Revolutionary America: Change and Transformation, 1764-1783

Chapter 4

America at War Chapter 4.3

The Battle of Bunker Hill

• Bunker and Breed’s Hill (Boston, June 1775). • American forces trying to defend Boston and drive the British forces from the city.

• The British underestimate the colonists, and although they take the hills, they do so with heavy losses.

• Although it is a loss for the Americans, they demonstrate that they are not “untrained rabble” but can be a formidable fighting force.

• Despite armed confrontations at Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill, the Continental Congress hopes for reconciliation and drafts the “Olive Branch” petition in July 1775.

Common Sense and the Declaration of Independence

• The king’s response to the Olive Branch Petition was to pass The Prohibitory Act, which cut off all trade with the colonies, and declare the colonies in an “open state of rebellion”

• Paine’s Common Sense helped galvanize the independence movement and inspired many to join the patriot cause.

• The members of the Second Continental Congress began work drafting The Declaration of Independence (July 1776).

The War in the North • Congress formed the Continental Army and placed George Washington in command.

• British Retreat to New York from Boston as a result of high concentration of patriots. • Americans confront the British at Brooklyn Heights (Aug 1776)

• Washington if forced to retreat for winter into New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

• Washington catches the British off guard by crossing the Delaware and attacking on Christmas Day defeating Hessians in battle (Dec 1776).

• The British respond by beginning a campaign to capture Philadelphia – with success (July 1777)

• Washington and his troops are forced to retreat and spend the winter at Valley Forge, PA (Dec 1777- June 1778)

• The Americans successfully defeat the British in pitched battle at Saratoga, NY (Sept 1777) and this success encourages alliances with European Powers (Feb 1778)

The Southern Campaigns and Final Victory at Yorktown

• The British goals were to drum up loyalist support in the south to reinforce the war effort.

• The British concentrate their attacks on port cities such as Savannah (Oct 1779) Charleston (April 1780) to take advantage of naval superiority.

• Battles in the interior go in the favor of the Continental Army

• The British retreat to Yorktown where they are cut off by the French fleet and forced to surrender (Oct 1781)

• The revolutionary war comes to an end with the Paris Peace Treaty in 1783

Questions:

• What arguments did Paine’s Common Sense present?

• What audiences did the Declaration of Independence address?

• What role did the French military play in the American victory?