1. The American Revolution

2. The debate over independence.
Why might some delegates (and many colonists) have been reluctant to declare independence in 1775?

3. British actions that pushed the colonists to declare independence:
What actions by the British suggested that compromise was no longer possible?

4. Challenges Mobilizing for War?
Economic Challenges - How to pay for the war?
The CC could not tax and had no treasury source of steady income
Colonies are reluctant to help pay
Foreign loans will be the #1 source of $$ (France, Spain, and Holland.)
Robert Morris – Managed Colonial Finances

5. Supporting the war effort
Why might some colonial recruits favor joining their state militia over the Continental Army?

6. General George Washington’s Herculean Task
Challenges facing GW:
Fielding a Continental Army
Handling the colonial militias
Logistics
Rivals for command
No navy

7. American Society at War
Americans roughly divided into thirds: Loyalists: Who would remain loyal? Patriots: Who would likely join the rebellion? Neutrals: Who would want to stay out?

8. Phase I (1775-76) New England Lexington & Concord Siege of Boston
Battle of Bunker Hill
Capture of Ft.
Ticonderoga
Invasion of Canada
British evacuate
Boston

9. Phase II (1776-78) The Middle Colony Campaign
British strategy to isolate New England
New York campaign
Battles of Trenton & Princeton
Howe moves on Philadelphia
Battle of Saratoga
*Turning Point of war
British Gen Burgoyne surrenders to Gen Gates at Saratoga (1777)

11. The French Connection
Why would an absolute monarch like King Louis XVI agree to an alliance with the democratic, largely Protestant, American colonists?

12. Why does British strategy shift to the Southern Colonies?

13. Phase III (1778-81) British capture Charleston, SC
Cornwallis vs. Gates, and
later Greene
The brutal nature of the
Southern Campaign
Cornwallis retreats to
Virginia
Combined American -
French operations defeat
the British at Yorktown
British surrender

14. The Peace of Paris, 1783 1781-1783 The colonies are represented by
Peace negotiations last from
The colonies are represented by
Ben Franklin, John Adams, John
Jay, and Henry Laurens.
While fighting in the American
colonies had ended, the larger
war between Britain, France and
Spain continued, hanging over the
negotiations.
Diplomatic intrigue was the norm.
Breaking with their French allies,
the Americans signed a separate
peace with Britain.

15. Highlights from the Peace of Paris
The British recognized American independence.
The British recognized American territorial claims to territory between the Atlantic and Mississippi.
The Americans secured fishing rights off the coast of New Foundland.
The Americans agreed to allow British creditors to pursue debts in the colonies.
The American govt would urge states to restore to Loyalists their confiscated property.
The British would have navigational rights on the Mississippi River.
Why would the British be so generous to the Americans?

17. December 4th, 1783, the last British troops left New York.
December 23, 1883, General George Washington resigns his commission. Later, upon hearing of this, King George III, called Washington “the greatest man in the world.”