The American Pageant

Chapter 8America Secedes from the Empire

1775-178313th edition

Congress Drafts George Washington

Minutemen arrive in Boston 2nd Continental Congress meets beginning

on May 10, 1775 Still no call for independence Washington selected as leader of army

From Virginia Great moral leader (not military)

Bunker Hill and Hessian Hirelings American inconsistency till July 1776 Bunker Hill—British win after hard fight Olive Branch Petition (July 1775) rejected

after Bunker Hill George III hires Hessians, shocks

Americans

The Abortive Conquest of Canada Americans almost conquer Canada Clearly an offensive move Boston evacuated & Norfolk burned

Thomas Paine Preaches Common Sense

Ingrained sense of loyalty to Britain gives way to rebellion

Paine’s Common Sense sold 120,000 Why should small Britain control huge

colonies?

Paine & the Idea of Republicanism Paine called for new or renewed form of

democracy, a REPUBLIC Colonies primed for a republic:

Self-government, no hereditary aristocracy, relative equality of landowners

Public good more important than private rights according to Paine

Jefferson’s “Explanation” of Independence

Richard Henry Lee of VA calls for independence on June 7, 1776

Jefferson writes Declaration Invokes “natural rights” of all mankind (Locke) If king denies rights, people justified in severing

connection List of grievances against king & his acts

Declaration was a uniting force

Patriots and Loyalists Revolution a minority movement Patriots=Rebels=Whigs Loyalists=Tories

Conservative, wealthy, older NYC, Charleston, Pennsylvania, NJ

The Loyalist Exodus Many loyalists badly treated 80,000 left America

General Washington at Bay Huge British fleet surrounds Washington

and troops in NYC Washington barely escapes to NJ Surprise American attack on Hessian

mercenaries the day after Christmas

Burgoyne’s Blundering Invasion British slowed down on approach from

Canada by Benedict Arnold Washington almost beaten by Howe;

overwinters in Valley Forge Burgoyne and British make it down from

Canada but are beaten at Saratoga

Strange French Bedfellows French want to get even with British After Saratoga, British offer Americans

everything they wanted…except independence—it’s too late!

French offer Alliance to Americans in 1778 Colonials hesitant to join with royalists, but

take the help

Colonial War Becomes a World War

Holland and Spain join France and America against the British

Armed Neutrality group stood by Americans held off the British till 1778 Foreign allies probably made the difference

in securing victory

Blow and Counterblow French start arriving Benedict Arnold turns traitor British turn to fighting in southern colonies

where there’s more loyalist support

The Land Frontier & the Sea Frontier

Some Iroquois joined with British, some with Americans

Clark captured British forts on Ohio River Legalized American pirates helped with

threat to British navy and merchants British merchants pushed government to

seek peace

Yorktown and the Final Curtain Just as things were getting desperate for

Americans… British General Cornwallis surrenders when

surrounded on three sides by Washington and French allies at Yorktown

Turning point, but fighting continued for another year

Peace at Paris George III wants to keep fighting Whigs take over British government and

call for peace American negotiators to consult w/French

Franklin, John Adams, John Jay

John Jay suspects French intentions and makes a deal with Britain

Peace continued Treaty gives America:

Independence Generous boundaries to Mississippi-Great

Lakes-Florida

America had to: Leave Loyalists alone, not block payment on

British debts, etc.

A New Nation Legitimized Britain wanted to

Weaken French/US alliance Reopen trade channels Avoid future territorial wars

French were Not happy with peace treaty but approved Glad fighting was over Allowed them to avoid commitments to Spain

U.S begins with “good fortune”