia
St. Ledger stopped at Ft. Stanwix, Burgoyne as the Battle of Saratoga

9. Enter the French
After Saratoga, the French decided to enter into the war after negotiations with ambassador Benjamin Franklin
Signed a treaty in February 1778 and the French entered into the war providing Americans with expertise, training, men, ships and opening a wider war in Europe

10. Treaty of Ft. Stanwix
The Iroquois split over the American Revolution with two tribes staying loyal to Americans and the others siding with the British
Americans beat back the warring tribes and signed treaty in 1779 taking most of the Iroquois land in New York pushing most west

11. Treaty of Paris
France wanted to humble Britain and wanted an independent though not powerful United States
US made separate peace with Britain on favorable terms in 1883
US recognized
Granted all lands from Mississippi in West, Great Lakes in North, Florida to the South
Granted that loyalist property would be returned and debts paid

12. Task: Read pp
Take a position to affirm or refute the Olive Branch Petition
Write a sentence demonstrating one piece of evidence from the historical period that affirms their position
Write a sentence demonstrating one piece of evidence from the historical period that refutes their position
Explain why their position makes more sense.