America Secedes from the Empire

First Continental Congress in 1774Only Georgia missingCreation of the Association: complete non-

importation and non-consumptionViolent to resisters

First military engagement (April 19th,1775) British given orders to capture and destroy

supplies Wanted to capture Sam Adams and

Hancock Stocks and men both moved location 700 Britain led by Thomas Gage defeated

75 minutemen at Lexington and forced them to Concord

Minutemen were warned and defeated Redcoats and Concord and forced them back to Boston

Paul Revere William Dawes Samuel Prescott

Gives sole credit to Revere Revere only completed first part of

mission Prescott only one who made it to warn

colonists in Concord

May 10th, 1775 Olive Branch Petition All states present Raise money to establish an army and

navy George Washington chose as general of

Revolutionary Army

June 1775

The first official battle in the Revolutionary War.

Fought in Charlestown, Massachusetts.

Possession of Bunker Hill (Breeds Hill)

There were three times that the British attacked.

Thousands of German troops hired “Hessian flies” Good soldiers, but not loyal

In October 1775, the British burned Falmouth (Portland), Maine. 

Colonists made an failed attack on Canada in hopes that it would close it off as a possible source for a British striking point. 

In January 1776, the British set fire to Norfolk. 

Common Sense (1776) - argued that the colonies had outgrown any need for English domination and that they should be given independence. 

On July 2, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia's resolution of declaring independence was passed. 

It was the formal declaration of independence by the American colonies.

Thomas Jefferson was appointed to draft up the Declaration of Independence. 

The Declaration of Independence was formally approved by Congress on July 4, 1776.

Loyalists were called "Tories“ Patriots were called "Whigs."  Loyalists -16% of the American

population.  Loyalists were most numerous where

the Anglican church was strongest.  The Patriots were numerous where

Presbyterianism and Congregationalism flourished-mostly in New England.

August 1776 British General Howe landed fleet off of

Staten Island Washington unaware of main army

surrounding behind them  Washington and his men escaped to

Manhattan Island. On December 25, 1776: Crossing of the

Delaware

Burgoyne (British) wanted to separate N.E from southern colonies

British won small battles initially Surrendered at Saratoga on October

17, 1777 to American general Horatio Gates (Burgoyne's Blunder). 

This win made it possible for the urgently needed foreign aid from France.

Turning point in war

Winter camp 77 & 78 for Washington and troops

Critical shortages Firecake – flour and water Inadequate clothing and food

Started as British supporter Commander of West Point Offered to hand fort over to British for

money Became brigadier Went to Canada, then England "Let me die in this old uniform (Colonial)

in which I fought my battles. May God forgive me for ever having put on another"

From 1780-1781, the U.S. government fell nearly bankrupt.

British General Cornwallis fell back to Chesapeake Bay at Yorktown to await seaborne supplies and reinforcements. 

George Washington, along with Rochambeau's army, and Admiral de Grasse cornered Cornwallis. 

He was forced to surrender on October 19, 1781.

Franklin, Adams and Jay Florida given to Spain Colonists granted generous boundaries,

stretching to the Mississippi on the west, to the Great Lakes on the north, and to Spanish Florida on the south.

 Yankees were to retain a share in the priceless fisheries of Newfoundland.

 The Loyalists were to no longer be prosecuted.

Congress was to recommend to the state legislatures that confiscated Loyalist property be restored. 

Jay, Adams, Franklin, Laurens, and William T. Franklin