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The American Revolutionary War APUSH Unit 3
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Strengths and Weaknesses for the American Revolution
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British Strengths 7.5 mill population vs. 2.5 mill colonists More money and the best navy in the world 20,000 slaves in Carolinas and GA joined the British (only 5K for the colonists) Many Indians also sided with Britain and attacked the colonists on the frontier Britain possessed a 50,000 man professional army King George hired an additional 30,000 German Hessians Had about 50,000 loyalists in the colonies
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British Weaknesses Enormous distance for supply line America was too large for an army to effectively occupy + population was still dispersed British generals in America were poor leaders Americans only had to tie - British had to win France hated England King George and Lord North were terrible
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American Strengths Outstanding leadership Economic aid from France at the beginning + later military aid Defensive military tactics Agriculturally self-sustaining Colonials were better shots than the redcoats Moral advantage from a belief in a just cause
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American Weaknesses Badly organized Jealousy among the colonies Economic difficulties Military challenges Morale in the Revolutionary Army was undermined by greedy American profiteers Only a select minority of Americans were truly committed to the cause Lack of Supplies
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How did America win? Regulars were whipped into shape by Prussian Baron von Steuben 5000 African Americans enlisted to help America Largest contingents came from northern states with free blacks The strength of the few outweighed the weakness of the many The British people got tired of the war
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The Second Continental Congress
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Second Continental Congress (CC2) All 13 colonies present -- delegates still not interested in independence but rather redressing of grievances. Most significant act of Congress: Selected George Washington to head of the Continental Army. Selection largely political – Northerners wanted to bring Virginia into the war.
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CC2 - Declaration of the Causes & Necessity of Taking Up Arms Written by Jefferson & Dickinson Drafted 2nd set of appeals to the king and British people for redress of American grievances. Seen as intermediate step towards the Declaration of Independence Declaration & Resolves from 1st Continental Congress was earlier step Adopted measures to raise money and to create an army and a navy.
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CC2 – Olive Branch Petition Written largely by Dickinson Last ditch effort by moderates in the Continental Congress to prevent an all-out war. Once again, pledged loyalty to the crown; sought to restore peace Appealed to George III to intercede with Parliament to reconsider the “Intolerable Acts” King refused to recognize Congress; the war raged on
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Early Battles
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Ticonderoga and Crown Point – May 1775 Tiny forces under Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys of Vermont and Benedict Arnold of Connecticut surprised & captured British garrisons. After this loss, King George replaced General Gage with Generals Howe, Clinton, and Burgoyne Ticonderoga and British leadership clip 2:43 Ticonderoga and British leadership clip
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Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill) – June 17, 1775 Colonials seized Breed's Hill -- commanded a strong position overlooking Boston. 1,500 American sharpshooters mowed down over 1,000 oncoming redcoats in ill-conceived frontal assault. Americans had 140 killed and 441 wounded. Americans ran out of gunpowder and were forced to abandon the hill in disorder. Viewed as an American victory due to the heavy losses suffered by Britain. Bloodiest battle of the War for Independence British Army left Boston to conduct the war from New York.
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Effects of Bunker Hill Colonists issue the Olive Branch Petition Following Bunker Hill, King proclaimed the colonies in rebellion (Aug. 23, 1775). This was tantamount to a declaration of war against the colonies 18,000 Hessians (German mercenary soldiers) hired by King to support British forces Americans shocked that king would hire soldiers reputed for their brutality
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Americans at War
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Loyalists (Tories) About 20% of Americans Usually conservative, educated, and wealthy; afraid of mob rule Often older, worked for the crown, Anglican Most influential in aristocratic NY, Charleston, PA, and NJ Least numerous in New England 80,000 fled the colonies – estates were confiscated by Patriots About 50,000 fought for the British
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Patriots Sometimes called Whigs Rebels who fought soldiers and loyalists Most numerous in New England Approximately 40% More meh people switched to this side
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American War Stats 250,000+ American soldiers fought 10% who fought died Largest % of any American war British occupied most major cities: Boston, NYC, Philly Who fought? African Americans fought on both sides 5000 for US; 30,000 for British Native Americans fought for British – felt colonists were worse Young laborers, farm boys, indentured servants – the poorest were often the soldiers
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War Economy and Government State and National Governments were created People loaned money to the army and Congress War Profiteers (merchants) often made lots of money off the war
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Women in the War Managed farms and businesses while men were away Travelled with Army as cooks and nurses… Expressed political thoughts freely, though couldn’t vote Abigail Adams is well known for her writings on the Revolution and the formation of the new country
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Problems for the American Army – Early Years GW loses first year’s troops and African Americans are not allowed to fight anymore – end of 1775 – Video #2 5:21 GW loses first year’s troops and African Americans are not allowed to fight anymore – end of 1775 – Video #2
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Declaration of Independence 1776
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Reasons for Shift of Loyalty: Previously most Americans were proud British citizens Shifted because: Hiring of Hessians Burning of Falmouth & Norfolk by the British Governor of Virginia promised freedom to slaves who would fight for Britain. Persuaded many southern elite to join New England in the war effort.
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Common Sense by Thomas Paine Published early 1776 Became an instant best-seller in the colonies; effective propaganda Main ideas: Britain's colonial policies were inconsistent; independence was the only course Nowhere in the physical universe did a smaller heavenly body control a larger one. Why should tiny England control huge North America? King was nothing more than the "Royal Brute of Great Britain.” America had a sacred mission; moral obligation to the world to set up an independent, democratic republic, untainted by association with corrupt monarchical Britain. Persuaded Congress to go all the way for independence Could not hope for aid from France unless they declared independence France not interested in colonial reconstruction under Britain
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Philadelphia Congress On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee proposed independence "These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states..." Motion was adopted on July 2, 1776 Yet, formal explanation was needed to rally resistance at home and invite foreign nations to aid the American cause, especially France…
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Committee on Independence Appointed to prepare an “appropriate statement” Committee handed it over to TJ There was discussion and debate on the final version Especially the clause on slavery, which was removed Not addressed to England – they didn’t expect a response from the king now Declaration of Independence formally approved on July 4, 1776
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3 Main Parts of DOI Preamble (heavily influenced by John Locke) Stated the rights of colonists to break away if natural rights were not protected: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (property) Stated "all men are created equal" List of 27 grievances of the colonies (seen by Congress as most important part) Underwent the most changes from the original draft -- 24 changes Charged King with imposing taxes w/o colonials' consent, eliminating trial by jury, military dictatorship, maintaining standing armies in peacetime, cutting off trade, burning towns, hiring mercenaries, & inciting Indian violence. Formal declaration of independence Officially broke ties with England "United States" officially an independent country
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Effects of Issuing the DOI Now America could solicit foreign aid! Gathered more recruits for the Continental Army
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1776-1777 Mid Atlantic States
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Battle of Trenton December 26, 1776 Washington’s crossing of the Delaware Surprised and captured about 1000 hung-over Hessians
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Battle of Princeton January 1777 GW defeated some Brits a week after Trenton British forced to pull back to NYC Quick victories of Princeton and Trenton helped to inspire the Patriot army
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Battle of Saratoga October 1777 MOST IMPORTANT BATTLE OF REVOLUTION! Brits wanted to capture NY and sever New England from America Benedict Arnold slowed Brit invasion of NY Burgoyne surrendered to American Gates BROUGHT AID FROM FRANCE Because it was a decisive victory
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Camping out in Valley Forge Winter 1777-1778 Supplies were scarce: food, clothing Army whipped into shape by the Prussian drillmaster Baron von Steuben Episode demonstrated American resolve despite horrible conditions
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Alliance with France!
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How Does France Help? Early on: secret shipments of munitions and supplies from France Organized by Silas Deane and Benjamin Franklin After DOI and Saratoga: Franco-American Alliance of 1778 Recognizes America as independent Both sides would fight until America was free or both sides agreed to terms France continued to send supplies and actually had a Navy! Became a World War that tied up British resources: Spain, Holland, kind of Russia
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Battle of Yorktown End of war!
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Backstory for Yorktown 1778 British focused on Southern colonies Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC fell in 1779 and 1780 Charleston was 4 th largest American city – big loss Here comes Nathaniel Greene! Clears GA and SC of most British troops! British General Cornwallis is forced to abandon Southern strategy and retreats to Yorktown in the Chesapeake
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Battle of Yorktown French Admiral de Grasse blockaded the Chesapeake – trapping British and preventing supplies from reaching Yorktown GW and Rochambeau’s French Army march 300+ miles from NY to Chesapeake Attacked Yorktown by land + British were blockaded form escaping to the Bay October 19, 1781: General Cornwallis surrendered entire force of 7,000 men War did continue for approximately another year – especially in the South
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Post-Revolution America
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America made peace with England first because they were afraid that France would betray their western interests to Spain America got all land to the Mississippi (Spain still had Florida) Why was England so nice? Wanted America to be more loyal to England than France Peace of Paris, 1783
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After the Treaty of Paris, 1783
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Equality vs. Reality Could not sacrifice new country to battle over these details Slavery Women So: Civic Virtue : Democracy depended on the unselfish commitment of each citizen to the public good Republican Motherhood : Women were the keepers of the nation’s conscience – they trained the new leaders
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State Constitution Making Based on theory of republicanism : sovereignty of state would rest on authority of the people Documents were supposed to represent a fundamental law that was greater than the changing whims of legislation Most contained bills of rights Annual election of legislators Weak executives and judicial branches (because of problems with England) Legislatures were given sweeping powers (led to problems)
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