The American Revolution

1775-1783

Standards:SSUSH4 The student will identify the ideological, military,

and diplomatic aspects of the American Revolution.• a. Explain the language, organization, and intellectual sources

including the writing of John Locke and Montesquieu of the Declaration of Independence and the role of Thomas Jefferson.

• b. Explain the reason for and significance of the French alliance and foreign assistance and the roles of Benjamin Franklin and the Marquis de Lafayette.

• c. Analyze George Washington as a military leader, including the creation of a professional military and the life of a common soldier, crossing the Delaware River, and Valley Forge.

• d. Explain Yorktown, the role of Lord Cornwallis and the Treaty of Paris, 1783.

Essential questions: What immediately precipitated the revolution? What were the major events of the Revolution?• How were the colonists able to defeat the British,

a much stronger adversary?• What sacrifices did the colonists make in order to

win independence? • Why do we consider George Washington to be the

“Father of his nation”?• How did personality play a role in America’s

successful diplomacy during the Revolution?• What was the life of a common foot soldier like in the

revolution?• What was Cornwallis role in the winning of the American

revolution?• Why would European aristocrats want to fight in

the American Revolution?• What did the Treaty of Paris 1783 attain for America?

Vocabulary

Militiamen, redcoats, Paul Revere, Gen Thomas Gage, Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill , Declaration of Independence , Thomas Jefferson, John Lock, George III, General Montcalm, William Pitt, George Washington’s Militia, Thomas Paine, Proclamation of 1763, Valley Forge, Battle at Trenton, Lafayette, Ben Franklin, Battle of Trenton, Delaware River, Cornwallis, Battle of Saratoga, Battle of Yorktown, General Benedict Arnold. Peace Treaty of 1783

VERSUS

Patriots

• Rebellious colonists• Men like:

• Alexander Hamilton• John Jay• George Washington• Thomas Jefferson• James Madison• Benjamin Franklin

Loyalists

• Colonists who remained loyal to the King.

• Men like:• Henry Clinton

• Commander of British forces in America

• William Franklin• Governor of New

Jersey and son of Ben Franklin who no longer spoke to him

The Beginnings of the War

1774-1776

War in the NorthWar in the North

On the Run

• John Hancock and Samuel Adams escape from Boston and hide in Lexington, Massachusetts.

General Thomas Gage

• April 18, 1775• Commander-in-chief

of British forces in North America and governor of Massachusetts.

• Sends 900 British troops to seize the towns of Lexington and Concord.

Paul Revere

• Patriot • Had job of Watcher• First to spot the

redcoats coming.• Rode horseback with

a friend through Lexington warning people of the coming British army.

Soldiers

• Minutemen- militia members who had promised to be ready for action at a minutes notice.

• Redcoats- Patriot nickname for British troops.

Lexington and Concord• April 19, 1775

• “Shot Heard ‘Round the World”

• Colonists and redcoats battle at Lexington.• 8 Americans killed.

• Redcoats continue on to Concord.• Destroy the town

• British retreat to Boston.• 73 British dead.

British Reinforcements

• Patriot’s trap the British in Boston.

• May, 1775 4,500 British reinforcements arrive.

Second Continental Congress

• May 10, 1775 in Philadelphia, PA

• Our second government that will govern throughout the Revolutionary war

• George Washington appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.

Patrick Henry

• Radical delegate from Virginia.• Radical=extreme action.

• Wants to declare independence and seize British officials.

• Wants to ask France and Spain for aid.

• Delegate Lee does declare independence

Give me Liberty or give me death!

Battle of Bunker Hill

• June 17, 1775• British advance on Breeds

Hill near Charlestown.• Led by General Gage.

• Patriots retreat• 450 Patriots killed.• 1000 British killed.

• King George III hires professional German soldiers to fight the “rebel” colonists.• Hessians

Washington Organizes the Army • Demanded an

organized army.• Tried to avoid guerilla

warfare.

• Felt that an organized army would get foreign aid.

• Wanted to avoid direct conflicts with the British army.

The Declaration of Independence

Declaring Independence

• Colonists fears about war1. Fear of mob rule

without British control.

2. Failure to win could lead to executions.

3. Merely resisting specific acts would turn British friends against them.

• To offset the arguments of not going to war1. British govt. had

committed acts that had violated their rights as English subjects.

2. Colonial blood had been shed.

Thomas Paine

• Former British political writer.

• Common Sense1. As citizens of an

independent nation, captured Patriots could be treated as prisoners not rebels.

2. Patriot govt. could seize all American land loyal to the King.

3. Foreign aid would be given

“Tis time to part!”

John Locke has the Key to our independence• 1600-1700’s

European political philosopher.• Proposed new

theories of govt.

• Thomas Jefferson used many of his ideas in the Declaration of Independence.

I said men have the right to life, liberty and property but I hear an American

by the name of Tom has changed this !

Thomas Jefferson

• Virginia lawmaker and plantation owner.

• Writer of the Declaration of Independence.

You have rights that can not be

taken away . They are inalienable…Life, liberty and

pursuit of happiness

Declaration of Independence

• July 4, 1776• 3 reactions

1. Patriots- cheered and celebrated.

2. Other Americans- not concerned.

3. Loyalists- feared to join and remained on England’s side

• Whigs- American Patriots.

• Tories- Americans that supported the King.

The Declaration of Independence in a nutshell

Preamble and reasons for separation

• 27 reasons• Appeal to Europe and America

as to the justice of our cause by stating

A theory of govt.• “All men are created equal.”• Govt. exists to secure the rights

of free men.• People have right to change

govt if they are treated unfairly.

A formal declaration of war• Leaders would be judged

guilty of treason but we Pledge “our lives, our

fortunes, our sacred honor.”

• “unalienable rights”- Rights that cannot be taken away• “Life, liberty, and the pursuit

of happiness”• “consent of the governed”-

Right of the people to give govt. the authority to govern.

The Revolutionary War

American Failures• 20,000 more British troops

land on Long Island.• Washington divides his army

of 20,000 equally between Manhattan and Long Island.

• Howe drives American forces into New Jersey.

• October, 1776.• Heavy losses in soldiers and

supplies.• Continental Army shrinks

from 30,000 to 3,000• Men go home w/ the

impending winter.

• Washington retreats into Pennsylvania.

General Lord Charles Cornwallis• British field general.• Commander of the

British troops in New Jersey.

• Chases Washington throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.• Washington flees

across the Delaware River.

Crossing the Delaware• British troops scattered British troops scattered

throughout New Jersey.throughout New Jersey.• Washington and troops Washington and troops

cross the ice-choked cross the ice-choked Delaware River on Delaware River on Christmas Eve.Christmas Eve.• Good time to attack as Good time to attack as

British troops were British troops were drinkingdrinking and celebrating.and celebrating.

• 900 Hessians taken 900 Hessians taken prisoner.prisoner.

• British troops scattered British troops scattered throughout New Jersey.throughout New Jersey.

• Washington and troops Washington and troops cross the ice-choked cross the ice-choked Delaware River on Delaware River on Christmas Eve.Christmas Eve.• Good time to attack as Good time to attack as

British troops were British troops were drinkingdrinking and celebrating.and celebrating.

• 900 Hessians taken 900 Hessians taken prisoner.prisoner.

Battle at Trenton• December 26, 1776-

Washington captures the town.

• January 2, 1777- Cornwallis tries to retake the town.• Cornwallis traps

Washington.

• Americans slip away in the night, but leave their campfires burning to trick the British.

Battle of Princeton• January 3, 1777• Washington attacks

inland.• British think he is at

Delaware.• Washington withdraws to

Morristown, NJ.• Victories at Trenton and

Princeton rally the spirits of the Americans.• British plans to end the war

in the winter of 1776-77.

Valley Forge

• Washington’s winter quarters for 1777-1778.

Quiz:

1. Who is commander-in-chief of the Continental Army?2. Who warned the Colonists that the British were coming ?3. During what years did the American Revolution take place? 4. Who are the Patriots? Who are the Loyalists?5. What is the shot heard around the world and when did it occur?6. What is the first official battle of the Revolutionary War?7. Why did George Washington cross the Delaware? 8. Where were the 2 battles that rallied the American army’s spirits

and spurred them on to fight? 9. Where did Washington spend his winters with his army?10. What are the unalienable rights?

Saratoga Campaign (or the late great 3 prong plan that failed)

1777

British Plan to Separate New England- 1777

All three would meet and All three would meet and defeat the American forces defeat the American forces

in Albany, NY.in Albany, NY.

Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger would lead troops from would lead troops from Lake Ontario to Hudson Lake Ontario to Hudson

River.River.

General John Burgoyne General John Burgoyne would lead troops from would lead troops from

Canada directly south into Canada directly south into New York.New York.

General Howe would lead General Howe would lead troops north from New York troops north from New York

up Hudson River.up Hudson River.

Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger

• Reaches Mohawk Valley on schedule.

• Engages American forces at Ft. Stanwix.

• Resistance led by Gen. Nicholas Herkimer and Gen. Benedict Arnold defeats British.• Arnold would defect to

the British in 1780.• Indian allies desert the

British and St. Leger retreats into Canada.

General John Burgoyne

• Descends south from Canada via Lake Champlain.

• Difficult to navigate the river and the forests.

• Supply lines running low.• Battle of Saratoga

• Engages the main American forces.

• October 17, 1777- Burgoyne surrenders all 6,000 of his troops.

General Howe• Howe sails southward

from New York.• Supposed to go North.• Leaves Burgoyne

stranded.• Sails into Chesapeake

Bay and marches into Philadelphia.• Engages Washington at

Brandywine and Germantown.

• No one is sure why Howe did not follow the plan.

• We win at Saratoga

• Turning point of the Revolutionary War

• Huurrrrah!

French Support Benjamin Franklin

sent to France to negotiate.

1. Arms2. Favored matters of

trade3. Wage war on Britain

• Marquis de Lafayette arrives in America to help lead troops- 1778.

Foreign Aid• Spain and the

Netherlands• Some support

• Prussia• Baron Von Steuben

sent to organize the Continental Army.

• Poland• Casimir Pulaski and

Thaddeus Kosciusko• Planned American

defense.

Change of Plans

• Addition of France to war changes British war tactics.

• General Howe resigns and is replaced by Sir Henry Clinton

• Clinton orders the withdrawal of troops from Philadelphia.

Cornwallis in Yorktown• Cornwallis settles in

Yorktown on the southern edge of Chesapeake Bay.

• Able to use the port to supply troops.

• American forces too weak to attack.• Lafayette and French

troops watching and waiting.

• Washington still in New York watching Clinton.

The French Arrive• Admiral deGrasse

• Commander of the French fleet.

• Stationed in the West Indies.

• Lends French navy to America.

• Asks Washington, “Where could my navy be used most effectively?” Washington says “Lets look at the geography of Yorktown”

I hear I have a

daughter Mowa

Washington’s Plan

• Geography matters!!!!! The French fleet used to close off Chesapeake Bay and cut Cornwallis’ supply line.

• Washington marches American army towards New York.• Clinton thinks city will

be attacked.

• Instead, Washington joins French and strikes Cornwallis at Yorktown.

Washington’s Plan

British occupy British occupy Yorktown w/ 7500 Yorktown w/ 7500

troopstroops

Washington occupies Washington occupies area 6 miles outside area 6 miles outside Yorktown w/ a force Yorktown w/ a force

of 5700 Continentals, of 5700 Continentals, 3100 militia men, and 3100 militia men, and 7000 French troops.7000 French troops. Washington has 28 Washington has 28

French warships French warships placed at the mouth of placed at the mouth of

the York River.the York River.

Cornwallis Surrenders• Americans fire a large Americans fire a large

artillery barrage on artillery barrage on Yorktown for 9 days.Yorktown for 9 days.• Washington fired the Washington fired the

first cannon.first cannon.• British trapped.British trapped.

• French fleet to the east.French fleet to the east.• Entire American force Entire American force

plus 7,000 French plus 7,000 French soldiers to the north and soldiers to the north and west.west.

• British fleet attempts to British fleet attempts to run through the French run through the French warships, but failswarships, but fails

• October 19, 1781October 19, 1781• Cornwallis surrendersCornwallis surrenders..

I believe

Cornwallis is crying in his tent but he

sent his sword

Problems During the War and yet we won…….

• AmericaAmerica• Small number of

colonists willing to fight.

• Lack of effective central government.

War StatisticsWar Statistics• 250,000 soldiers• 4,435 battle deaths• 6,188 wounded

• BritainBritain• Geography of an

unfamiliar land.• Mismanagement by

the King at home.• Hessians not loyal to

the British or its colonies.

Washington Resigns

• December 23, 1783

• Washington resigns as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.

• Returns to plantation at Mount Vernon.

Men, I have not fought a King to become a King

over you

Peace Treaty of Paris 1783

1. Independence to America.

2. All the land between the Appalachians to the Mississippi- Great Lakes to Florida.

3. Right to fish the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Newfoundland.

Do not confuse this peace

treaty with the one in 1763

Quiz: 1. During what years did the American

Revolution take place? 2. Who are the Patriots? Who are the Loyalists?3. What is the shot heard around the world?4. What is the first official battle of the

Revolutionary War?5. What is the turning point of the war?6. What is the battle that rallied the American

army and spurred them on to fight? 7. Where did Washington spend his winters

with his army?8. Who is the British general who surrenders to

the Americans?9. Where did the British surrender to the

Americans and end the war? 10. What is the treaty that ends the war?

The End By Miz D