Chap. 8: America Secedes from the Empire; 1775-1783

Objective• Further assess the reasons for the

colonists’ secession from the British empire and the reasons for their eventual victory.

America Secedes from the Empire• When hostilities began in 1775 at Lexington and

Concord, the colonists were still fighting for their rights as British citizens within the empire, but in 1776, they declared their independence, based on a proclamation of universal, self-evident truths—the Declaration of Independence. Inspired by revolutionary idealism, they also fought for an end to monarchy and the establishment of a free republic. The Second Continental Congress provided leadership as the Patriots fought against both the Redcoats and the Loyalists.

• A combination of Washington’s generalship and British bungling in 1776-1777 prevented a quick British victory and brought French assistance after Saratoga, which enabled the Patriots to achieve victory after several more years of struggle, finally ending with Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown. The Treaty of Paris of 1783 achieved an extremely generous settlement from the Whigs.

I. Congress Drafts George Washington • April 1775-- Lexington and Concord• May 1775-- Philly 2nd Continental Congress

– All 13 colonies represented– No desire for independence – Raise money and create army and navy– Select George Washington

• Washington more a moral than militaryleader– Independently wealthy, from Virginia– Patient, courageous, just, trustworthy

II. Bunker Hill and Hessian Hirelings• Contradictions-- loyal to England, but arming soldiers• Upper NY British forts taken

– Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold– Gunpowder secured at Ticonderoga and Crown Point

• June 1775-- Battle of Bunker/ Breed’s Hill *– “Don’t fire until you see the _____”

• July 1775-- Olive Branch Petition

profess colonists loyal to Eng.– King George III rejects and declares colonists in rebellion

• German Hessians hired by England – why outsiders?

Battle of Bunker Hill by John Trumbull (served in the Continental Army)

• 1. What techniques did Trumbull use to dramatize the battle?

• What impression might it have on people unsure about the Revolution?

• 3. What larger purpose did Trumbull’s art have?

III. The Abortive Conquest of Canada• Begin attack of Canada

– Offensive warfare• Capture Montreal• Late 1775--Battle of Quebec

– Montgomery killed– Arnold wounded

• French Canadians fight back• Jan 1776-- Evacuation Day- Brits leave Boston • 2 victories in South – Moore’s Creek, Charleston

Benedict Arnold

IV. Thomas Paine Preaches Common Sense• Loyalty to England remained• Little colonial unity• Open rebellion dangerous• Americans realize their inconsistency• British violence-at Norfolk and Falmouth,

and hiring Hessians• 1776– “Common Sense”-- Thomas Paine

– Huge America held by tiny Britain– Defies common sense– propaganda

The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword!

• What historical examples can you think of?!?!

V. Paine and the Idea of “Republicanism”• “Common Sense”• Democratic republic• Politics derived from popular consent• Radical protest• Reject monarchy and empire• New England experience

– Democratic town meetings– Annual elections– No hereditary aristocracy

• Others anti-republic– Prefer natural aristocracy– Social hierarchy

VI. Jefferson’s “Explanation” of Independence• Richard Henry Lee moved for

“declaration” of independenceCommittee of 5 chosen• Thomas Jefferson writes

Declaration– gain global support– July 4, 1776– “natural rights”– Long list of grievances– inspires other revolutions

Declaration of Independence• 31 changes and 3 additional

grievances made to Jefferson’s• Took out denouncing British

people• Took out condemning king for

slave trade– SC and Ga. refused to sign if not

Funny story told by Thomas Jefferson regarding all the changes

to his Declaration…

John Thompson, Hatter, Makes and Sells Hats for Ready

Money.

What happened to those who signed?• 5 captured by British as

traitors, tortured, and died• 12 had homes ransacked

and burned• 2 lost their sons in the

Army• 2 had sons captured• 9 of the 56 fought and

died in the War• 1 lost everything and died• Many lost a great deal or

even all of their property

John Trumbull’s Signing of the Declaration of IndependenceHancock seated then John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Thomas Jefferson (dominates),

Benjamin Franklin(some errors in who was/was not there)

VII. Patriots and Loyalists• Tories V. Whigs• Most apathetic• Loyalists= Tories

– mostly educated, wealthy, older, Anglicans, most in South (except Vir.) 20% pop.

• Patriots= Whigs– younger and rebellious– Presbyterians, Congregationalists, New Eng. – Samuel Adams/ Patrick Henry

Anglican church

VIII. Makers of America: The Loyalists

• Conservatives, wealthy, educated• British Veterans of 7 Years’ War • Some ethnic minorities• African Americans-- hope Brits will abolish slavery• post-war-- arrest, exile, confiscation of property,

loss of legal rights– some exiled

• Hugh Gaine-- ex. of loyalist who was reintegrated

Hugh Gaine

IX. The Loyalist Exodus

• Persecution of loyalists minor at first – brutality, tarring and feathering

• Dec. of Ind. divides loyalists and patriots• Loyalists hung, imprisoned• 80,000 loyalists flee• Mild loyalists stay• Loyalists estates confiscated and sold

X. General Washington at Bay• Brits concentrate on NY as base after Boston evacuated

– numerous loyalists, seaport• British fleet appears in NY July 1776

– 500 ships ships, 35,000 men• Washington escapes to Manhattan

– Crosses, then recrosses Delaware River*• Brit general--William Howe• Dec 26, 1776-- Battle at Trenton

– captures 1000 drunk Hessians• Brilliant New Jersey campaign

Washington Crossing the Delaware,Emanuel Gottlieb Leutz, 1851