America Secedes from America Secedes from the Empire, 1775-1783the Empire, 1775-1783

As the 1770s progressed, the relationship between As the 1770s progressed, the relationship between the colonies and Britain slowly deteriorated. the colonies and Britain slowly deteriorated.

Many Americans (not all) began to think that the Many Americans (not all) began to think that the only answer was independence.only answer was independence.

The First Continental CongressThe First Continental Congress

Carpenters’ HallCarpenters’ Hall In 1774 all of the colonies except In 1774 all of the colonies except Georgia sent delegates to Georgia sent delegates to Philadelphia Philadelphia

Their purpose was to determine Their purpose was to determine how the colonies should react to how the colonies should react to what, from their viewpoint, what, from their viewpoint, seemed to pose an alarming threat seemed to pose an alarming threat to their rights and libertiesto their rights and liberties

Most Americans had no desire for Most Americans had no desire for independenceindependence

They simply wanted to protest They simply wanted to protest parliamentary intrusions on their parliamentary intrusions on their rights and restore their rights and restore their relationship with Britainrelationship with Britain

The DelegatesThe Delegates A diverse group, whose views A diverse group, whose views

ranged from radical to ranged from radical to conservativeconservative

Leading radicals were Patrick Leading radicals were Patrick Henry of VA and Samuel Adams Henry of VA and Samuel Adams and John Adams of MAand John Adams of MA

Moderates were George Moderates were George Washington of VA and John Washington of VA and John Dickinson of PADickinson of PA

Conservatives were John Jay of Conservatives were John Jay of NY and Joseph Galloway of PANY and Joseph Galloway of PA

Unrepresented were the loyalists Unrepresented were the loyalists who sought no change or protestwho sought no change or protest

Actions of the CongressActions of the Congress The delegates vote on a series of The delegates vote on a series of

measures, intended to change measures, intended to change British policyBritish policy

Suffolk ResolvesSuffolk Resolves: rejected the : rejected the Intolerable Acts and called for their Intolerable Acts and called for their immediate repeal. Also called for immediate repeal. Also called for the colonies to boycott British the colonies to boycott British goodsgoods

Declaration of Rights and Declaration of Rights and Grievances: a petition to the king to Grievances: a petition to the king to restore colonial rightsrestore colonial rights

Association: urged the creation of Association: urged the creation of committees in every town to committees in every town to enforce economic sanctions of enforce economic sanctions of Suffolk ResolvesSuffolk Resolves

Fighting Begins! Fighting Begins! Lexington and ConcordLexington and Concord

Paul Revere Statue Paul Revere Statue

Boston, MABoston, MA

The king’s government dismisses The king’s government dismisses the petitionthe petition

British troops are sent to MABritish troops are sent to MA British troops under Gen. Thomas British troops under Gen. Thomas

Gage were sent to seize colonial Gage were sent to seize colonial military supplies in Concord. MAmilitary supplies in Concord. MA

Paul Revere and William Dawes Paul Revere and William Dawes warn the Minutemen (militia) of warn the Minutemen (militia) of Lexington, who then assemble on Lexington, who then assemble on the village greenthe village green

Colonists retreat in the face of Colonists retreat in the face of British fire (eight colonists killed)British fire (eight colonists killed)

Who fired the first shot?Who fired the first shot?

Lexington and ConcordLexington and Concord Continuing their march the British Continuing their march the British

enter Concord where they destroy enter Concord where they destroy military suppliesmilitary supplies

On the return march to Boston, On the return march to Boston, the long column of British the long column of British soldiers was attacked by hundreds soldiers was attacked by hundreds of militiamen firing from behind of militiamen firing from behind stone wallsstone walls

The British suffered 250 The British suffered 250 casualties—and also considerable casualties—and also considerable humiliation at being so badly humiliation at being so badly mauled by “amateur” fightersmauled by “amateur” fighters

Bunker HillBunker Hill Two months later, June 17, 1775, Two months later, June 17, 1775,

a true battle was fought on the a true battle was fought on the outskirts of Bostonoutskirts of Boston

A colonial militia of MA farmers A colonial militia of MA farmers fortified Breed’s Hill, next to fortified Breed’s Hill, next to Bunker Hill (the battle is Bunker Hill (the battle is incorrectly named)incorrectly named)

A British force attacked the A British force attacked the colonists’ position and managed colonists’ position and managed to take the hill, suffering over a to take the hill, suffering over a thousand casualtiesthousand casualties

Americans claimed a victory Americans claimed a victory because of the high British because of the high British casualty countcasualty count

Bunker HillBunker Hill

The Second Continental CongressThe Second Continental Congress

Independence HallIndependence Hall

Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia, PA

Soon after the fighting, delegates Soon after the fighting, delegates to the Second Continental to the Second Continental Congress met in Phil. in May Congress met in Phil. in May 17751775

The Congress was divided, The Congress was divided, mainly along sectional lines, on mainly along sectional lines, on what to do to resolve the growing what to do to resolve the growing conflict with Britainconflict with Britain

1.) Declare Independence1.) Declare Independence

OROR 2.) Negotiate with Britain2.) Negotiate with Britain

Second Continental CongressSecond Continental Congress The congress called upon the The congress called upon the

colonies to supply troopscolonies to supply troops Washington was appointed the Washington was appointed the

commander-in-chief of a new commander-in-chief of a new colonial army and was sent to colonial army and was sent to BostonBoston

The congress also authorized a The congress also authorized a force under Benedict Arnold to force under Benedict Arnold to raid Quebecraid Quebec

An American navy and marine An American navy and marine corps was organized corps was organized

Peace EffortsPeace Efforts At first the congress adopted a At first the congress adopted a

contradictory policy of waging war contradictory policy of waging war while at the same time seeking a while at the same time seeking a peaceful settlementpeaceful settlement

Many in the colonies did not want Many in the colonies did not want independenceindependence

They valued their heritage and They valued their heritage and protection of Britainprotection of Britain

July 1775 the delegates sent the July 1775 the delegates sent the “Olive Branch Petition” to King “Olive Branch Petition” to King George III, in which they pledged George III, in which they pledged their loyalty to him and asked for their loyalty to him and asked for his assistance with Parliament to his assistance with Parliament to secure peace and protect their secure peace and protect their rightsrights

Peace Efforts Peace Efforts

King George IIIKing George III King George III angrily dismissed King George III angrily dismissed the congress’ plea and greed the congress’ plea and greed instead to Parliament’s instead to Parliament’s Prohibitory Act which declared Prohibitory Act which declared the colonies in rebellionthe colonies in rebellion

A few months later, Parliament A few months later, Parliament forbade all trade and shipping forbade all trade and shipping between England and the coloniesbetween England and the colonies

Tomas Paine’s Argument for Tomas Paine’s Argument for IndependenceIndependence

In January 1776, a pamphlet was In January 1776, a pamphlet was published that would have a published that would have a profound impact on public opinion profound impact on public opinion and the future course of events. The and the future course of events. The pamphlet, written by Thomas Paine, pamphlet, written by Thomas Paine, argued strongly for independenceargued strongly for independence

Entitled Entitled Common SenseCommon Sense, Paine’s , Paine’s essay argued for breaking all essay argued for breaking all political ties with Britain political ties with Britain

According to Paine, it was contrary According to Paine, it was contrary to common sense for a larger to common sense for a larger continent to be ruled by a small and continent to be ruled by a small and distant island and for people to distant island and for people to pledge allegiance to a corrupt pledge allegiance to a corrupt governmentgovernment

Thomas Paine’s Thomas Paine’s Common SenseCommon Sense

The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence The congress gradually and The congress gradually and

somewhat reluctantly began to somewhat reluctantly began to favor independencefavor independence

In June 1776, Richard Henry Lee In June 1776, Richard Henry Lee of VA introduced a resolution of VA introduced a resolution declaring the colonies be declaring the colonies be independentindependent

Thomas Jefferson joined a Thomas Jefferson joined a committee of five delegates to committee of five delegates to write a statement in support of write a statement in support of Lee’s resolutionLee’s resolution

The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence The declaration drafted by The declaration drafted by

Jefferson listed specific Jefferson listed specific grievances against King George grievances against King George III’s government and also III’s government and also expressed the basic principles that expressed the basic principles that justified revolutionjustified revolution

““We hold these truths to be self We hold these truths to be self evident: That all men are created evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty , and the these are life, liberty , and the pursuit of happiness.”pursuit of happiness.”

The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence The congress adopted Lee’s The congress adopted Lee’s

calling for independence on July calling for independence on July 22

Jefferson’s work, the Declaration Jefferson’s work, the Declaration of Independence, was adopted on of Independence, was adopted on July 4, 1776July 4, 1776

How do you think Britain viewed How do you think Britain viewed the men who signed the the men who signed the Declaration of Independence?Declaration of Independence?

Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of IndependenceSignatures Signatures

The War The War The Revolutionary War or The Revolutionary War or

American War for Independence, American War for Independence, was a long and bitter strugglewas a long and bitter struggle

Roughly 40% of the population of Roughly 40% of the population of the colonies joined the war effort the colonies joined the war effort against Britainagainst Britain

20-30% sided with Britain20-30% sided with Britain

The rest were neutral/uninvolvedThe rest were neutral/uninvolved

PatriotsPatriots The largest number of Patriots The largest number of Patriots

were from New England and VAwere from New England and VA Most did not travel outside their Most did not travel outside their

own regionown region Many served in local militias for Many served in local militias for

short periods, left to work their short periods, left to work their farms, and then returned to dutyfarms, and then returned to duty

George Washington never had George Washington never had amore than 20,000 regular troops amore than 20,000 regular troops under his command at one timeunder his command at one time

Chronically short of supplies, Chronically short of supplies, poorly equipped and rarely paidpoorly equipped and rarely paid

African-AmericansAfrican-Americans Initially, George Washington Initially, George Washington

rejected the idea of African-Ams. rejected the idea of African-Ams. serving in the Patriot armyserving in the Patriot army

But when the British promised But when the British promised freedom to slaves who joined freedom to slaves who joined their side, Washington and the their side, Washington and the congress quickly made the same congress quickly made the same offeroffer

Approximately 5,000 African-Approximately 5,000 African-Ams. Fought as PatriotsAms. Fought as Patriots

Most were freemen from the Most were freemen from the NorthNorth

Peter Salem: recognized for Peter Salem: recognized for braverybravery

Painted by Emanuel Leutze in 1851. Washington Crossing the Delaware Painted by Emanuel Leutze in 1851. Washington Crossing the Delaware on Christmas night 1776 to attack the British in Trenton, NJ. The on Christmas night 1776 to attack the British in Trenton, NJ. The African-American is supposedly Prince Whipple.African-American is supposedly Prince Whipple.

LoyalistsLoyalists Citizens who maintained Citizens who maintained

allegiance to the king were called allegiance to the king were called Loyalists or ToriesLoyalists or Tories

Roughly 60,000 American Tories Roughly 60,000 American Tories fought for the crownfought for the crown

B. Franklin’s son William B. Franklin’s son William Franklin joined the Tories, and Franklin joined the Tories, and was the last royal governor of NJwas the last royal governor of NJ

At the end of the war, many fled At the end of the war, many fled to Canada or Britainto Canada or Britain

They tended to be wealthier and They tended to be wealthier and more conservative than Patriotsmore conservative than Patriots

Native AmericansNative Americans At first, many Native Americans At first, many Native Americans

tried to stay out of the wartried to stay out of the war

However, attacks by Americans However, attacks by Americans led many to support the British, led many to support the British, who promised to limit colonial who promised to limit colonial settlements in the westsettlements in the west

American HardshipsAmerican Hardships The first three years of the war, The first three years of the war,

1775-1777 went badly for the 1775-1777 went badly for the colonistscolonists

Washington constantly retreated as Washington constantly retreated as the British army took control of the British army took control of NYC and Phil.NYC and Phil.

The severe winter of 1777-1778 The severe winter of 1777-1778 was spent at Valley Forgewas spent at Valley Forge

British occupation of American British occupation of American ports resulted in 95% decline in ports resulted in 95% decline in tradetrade

Inflation was rampant as the paper Inflation was rampant as the paper money issued by congress money issued by congress (Continentals) became almost (Continentals) became almost worthlessworthless

Alliance with FranceAlliance with France Turning point in war: American Turning point in war: American

victory at Saratoga, NY, in victory at Saratoga, NY, in October 1777October 1777

News of the victory persuaded News of the victory persuaded France to join the warFrance to join the war

Although France had an absolute Although France had an absolute monarchy (Louis XVI) they were monarchy (Louis XVI) they were willing to weaken their long time willing to weaken their long time enemyenemy

France had been giving the France had been giving the colonies money and supplies, now colonies money and supplies, now they openly supported themthey openly supported them

Later Spain and Holland also Later Spain and Holland also joined against Britainjoined against Britain

VictoryVictory The last major battle of the war The last major battle of the war

was in 1781 in Yorktown, VAwas in 1781 in Yorktown, VA

Strongly supported by French Strongly supported by French naval and military forces, naval and military forces, Washington’s army forced the Washington’s army forced the surrender of a large British army surrender of a large British army commanded by Gen. Charles commanded by Gen. Charles CornwallisCornwallis

Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris In Paris, 1783, a treaty of peace In Paris, 1783, a treaty of peace

was finally signed:was finally signed: 1.) Britain would recognize the 1.) Britain would recognize the

independent United Satesindependent United Sates 2.) Mississippi R. would be 2.) Mississippi R. would be

western boundary of U.S.western boundary of U.S. 3.) Americans would pay debts 3.) Americans would pay debts

owed to British merchants and owed to British merchants and honor Loyalists claims for honor Loyalists claims for property that was confiscated property that was confiscated during the warduring the war