1. The Decision to Fight For Independence

2. 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 from 1775 to 1776 before the American call for independence:
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

3. Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill); June 17, 1775
With over 1,000 casualties, the British suffered their greatest losses of the Revolution at Bunker Hill
“A few more such victories would have shortly put an end to British dominion in America”
—British General Henry Clinton

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. By 1776, colonial sentiment had changed
On June 7, Richard Henry Lee of VA introduced a resolution to the Continental Congress: “that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States...” After several days of debate, Congress appointed a committee to draft a declaration of independence
By 1776, colonial sentiment had changed

6. Declaration of Independence (1776)
Committee to draft the Declaration: Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, & Roger Sherman

7. Decision for Independence
On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted for independence
On July 4, the Declaration of Independence was signed; The Declaration’s purpose was 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

8. Independence Hall at the Second Continental Congress
The Declaration of Independence was NOT signed like this!

9. The Decision for Independence
The colonists were divided about this decision for independence:
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

11. Patriots vs. Loyalists Where are the Loyalists?
Why are Loyalists near cities?
Why is the backcountry so contested?
Why are Indians loyalists?

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. Slaves & Indians in the War
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

17. The Variety of Colonial Soldiers
The Continental Army had 2 all-black regiments composed of Northern slaves

18. 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”)

20. Differing Military Strategies
The Americans
The British
“Divide & Conquer”
Use Loyalists
Encourage slave revolts
Seize property
Break the colonies in half by dividing the North & South
Blockade the ports to prevent trade with American allies
Win a war of attrition
England had long supply lines
Colonials did not have to “win” just had to wear down the British
Guerilla tactics
Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies

21. 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

22. Fighting the War for Independence

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. British Seizure & Burning of New York, 1776
Crossing the Delaware in route to a surprise attack at Trenton & Princeton, 1776
The “Turning Point” of the Revolution: The Battle of Saratoga, 1777
Near Starvation at Valley Forge, PA in 1778

25. 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

26. 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

27. American Victory at Yorktown
Cornwallis’ surrender was the “day the world turned upside down”

28. 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

29. The Treaty of Paris, 1783

30. 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

31. North America after the Treaty of Paris, 1763

32. North America after the Treaty of Paris, 1783

33. 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?
Question: To what degree did 1776 bring about a social revolution? 29

34. American Revolution “What Ifs”
For each “What If?” question, make as many predictions as possible about how American history might have been different
Groups will receive 1 point for each “plausible” alternate “if”
The winning group earns 105, others earn 100, 95, 90, 85…

35. What If… The British had lost the French & Indian War?

36. What If… The British had strictly controlled the colonies & never adopted “Salutary Neglect”?

37. What If… George Grenville (author of the Sugar & Stamp Acts) had not been appointed Chief Minister?

38. What If… The Massachusetts colonial assembly had not sent the Circular Letter in response to the Townshend Acts ?

39. What If… The British East India Company were not in financial ruin?

40. What If… The British arrested Sam Adams & John Hancock in Lexington as planned?

41. What If… George Washington wasn’t appointed to head the Continental Army & militias fought the British alone?

42. What If… The British had won at Saratoga?

43. What If… The Americans had accepted the British peace offering in 1777?

44. What If… The French had demanded Louisiana & Canada from the British after the American Revolution?

45. American Revolution “What Now?”
Rather than “what if,” each of the following responses will require a “what now” response:
Make a rational prediction as to the future of the United States

46. What Now… Trade patterns & the American economy

47. What Now… The Declaration of Independence proclaimed “all men are created equal”