The American Revolution

1
The American Revolution

• 1776-1783

2
Review

• Lexington and Concord
• Formation of Continental Army
• Battle of Bunker Hill
• British Retreat from Boston
• Common Sense
• Declaration of Independence

3
United Streaming

• American Revolution
• Quiz and Discussion The First Continental
  Congress and the Battle of Lexington and Concord
  (0052) The Second Continental Congress
  (0057) The Battle of Bunker Hill (0209)
  Thomas Paine (0226) The Declaration of
  Independence (0303) Review Causes of the
  American Revolution (0148)

4
Geography

• Outline map of colonies and main battle sites,
  also cities
• Cities NY, Boston, Philadelphia, Princeton,
  Trenton, Saratoga, Bennington, Montreal, Ft.
  Ticonderoga, Hudson, St. Lawrence, Mohawk River,
  Lake Ontario, Delaware River
• Quiz on map

5
Do Now Revolution

• What does revolution mean?
• What is the difference between revolution and
  rebellion?
• Take a dictionary from the closet and write down
  the two definitions and what you think the
  difference is?

6
Main Ideas

• Battles of the Revolution
• People
• Strategies
• Hardships
• Results

7
Do Now

• How did the British and American strategies
  differ during the early years of the war?
  Consider
• What the British expected from the Americans
• Washingtons main goals for the Continental Army
• Why Burgoyne invaded from Canada

8
Life in the 18th Century

• The average child had roughly a 50 chance of
  surviving to adulthood
• Slavery legal in all thirteen colonies
• Women could not vote, hold public office, and
  unless widowed, own property in most colonies

9
Life in the 18th Century

• Travel was slow and uncertain, by water, ships
  depended on wind by land, a rider on horseback
  might hope to cover 30 miles in a day, a
  passenger in a coach, just 20
• How long would it take to ride from Greenwich to
  Boston?
• Aside from sunlight, only source of heat was
  fire, usually from a fireplace
• After sunset, illumination from moonlight or
  candlelight

10
Life in the 18th Century

• No indoor plumbing the flush toilet, kitchen
  faucet, and bathroom are 19th century innovations
  chamber pots, outhouses, and buckets a way of
  life
• Privacy a rare privilege for most people,
  including children at home and strangers at inns
  shared beds
• Aside from a minority of city dwellers, most
  people were farmers

11
Life in the 18th Century

• There was no anesthesia for surgery or childbirth
• Every household produced some, if not all, the
  candles, soap, foodstuffs, and clothing it
  required
• The medieval idea that the four humors still
  dominated medical theory, so bloodletting and
  purging were employed to restore balance of black
  and yellow bile, blood and phlegm, and thus
  presumably good health

12
Capture of Ft. Ticonderoga by Ethan Allen, May
1775
13
What Do You Think?

• What sacrifices do civilians make during wartime?
  
• How might these be different from todays Iraq
  war?
• What sacrifices do soldiers make?
• Are such sacrifices worth it to win independence
  for your country?
• Why or why not?
• What personal possessions would you be willing to
  sacrifice to preserve your freedom?
• What event in recent years reminds you of
  political independence?

14
What Do You Think?

• Why did the Patriots persist in declaring
  independence even though it might lead to a war
  they could not win?

15
Americans Divided

• Opinion polls did not exist in the 1700s,
  historians estimate the following
• How would historians come up with these figures?
• Loyalists 20-30 Patriots 40-45 remainder
  neutral
• Pacifists
• Most Americans did not support the Revolution
• How would these numbers affect the war?

16
Continental Army

• Image of soldiers, inferences

17
Native Americans African Americans

• Native Americans divided on both sides, some
  joined the British fearing that an American
  victory would lead to loss of land
• African-Americans at first not able to enlist in
  many colonies, slave owners feared revolts
• British governor offered freedom to any enslaved
  person who joined the British army, many slaves
  ran away
• About 5,000 African Americans served in the
  Continental Army, many hoped their service would
  lead to greater equality

18
Creating an Army

• With a majority against the Revolution, raising
  an army difficult
• George Washington, commander of the Continental
  Army
• Men enlisted at first for one year, later
  extended, when time up, went home
• Washingtons army never numbered more than 17,000

19
Continental Army

• Continental Army poorly supplied by Congress,
  short of blankets, food, shoes, guns, ammunition
• Many women helped by cooking, laundry, nursing
• British thought the Americans were disorganized,
  inexperienced rebels
• British thought a decisive victory could end the
  war
• Washingtons main goal to survive, keep an army,
  win some battles, and avoid a crushing defeat
• Washington could not hope to win a major battle
  until he had a large, well equipped army

20
Continental Army

• United Streaming
• The Continental Congress and the Continental
  Army (0633) The Continental Congress and the
  American Revolution (0152) George Washington
  and the Continental Army (0323) The British
  and Continental Armies (0117)

21
Struggle for Middle States

• In 1776, British had been forced to retreat from
  Boston
• British goal to occupy coastal cities, where they
  could land troops and supplies
• In July 1776, British under General Howe arrived
  in New York with a large army
• Mercenary professional soldier hired to fight
  for a foreign country (Hessians)

22
Struggle for Middle States

• For several months, British and American armies
  fought for New York state
• New York campaign
• British forced Washington to retreat through New
  Jersey
• In December, American army crossed Delaware River
  into Pennsylvania, army in terrible condition

23
New York Campaign

• United Streaming

24
Continental Army at Valley Forge

• Primary sources and images of poor conditions
• Excerpts from Thomas Paines The American Crisis
• United Streaming Valley Forge

25
Battles of Trenton, Princeton

• Washington under pressure as many of his troops
  enlistments up on Dec. 31
• On December 25, American army crossed Delaware
  and surprised Hessians in Trenton
• 900 Hessians captured or killed, many supplies
  captured
• Eight days later, American army defeats British
  at Trenton
• United Streaming Battle of Trenton (300)

26
British Strategy

• Strategy overall plan of action
• British strategy seize Hudson River Valley, cut
  off New England from other states
• Three British armies to meet in Albany
• General Burgoyne south from Canada
• Lieutenant St. Leger away from Lake Ontario down
  Mohawk Valley
• General Howe north from NYC

27
Britains Strategy

• June 1777 Burgoyne left Canada, captured Fort
  Ticonderoga
• Burgoynes delays gave Americans time to block
  path, slowed by swampy conditions
• Rendezvous meeting
• Burgoyne received word that Howe would not come
  north, instead invade Penn.
• Howe defeated Washington at Brandywine, but did
  not capture him, occupied Philadelphia
• Washington attacked British at Germantown but
  lost and retreated
• United Streaming The Military Strategy of
  General Burgoyne (0108)

28
Battles Along the Mohawk

• Lt. Colonel St. Leger and Iroquois allies led by
  Mohawk chief Joseph Brant tried to reach Albany
• Fooled by American General Benedict Arnold that
  American army large, British retreated and left
  behind supplies
• Because of St. Legers retreat and Howes refusal
  to follow the strategy, no one left to rendezvous
  with Burgoyne

29
Saratoga A Turning Point

• Burgoyne running out of supplies, sent raiding
  party to Vermont, defeated at Battle of
  Bennington in August 1777
• Burgoynes army headed to Albany, attacked Gen.
  Gates forces at Saratoga, NY, heavy British
  casualties, but they held on
• Another battle at Saratoga in October forced the
  British to retreat
• Burgoynes exhausted forces captured at a third
  battle in Saratoga, surrender
• These battles called the Battles of Saratoga

30
Saratoga A Turning Point

• Benedict Arnold married a Loyalist, felt not
  rewarded enough
• In 1780 he agreed to turn over an American fort
  to the British, plot discovered but he escaped
• On positive side, victory at Saratoga a turning
  point in the Revolution, caused Europeans to
  think Americans might win, several European
  nations decide to help America

31
The Surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga.
October 1777
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7.2 HW
34
The War Expands

• To defeat the mighty British Empire, the U.S.
  needed an ally
• Ally country that agrees to help another achieve
  a common goal
• U.S. turned to France, Britains longtime enemy
  for troops, supplies, money, sent Ben Franklin
• France did not agree to an alliance until after
  the American victory at Saratoga
• Why would France be upset with Britain?

35
Help From Abroad

• By signing an alliance with the U.S., France went
  to war with Britain
• France sent money, supplies, ships and troops
• France persuaded its ally Spain to help the U.S.
• Small Spanish army took Natchez, Baton Rouge,
  Mobile and Pensacola
• Spain wanted more empire in North America
• France and Spain forced Britain to fight a number
  of enemies on land and sea, prevented Britain
  from concentrating all of its forces against the
  Americans

36
Do Now

• Take out 7.2 notes
• How did Lafayette and other European officers
  help the Continental Army?
• What did the Continental Army experience at
  Valley Forge and how did it affect it in the long
  run?

37
Do Now

• Turn in Valley Forge homework
• Get with your skit groups, quickly finish
  preparations and get ready to present

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Europeans Help Washington

• European military officers from Poland, France,
  and the German states came to help the Americans
• Marquis de Lafayette, French nobleman,
  volunteered, given command of division, beloved,
  close to Washington
• Baron von Steuben, a German, trained the
  Continental Army
• Formed troops into companies, taught them how to
  move in lines and columns, handle weapons, make
  charges with bayonets (long steel knives attached
  to the ends of guns)

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Winter at Valley Forge

• Late 1777, Gen. Howe forces Washington to retreat
  from Philadelphia
• Winter of 1777-8 army camped at Valley Forge
• Terrible conditions barefoot, hungry, sick
• 25 of soldiers die from malnutrition, exposure
  to cold, disease
• Some soldiers deserted, but most stayed due to
  patriotism, Washington

44
Valley Forge Dec. 19, 177-June 19, 1778

• In February, almost 5,000 soldiers were too sick
  to fight, another 3,700 lacked either shoes or
  clothes
• Shipments intended for troops often stolen by
  government employees
• Many local farmers refused to sell food to the
  army. Others would not sell because American
  currency was worthless

45
Valley Forge

• Common ailments include typhus and dysentery
• Desertions exceed 2,000 by February 8-10 men
  leave every day
• When frostbitten, flesh dies, turns black.
  Gangrene can spread through the body and can be
  fatal. Amputations performed without
  anethestics, so amputees often died from
  infections anyway.

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Winter of 1777-8 at Valley Forge, Washington and
Lafayette
48
War on the Frontier

• In 1777 frontiersman George Rogers Clark raised
  an army to defend the frontier from British and
  Native Americans
• Captured British posts and forts
• Clarks victories gave Americans a hold on the
  vast region between the Great Lakes and the Ohio
  River
• Spread British thin, made them defend huge area
• United Streaming, George Rogers Clark 325

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War at Sea

• By 1777 British have 100 warships off coast of
  America, controlled trade routes
• American privateers attacked British trade ships
• Privateers privately owned ship that government
  gives permission to attack enemys merchant ships
• More than 1,000 American privateers captured
  hundreds of British ships, disrupted trade
• Prompted British merchants to demand end to war

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Naval Hero

• In 1779, Continental officer led four American
  ships patrolling English coast
• Approached a convoy of supply ships guarded by
  two British warships
• His ship the Bonhomme Richard rammed the Serapis
• with both ships locked, British demand surrender
• I have not yet begun to fight!, shouted Jones

54
Naval Hero

• After a three hour battle, British surrendered,
  Bonhommie so full of holes, it sank, Americans
  sailed away in Serapis
• The success of Jones vs. the best navy in the
  world inspired the Americans and angered the
  British brought war to the British

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John Paul Jones

• Born John Paul in Scotland, by 21 commanded a
  merchant ship
• In 1773, Paul killed the leader of a mutiny on
  his ship, fled to America to avoid a murder
  trial, added Jones to his name
• His ship first to fly American colors
• His attack on Whitehaven, England the last
  invasion of British mainland
• His raids in the English channel and coastal
  towns spread panic, brought war to England

58
Do Now

• What are three things you learned in writing your
  newspaper articles?
• Why did the British invade the South after
  several unsuccessful years of fighting in the
  North?
• Why was fighting between Patriots and Loyalists
  in the South so vicious?

59
Do Now

• Write down homework
• Take out hw (maps/ outfoxing the pros)
• Test next Wed. (library visit next day)
• Library card
• What are the pros and cons of guerrilla warfare?
• Why is it difficult for the U.S. to combat
  guerrillas in Afghanistan?

60

• Why did the British move the war South?
• What did the loss at the Battle of Charles Town
  mean for the Continental Army?
• What kind of "guerrilla war" was fought in the
  South? What role did the Swamp Fox play?
• What does General Greene accomplish?
• Why did the British lose at Yorktown and what was
  the significance of the battle?
• What role did the French play in helping the
  Americans win the war?
• Why did the Americans win? Looking at the chart
  on page 218, what was the most important American
  strength and British weakness?
• What did Washington mean in his farewell letter,
  that the army's endurance "through almost every
  possible suffering and discouragement for the
  space of eight long years, was little short of a
  miracle."?

61
Path to American Victory

• British believing that most Southerners Loyalist,
  moved war there in 1778
• After three years of fighting in North no closer
  to victory, could not control countryside
• Thought if they could take the South, loyalists
  there would hold it
• Expected African slaves to join them, had
  promised freedom, many did, others sold
• Closer to bases in West Indies (troops and
  supplies)

62
Do Now

• This weekend read 7.3, look over review sheet on
  hw page
• What was the most interesting thing you learned
  about your topic? What surprised you?
• If you went back in time, would you have wanted
  to be this person?

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Savannah Charleston

• In December 1778, British captured Savanah,
  Georgia, conquered most of Georgia
• British seize Charleston, South Carolina, nearly
  take all of Americans Southern army, worst
  American defeat of war

65
The 1779 Battle of Savannah was one of the
deadliest of the entire American Revolution. The
overwhelming defeat of French and American forces
resulted in an allied withdrawal and in
approximately 800 wounded or killed, with British
losses totaling 55 wounded or dead. The
British victory in Savannah rekindled England's
spirit for the war, in part because the victory
defeated troops of the regular army of France as
well as American rebels. The battle marked the
first time French regular army units fought on
American soil in the Revolutionary War.
66
The fall of Charleston was a sad blow to the
patriot cause -- the most disastrous event of
the war, except the fall of Fort Washington on
the Hudson four years before. It gave Clinton
control of South Carolina as well as of Georgia,
and that offlaer now called away for New York,
leaving Cornwallis in command with five thousand
men. During the following months the scene in
the Carolinas and Georgia was one of wild
disorder and anarchy. A large portion of the
people were loyalists, and scarcely a day passed
without hand to hand encounters, bloodshed, and
murder. The patriots were without an army, but
bands of roving volunteers annoyed the British
incessantly.
67
Swamp Fox Guerrilla War

• British army in South led by General Cornwallis,
  new American Southern army led by General Gates
• American spirits fell as a starved, ill equipped
  army lost in South Carolina
• Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, carried out
  guerrilla raids
• Guerrilla small groups of soldiers who weaken
  enemy with surprise hit and run attacks
• Both Patriots and Loyalists carried out vicious
  guerrilla raids against each other

68
Francis Marion the Swamp Fox
69
Battle of Camden (August 1780)

• General Gates and his troops out of supplies and
  starved, makes mistake of putting inexperienced
  militia up front
• Americans panic, Gates flees, Kalb stands his
  ground, but killed
• Gates fired, American defeat sinks spirits to new
  low

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Now and Then

• American Revolution similar to more recent wars
• Worlds most powerful nation Britain bogged
  down in war against small guerrilla army the
  Patriots
• British superpower had to supply forces from
  thousands of miles away, war unpopular in Britain
• Patriots received assistance from Britains
  primary military and political enemy - France

72
Tide Turns

• Battle of Kings Mountain near border of North
  and South Carolina (1780)
• Loyalist and British soldiers surrounded and
  slaughtered, many after surrendering
• Reprisal for loyalist raids
• General Nathanael Greene new American commander
  in South, kicked out of Quaker church for not
  being pacifist
• Pacifist opposed to war
• Patriots wore out British with small skirmishes
  designed to inflict heavy losses

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The End of the War

• In 1781 most of fighting took place in Virginia
• British General Cornwallis set up base at
  Yorktown on Chesapeake Bay
• Washington took advantage, August 1781 French
  fleet arrived and blocked the Bay
• Large French force under General Rochambeau
  joined Washington

76
Battle of Yorktown

• American and French troops bombarded British
  troops with cannon fire
• On October 19, 1781 Cornwallis surrendered his
  force of 8,000 soldiers
• Yorktown last major battle, some fighting
  afterwards
• British leaders forced to resign, new British
  leaders began to negotiate a peace treaty

77
Surrender of General Cornwallis at Yorktown, Oct.
19, 1781
78
Do Now

• Write down tonights hw
• Quietly answer first three questions on sheet
  (your opinion)
• Notes, skit, current events

79
Legacy of the War

• In November 1783, last British ships and troops
  leave New York
• Washingtons farewell letter to his troops
• Americans won through persistence, despite lack
  of training, experience, supplies, weapons

80
December 4, 1783 Fraunces Tavern, NYC

• Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge reports"After
  partaking of a slight refreshment in almost
  breathless silence the Gen. filled his glass with
  wine and turning to the officers said, 'With a
  heart full of love and gratitude I now take leave
  of you. I most devoutly wish that your latter
  days may be as prosperous and happy as your
  former ones have been glorious and honorable...
• "Gen. Knox being nearest to him turned to the
  Commander In Chief Who suffused in tears was
  incapable of utterance but grasped his hand when
  they embraced each other in silence. In the same
  affectionate manner every officer in the room
  marched upand parted with his general in chief.
  Such a scene of sorrow and weeping I had never
  before witnessed and fondly hope I may never be
  called to witness again."

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American Advantages

• Better leadership British overconfident, did
  not correct mistakes, Washington learned
• Foreign aid French troops, fleet, loans,
  supplies
• Knowledge of the land
• Motivation

83
Treaty of Paris (1783)

• Treaty of Paris ended Revolutionary War
• U.S. independent
• Boundaries Mississippi, Canada, Spanish Florida
• U.S. could fish off of Canada
• Each side to repay debts to other
• British would return enslaved persons
• Congress would recommend the states return any
  property seized from Loyalists

84
Treaty of Paris (1783)

• Neither side fully lived up to the terms
• Americans did not repay prewar debt owed to
  British merchants or return Loyalist property
• The British did not return runaway slaves or give
  up military outposts in the Great Lakes area,
  including Fort Detroit

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Treaty of Paris
88
Costs of the War

• Estimates of 25,700 Americans died in war 1,400
  missing 8,200 wounded
• (10,000 died in camp, 8,500 in British prisons,
  7,200 died in battle)
• British suffered about 10,000 military deaths
  7,000 Hessians
• Many soldiers with little money or pay, some
  given certificates for western land
• Congress and states with debt of 27 million,
  huge debt
• Many loyalists lost their property, between
  60,000 and 100,00 left the U.S.

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Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

• Proposed by Thomas Jefferson in 1777
• People have right to natural opinion, including
  religious opinion
• Opposed state laws barring Jews and Catholics
  from holding state office
• Opposed practice of tax money being used to
  support churches
• Eventually adopted as law in Virginia, served as
  basis for religious rights in Constitution

91
Issues After the War

• Republicanism replaces idea of rights of
  Englishmen
• Republicanism people rule, rather than the king,
  obtain authority from people, responsible to them
• Calls for more religious freedom
• Before war, some states discriminated against
  Jews, Catholics
• Stopped practice of using government money for
  churches

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Hopes of African-Americans

• Elizabeth Freeman, a slave, sued for her freedom
  in Massachusetts and won (1781)
• This and other similar cases ended slavery in
  that state
• Richard Allen helped start the Free African
  Society, also founded the African Methodist
  Episcopal Church, the first African-American
  church in the United States

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Issues After the War

• Many saw a conflict between slavery and ideal of
  liberty
• A primary issue was how to shape the government
• Anger over British taxes, violation of rights,
  and control of trade had caused the war
• U.S. needed a government that would protect
  citizens rights and economic freedom