1. Quick Essay Starts AP Review
Unit 2 Terms

2. When I give you the question…
Brainstorm the following:
Thesis
Background info
Time frame reference
3-5 arguments to support thesis

3. 3-5 arguments to support thesis
Analyze the political, diplomatic, and military reasons for the United States victory in the Revolutionary War. Confine your answer to the period 1775–1783.
Thesis
3-5 arguments to support thesis
Outside Information

4. Bad Intro/Thesis Example – scored a 2
The United States won the revolutionary war because of many reasons, among them are motivation, reason, tactics and allies.

5. Acceptable Intro/Thesis – scored a 5
The United States of America was the new name of the nation as it beat the world’s strongest country for a war for independence. This victory was achieved by a common desire shared by patriots to oust the bonds of monarchy, and a strong leader by the name of George Washington. Diplomatically, the United States succeeded in the revolution due to aid from France after winning France’s trust. Finally, the guerrilla actions taken by George Washington’s forces in the North and South lead to victory over the British.

6. Mediocre Intro/Thesis - scored an 8 b/c of rest of essay
Providence appeared to be with the colonies that no longer desired to be colonies. A myriad of political, diplomatic, and military advantages all eventually produced a republican experiment that would shake the balance of power for centuries.

7. Best Intro/Thesis
Providence appeared to be with the American colonies during the Revolutionary War. In comparison to the British forces, the colonial forces were ill-equipped to fight for independence. Remarkably, however, after seven years of fighting, the colonial forces would be victorious. This victory was achieved by a common desire shared by American patriots to oust the bonds of British monarchy, which would be accomplished through compromise, the unification of the colonies, and a written Declaration of Independence. Diplomatically, the United States succeeded because of the financial and military aid it received from France. Finally, through George Washington’s leadership, the colonial army would survive seven years of fighting, in which its decisive victories would outweigh its many losses.

8. Political SRFI’s Locke & the Enlightenment
Pre-1775 actions leading to actions
Patrick Henry, “Give me liberty or give me death”
Edmund Burke and William Pitt, British sympathizers
Antiwar riots
Loyalists, including Indians & African Americans
2nd Continental Congress:
Olive Branch Petition
Washington: commander of army
Declaration of Independence
Thomas Paine, Common Sense

9. Diplomatic SRFI’s Olive Branch Petition French Alliance, 1778
Benjamin Franklin, ambassador to France
John Adams, ambassador to Holland
Treaty of Paris, 1783
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay
British sympathy, Whigs

10. Military SRFI’s Patriot advantages Ethan Allen (Green Mountain Boys)
Just cause
American geographic expanse
Fighting on home ground, distance from England
Experience from earlier colonial wars
Minutemen
Ethan Allen (Green Mountain Boys)
Benedict Arnold
Fort Ticonderoga
Evacuation of Boston, Henry Knox
British occupation of American cities: NY, Philly, Charleston
No effective British blockade of American coast