Transcript The American Revolution
Performance Objectives
•
PO 2
. Describe the significance of key events of the Revolutionary War: • major battles (e.g., Lexington, Saratoga, Trenton) • aid from France • surrender at Yorktown
More Performance Objectives
•
PO 3.
Describe the impact of the following key individuals on the Revolutionary War: – Benjamin Franklin – Thomas Jefferson – George Washington – Patrick Henry – Thomas Paine • King George III
Causes of the War
• British defeat French in French/Indian War – Defeat of Indians removes colonists’ perceived need for British protection – War costly for Brits and need add’l income • Stamp, Navigation, and Revenue Act force colonists to pay for protection • 1770 Boston Massacre – 5 dead after protesting taxation w/o representation
Causes of the War (cont.)
• Quartering Act – Colonists forced to house British troops – 3 rd Amendment of the Constitution • Real Causes – Colonists had intellectual differences with British gov’t – Spirit of independence brought about by frontier life – Belief in democracy over oligarchy
On the Eve of the Revolution ?
Britain Americans
Advantages
?
?
Disadvantages
?
?
Military Strategies
The Americans Attrition [the British had a long supply line].
Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war
you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down] Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies.
Rely on love of home to keep men fighting The British Break the colonies in half by getting between the North & the South.
Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally.
“Divide and Conquer”
use the Loyalists.
Loyalist Strongholds
Washington’s Headaches
Only 1/3 of the colonists were in favor of a war for independence [the other third were Loyalists, and the final third were neutral].
State/colony loyalties.
Congress couldn’t tax to raise money for the Continental Army.
Poor training [until the arrival of Baron von Steuben].
Phase I
:
The Northern Campaign
[1775-1776]
Fort Ticonderoga
• Ethan Allen, a blacksmith, leads the Green Mountain boys of Vermont against the fort which had many cannon.
• There was one guard and the officers were sleeping.
• The commander had to turn over 100 cannon and gunpowder.
Second Continental Congress
• 13 colonies send delegates to Philadelphia.
• Many do not want a war.
• The Olive Branch Petition is sent to King George asking him to repeal the Intolerable Acts.
• The Continental Army is created with George Washington as Commander in-Chief.
Bunker (Breed’s) Hill Jun 1775
• New “Continental Army” takes position on Breed’s Hill • They are told, “
Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes!”
because they have only a small amount of gunpowder • British conduct frontal assault – Poor judgement – flanks/rear exposed – 40% casualties for Brits (1,100 dead) • Colonials repel two assaults but run out of ammunition.
Bunker Hill (June, 1775)
The British suffered over 40% casualties.
Results of Bunker Hill
• Colonists convinced standing army was unnecessary • Showed colonial determination • Gen Howe forever failed to press victories • New colonial tactics: – Simple defensive – Hold at the Hudson
Brits Leave Boston
• By January 1776, the Continental Army surrounded Boston.
• The cannon captured at Ticonderoga were placed on a hill overlooking Boston and its harbor.
• Seeing that they were trapped, General Howe ordered his troops to go to Halifax, Canada.
Common Sense
• Many colonists remained loyal to Britain, even while patriots were fighting for freedom.
• Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called
Common Sense.
• This pamphlet asked anyone to
“show single advantage this continent can reap by being connected with Britain.
• Hundreds of thousands of copies were sold.
• Many loyalists changed their thinking because of Paine’s arguments.
Declaring Independence
• Delegates to the Continental Congress came to believe that declaring independence was necessary.
• Richard Henry Lee of Virginia offers a resolution that “
these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.”
• From that moment, delegates were considered traitors to their country. A traitor is one who betrays his or her own country.
• A committee is formed to write the declaration.
• John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman and Thomas Jefferson undertake this task.
• Jefferson is asked to write the document explaining to the world why the colonies were taking such a drastic step.
• On July 4 th , 1776, the Congress voted that the 13 colonies were “
free and independent States.
• Fireworks were invented later
The Declaration
• The first part explains the basic rights on which the nation is founded. Finish this phrase, “
We hold these truths to be self evident…………………
• The second part list the wrongs committed by Britain • The last section declares that the colonies had become “the United States of America.”
Phase II
:
NY & PA
[1777-1778]
New York
• G en. Howe (Brit) heads to New York City.
• Washington takes the Continental Army to defend the city.
• • Howe has 34,000 troops, 10,000 sailors, 30 warships and 400 smaller boats.
• Washington has 20,000 men and no navy.
• Losing the battles for New York, the Continentals retreat to New Jersey.
• Nathan Hale, a young Connecticut spy is captured behind British lines.
“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country”
were his last words…
New York City in Flames (1776)
Trenton and the Crossing
• Discouraged with losing, the Continentals are cold, hungry, deserting and many are due for re-enlistment • A victory is badly needed.
• Washington plans a surprise attack on Hessian troops (German mercenaries) in Trenton , New Jersey.
• He gets his troops across the frozen Delaware River in the dead of night on Christmas.
• On Dec. 26, the Continental Army takes over 1400 Hessians prisoner without losing a single soldier!
Washington Crossing the Delaware
Painted by Emanuel Leutze, 1851
Princeton
• After the Battle of Trenton, the British send General Charles Cornwallis to retake the city.
• Outside of Princeton, he sees the lights of Washington’s campfires.
• “
At last we have run down the old fox and we will bag him in the morning.”
• Washington had fooled Cornwallis by leaving the fires burning as he marched his troops behind British lines, winning another surprise victory.
• The army has new hope and confidence.
British Plan in Pennsylvania
• General Burgoyne (Brit) convinces King George that if New England is cut off from the other colonies the war will end.
• 3 British armies march on Albany, N.Y. from different directions.
• General Howe must take Philadelphia before going to Albany. He takes too much time • General St. Leger (Brit) moves slowly due to baggage carts.
• Burgoyne is surrounded in the village of Saratoga.
• The 3 armies never reached Albany…
Saratoga Oct 1777
• Brits only hold NYC, part of RI & Philadelphia • Brit plan is to hold on to major city, isolate North, and gain southern sentiment • Burgoyne moves south from Canada – Plan to take Albany, NY – Meeting up with Howe in NYC to cut North from South
Follies at Saratoga
• Burgoyne sets off with an overbundance of supplies/equipment – Movement extremely slow (1 mile/day) – Guerillas could easily stay ahead and slow further • The success of guerillas led to more partisan support • Burgoyne’s forces quickly wore down • Delays allow colonials to reinforce and win.
Significance of Saratoga
• Turning point of Revolution • French enters war, aligning with colonists • Brits now move focus to the South • Spain and Holland soon join war – British forced to protect its own borders from aggressors – British concerned about about long ocean supply lines
Saratoga: “Turning Point” of the War…
A modern-day re-enactment
Southern Campaign Late 1778
Brits felt there were more loyalists in South Southern resources more valuable Brits win small victories but unable to pacify countryside Greene vs Cornwallis Greene sacrificed mass for manuever Smaller forces more easily could live off land Provided add’l rally points for local militia Tempted Cornwallis to split his forces
Phase III
:
The Southern Strategy
[1780-1781]
The Swamp Fox
• In the southern battles, Americans began to employ hit and run, or guerrilla, tactics.
• Francis Marion of South Carolina led a small band of men who slept by day and traveled by night.
• He was known as the
Swamp Fox
because he appeared suddenly out of the swamps, attacked the British, and then retreated back to the swamps.
• His actions kept the British off balance
Battle of Cowpens 17 Jan 1781
Daniel Morgan – Colonial leader Very charismatic Expects only two good shots before falling back Eliminates unseasoned troops fleeing Numerically equal forces but Americans ¾ militia Colonials envelop Brits with militia and cavalry Brits lose 9/10 th of men due to overconfidence
John Paul Jones
• Although the American navy remained small, Americans attacked and captured British ships at sea.
• John Paul Jones, in command of the
Bonhomme Richard
, finds a British warship, the
Serapis,
guarding 39 merchant ships in the North Sea off the coast of Britain.
• He attacks, even though the
Serapis
is larger.
• When told to surrender, Jones states, “
I have not yet begun to fight!”
• His men board the warship and defeat the men in hand-to-hand fighting.
Tale of a Traitor
• By 1780, one of Washington’s most talented and successful generals, Benedict Arnold, was in command of the American fort at West Point.
• He was angry at what he felt was a lack of credit given to him for his victories.
• He offered to turn the fort over to the British!
• His plot almost succeeded but soldiers caught the messenger taking the offer to the British.
• Arnold escaped and joined the British and, to this day, a synonym for traitor is a “Benedict Arnold.”
Yorktown
• Cornwallis consolidates forces • French defeat British ships at Battle of Capes • Americans to front; French to rear • Brits surrender 17 Oct 1781
The Battle of Yorktown (1781)
Count de Rochambeau Admiral De Grasse
Painted by John Trumbull, 1797
British Forces
• Classic 18 th army century European – Linear tactics – Well-trained soldiers • Loyalty suspect in England – English sympathy for colonies – Employment of Hessians (mercenaries)
American Forces
Most local militia for local defense Troops often under-trained Quick to flee under fire Von Steuben Discipline instilled – little before his tenure Streamlined musket loading & uniformity Standardized training – speed and marksmanship Length of service impeded tactics
Impact of French
• Anxious to regain international position • French repeatedly help American cause: – Loans of money – Use of French ports by American privateers – Protected American vessels near French waters • Made English uneasy at home • French Navy critical at Yorktown
Failures of England
Initial plan could have worked Didn’t act with resolution Adequate forces were never provided Lacked unity of command and comm Commanders uncertain of objective Lord Germain directed from England Indecisive and slow to act Brits unable to exploit Royal Navy Focused on terrain (cities) instead of enemy
Weapons of the Era
• UNITED STATES – Rifle (minority) • More accurate • Longer to reload • No bayonet • Good guerilla weapon – Musket (majority) – Accurate fire • Hunters • Individual targets • BRITISH – Brown Bess musket • Volley fire • No target picked
Impact on Warfare
Democratization of warfare “Well regulated” militia Balanced rights with obligated military service Impact of “people’s army” fighting for a cause New concept of total war for total victory Changed tactics Rifle makes linear tactics difficult Brits adopt American tactics (cover and concealment)