Transcript The American Revolution

The American Revolution
1776-1783
Review
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Lexington and Concord
Formation of Continental Army
Battle of Bunker Hill
British Retreat from Boston
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Common Sense
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Declaration of Independence
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United Streaming
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American Revolution:
Quiz and Discussion: The First Continental
Congress and the Battle of Lexington and
Concord (00:52)
The Second Continental
Congress (00:57)
The Battle of Bunker Hill
(02:09)
Thomas Paine (02:26)
The
Declaration of Independence (03:03)
Review:
Causes of the American Revolution (01:48)
Geography
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Outline map of colonies and main battle
sites, also cities
Cities: NY, Boston, Philadelphia, Princeton,
Trenton, Saratoga, Bennington, Montreal,
Ft. Ticonderoga, Hudson, St. Lawrence,
Mohawk River, Lake Ontario, Delaware
River
Quiz on map
Do Now:
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Revolution
What does revolution mean?
What is the difference between revolution
and rebellion?
Take a dictionary from the closet and
write down the two definitions and what
you think the difference is?
Main Ideas
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Battles of the Revolution
People
Strategies
Hardships
Results
Do Now:
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How did the British and American
strategies differ during the early
years of the war? Consider:
What the British expected from the
Americans
Washington’s main goals for the
Continental Army
Why Burgoyne invaded from Canada
Life in the 18th Century
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The average child had roughly a 50%
chance of surviving to adulthood
Slavery legal in all thirteen colonies
Women could not vote, hold public office,
and unless widowed, own property in
most colonies
Life in the 18th Century
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Travel was slow and uncertain, by water, ships
depended on wind; by land, a rider on
horseback might hope to cover 30 miles in a
day, a passenger in a coach, just 20
How long would it take to ride from Greenwich
to Boston?
Aside from sunlight, only source of heat was
fire, usually from a fireplace
After sunset, illumination from moonlight or
candlelight
Life in the 18th Century
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No indoor plumbing: the flush toilet, kitchen
faucet, and bathroom are 19th century
innovations – chamber pots, outhouses, and
buckets a way of life
Privacy a rare privilege for most: people,
including children at home and strangers at inns
shared beds
Aside from a minority of city dwellers, most
people were farmers
Life in the 18th Century
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There was no anesthesia for surgery or
childbirth
Every household produced some, if not all, the
candles, soap, foodstuffs, and clothing it
required
The medieval idea that the four humors still
dominated medical theory, so bloodletting and
purging were employed to restore balance of
black and yellow bile, blood and phlegm, and
thus presumably good health
Capture of Ft. Ticonderoga by
Ethan Allen, May 1775
What Do You Think?
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What sacrifices do civilians make during wartime?
How might these be different from today’s Iraq war?
What sacrifices do soldiers make?
Are such sacrifices worth it to win independence for your
country?
Why or why not?
What personal possessions would you be willing to
sacrifice to preserve your freedom?
What event in recent years reminds you of political
independence?
What Do You Think?
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Why did the Patriots persist in declaring
independence even though it might lead
to a war they could not win?
Americans Divided
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Opinion polls did not exist in the 1700’s,
historians estimate the following
How would historians come up with these
figures?
Loyalists 20-30%; Patriots 40-45%; remainder
neutral
Pacifists
Most Americans did not support the Revolution
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How would these numbers affect the war?
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Continental Army
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Image of soldiers, inferences
Native Americans & African
Americans
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Native Americans divided on both sides, some
joined the British fearing that an American
victory would lead to loss of land
African-Americans at first not able to enlist in
many colonies, slave owners feared revolts
British governor offered freedom to any
enslaved person who joined the British army,
many slaves ran away
About 5,000 African Americans served in the
Continental Army, many hoped their service
would lead to greater equality
Creating an Army
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With a majority against the Revolution,
raising an army difficult
George Washington, commander of the
Continental Army
Men enlisted at first for one year, later
extended, when time up, went home
Washington’s army never numbered more
than 17,000
Continental Army
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Continental Army poorly supplied by Congress, short of
blankets, food, shoes, guns, ammunition
Many women helped by cooking, laundry, nursing
British thought the Americans were disorganized,
inexperienced rebels
British thought a decisive victory could end the war
Washington’s main goal to survive, keep an army, win
some battles, and avoid a crushing defeat
Washington could not hope to win a major battle until he
had a large, well equipped army
Continental Army
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United Streaming:
The Continental Congress and the
Continental Army (06:33)
The
Continental Congress and the American
Revolution (01:52)
George Washington
and the Continental Army (03:23)
The
British and Continental Armies (01:17)
Struggle for Middle States
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In 1776, British had been forced to retreat
from Boston
British goal to occupy coastal cities, where
they could land troops and supplies
In July 1776, British under General Howe
arrived in New York with a large army
Mercenary: professional soldier hired to
fight for a foreign country (Hessians)
Struggle for Middle States
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For several months, British and American
armies fought for New York state
New York campaign
British forced Washington to retreat
through New Jersey
In December, American army crossed
Delaware River into Pennsylvania, army in
terrible condition
New York Campaign
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United Streaming
Continental Army at Valley Forge
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Primary sources and images of poor
conditions
Excerpts from Thomas Paine’s The
American Crisis
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United Streaming: Valley Forge
Battles of Trenton, Princeton
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Washington under pressure as many of his
troops’ enlistments up on Dec. 31
On December 25, American army crossed
Delaware and surprised Hessians in Trenton
900 Hessians captured or killed, many supplies
captured
Eight days later, American army defeats British
at Trenton
United Streaming: Battle of Trenton (3:00)
British Strategy
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Strategy: overall plan of action
British strategy: seize Hudson River Valley,
cut off New England from other states
Three British armies to meet in Albany
General Burgoyne south from Canada
Lieutenant St. Leger away from Lake
Ontario down Mohawk Valley
General Howe north from NYC
Britain’s Strategy
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June 1777 Burgoyne left Canada, captured Fort
Ticonderoga
Burgoyne’s delays gave Americans time to block path,
slowed by swampy conditions
Rendezvous: meeting
Burgoyne received word that Howe would not come
north, instead invade Penn.
Howe defeated Washington at Brandywine, but did not
capture him, occupied Philadelphia
Washington attacked British at Germantown but lost and
retreated
United Streaming: The Military Strategy of General
Burgoyne (01:08)
Battles Along the Mohawk
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Lt. Colonel St. Leger and Iroquois allies
led by Mohawk chief Joseph Brant tried to
reach Albany
Fooled by American General Benedict
Arnold that American army large, British
retreated and left behind supplies
Because of St. Leger’s retreat and Howe’s
refusal to follow the strategy, no one left
to rendezvous with Burgoyne
Saratoga: A Turning Point
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Burgoyne running out of supplies, sent raiding
party to Vermont, defeated at Battle of
Bennington in August 1777
Burgoyne’s army headed to Albany, attacked
Gen. Gates forces at Saratoga, NY, heavy British
casualties, but they held on
Another battle at Saratoga in October forced the
British to retreat
Burgoyne’s exhausted forces captured at a third
battle in Saratoga, surrender
These battles called the Battles of Saratoga
Saratoga: A Turning Point
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Benedict Arnold married a Loyalist, felt not
rewarded enough
In 1780 he agreed to turn over an American fort
to the British, plot discovered but he escaped
On positive side, victory at Saratoga a turning
point in the Revolution, caused Europeans to
think Americans might win, several European
nations decide to help America
The Surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga. October 1777
7.2 HW
The War Expands
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To defeat the mighty British Empire, the U.S.
needed an ally
Ally: country that agrees to help another
achieve a common goal
U.S. turned to France, Britain’s longtime enemy
for troops, supplies, money, sent Ben Franklin
France did not agree to an alliance until after
the American victory at Saratoga
Why would France be upset with Britain?
Help From Abroad
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By signing an alliance with the U.S., France
went to war with Britain
France sent money, supplies, ships and
troops
France persuaded its ally Spain to help the U.S.
Small Spanish army took Natchez, Baton Rouge,
Mobile and Pensacola
Spain wanted more empire in North America
France and Spain forced Britain to fight a
number of enemies on land and sea,
prevented Britain from concentrating all of
its forces against the Americans
Do Now
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Take out 7.2 notes
How did Lafayette and other
European officers help the
Continental Army?
What did the Continental Army
experience at Valley Forge and how
did it affect it in the long run?
Do Now
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Turn in Valley Forge homework
Get with your skit groups, quickly finish
preparations and get ready to present
Europeans Help Washington
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European military officers from Poland, France,
and the German states came to help the
Americans
Marquis de Lafayette, French nobleman,
volunteered, given command of division,
beloved, close to Washington
Baron von Steuben, a German, trained the
Continental Army
Formed troops into companies, taught them how
to move in lines and columns, handle weapons,
make charges with bayonets (long steel knives
attached to the ends of guns)
Winter at Valley Forge
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Late 1777, Gen. Howe forces Washington to
retreat from Philadelphia
Winter of 1777-8 army camped at Valley Forge
Terrible conditions: barefoot, hungry, sick
25% of soldiers die from malnutrition, exposure
to cold, disease
Some soldiers deserted, but most stayed due
to patriotism, Washington
Valley Forge
Dec. 19, 177-June 19, 1778
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In February, almost 5,000 soldiers were
too sick to fight, another 3,700 lacked
either shoes or clothes
Shipments intended for troops often stolen
by government employees
Many local farmers refused to sell food to
the army. Others would not sell because
American currency was worthless
Valley Forge
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Common ailments include typhus and
dysentery
Desertions exceed 2,000; by February 810 men leave every day
When frostbitten, flesh dies, turns black.
Gangrene can spread through the body
and can be fatal. Amputations performed
without anethestics, so amputees often
died from infections anyway.
Winter of 1777-8 at Valley Forge, Washington and Lafayette
War on the Frontier
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In 1777 frontiersman George Rogers Clark
raised an army to defend the frontier from
British and Native Americans
Captured British posts and forts
Clark’s victories gave Americans a hold on
the vast region between the Great Lakes
and the Ohio River
Spread British thin, made them defend
huge area
[United Streaming, George Rogers Clark 3:25]
War at Sea
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By 1777 British have 100 warships off coast of
America, controlled trade routes
American privateers attacked British trade
ships
Privateers: privately owned ship that
government gives permission to attack enemy’s
merchant ships
More than 1,000 American privateers captured
hundreds of British ships, disrupted trade
Prompted British merchants to demand end to
war
Naval Hero
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In 1779, Continental officer led four American
ships patrolling English coast
Approached a convoy of supply ships guarded
by two British warships
His ship the Bonhomme Richard rammed the
Serapis
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with both ships locked, British demand surrender
“I have not yet begun to fight!”, shouted Jones
Naval Hero
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After a three hour battle, British
surrendered, Bonhommie so full of holes,
it sank, Americans sailed away in Serapis
The success of Jones vs. the best
navy in the world inspired the
Americans and angered the British;
brought war to the British
John Paul Jones
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Born John Paul in Scotland, by 21 commanded a
merchant ship
In 1773, Paul killed the leader of a mutiny on his
ship, fled to America to avoid a murder trial,
added Jones to his name
His ship first to fly American colors
His attack on Whitehaven, England the last
invasion of British mainland
His raids in the English channel and coastal
towns spread panic, brought war to England
Do Now
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What are three things you learned in
writing your newspaper articles?
Why did the British invade the South
after several unsuccessful years of
fighting in the North?
Why was fighting between Patriots
and Loyalists in the South so vicious?
Do Now
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Write down homework
Take out hw (maps/ outfoxing the pros)
Test next Wed. (library visit next day)
Library card
What are the pros and cons of
guerrilla warfare?
Why is it difficult for the U.S. to
combat guerrillas in Afghanistan?
• Why did the British move the war South?
• What did the loss at the Battle of Charles Town mean for
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the Continental Army?
What kind of "guerrilla war" was fought in the South?
What role did the Swamp Fox play?
What does General Greene accomplish?
Why did the British lose at Yorktown and what was the
significance of the battle?
What role did the French play in helping the Americans win
the war?
Why did the Americans win? Looking at the chart on page
218, what was the most important American strength and
British weakness?
What did Washington mean in his farewell letter, that the
army's endurance "through almost every possible suffering
and discouragement for the space of eight long years, was
little short of a miracle."?
Path to American Victory
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British believing that most Southerners Loyalist,
moved war there in 1778
After three years of fighting in North no closer to
victory, could not control countryside
Thought if they could take the South, loyalists
there would hold it
Expected African slaves to join them, had
promised freedom, many did, others sold
Closer to bases in West Indies (troops and
supplies)
Do Now
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This weekend read 7.3, look over review
sheet on hw page
What was the most interesting thing you
learned about your topic? What surprised
you?
If you went back in time, would you have
wanted to be this person?
Savannah & Charleston
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In December 1778, British captured
Savanah, Georgia, conquered most of
Georgia
British seize Charleston, South Carolina,
nearly take all of American’s Southern
army, worst American defeat of war
The 1779 Battle of Savannah was one of the deadliest of the entire American
Revolution. The overwhelming defeat of French and American forces resulted
in an allied withdrawal and in approximately 800 wounded or killed, with British
losses totaling 55 wounded or dead.
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The British victory in Savannah rekindled England's spirit for the war, in part
because the victory defeated troops of the regular army of France as well as
American rebels. The battle marked the first time French regular army units
fought on American soil in the Revolutionary War.
The fall of Charleston was a sad blow to the patriot cause -- the most disastrous
event of the war, except the fall of Fort Washington on the Hudson four years before.
It gave Clinton control of South Carolina as well as of Georgia, and that offlaer now
called away for New York, leaving Cornwallis in command with five thousand men.
During the following months the scene in the Carolinas and Georgia was one of wild
disorder and anarchy. A large portion of the people were loyalists, and scarcely a day
passed without hand to hand encounters, bloodshed, and murder. The patriots
were without an army, but bands of roving volunteers annoyed the British incessantly.
Swamp Fox & Guerrilla War
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British army in South led by General
Cornwallis, new American Southern army led
by General Gates
American spirits fell as a starved, ill equipped
army lost in South Carolina
Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox”, carried out
guerrilla raids
Guerrilla: small groups of soldiers who weaken
enemy with surprise hit and run attacks
Both Patriots and Loyalists carried out vicious
guerrilla raids against each other
Francis Marion – the Swamp Fox
Battle of Camden (August 1780)
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General Gates and his troops out of
supplies and starved, makes mistake of
putting inexperienced militia up front
Americans panic, Gates flees, Kalb stands
his ground, but killed
Gates fired, American defeat sinks spirits
to new low
Now and Then
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American Revolution similar to more recent wars
World’s most powerful nation –Britain – bogged
down in war against small guerrilla army – the
Patriots
British superpower had to supply forces from
thousands of miles away, war unpopular in
Britain
Patriots received assistance from Britain’s
primary military and political enemy - France
Tide Turns
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Battle of Kings Mountain near border of North
and South Carolina (1780)
Loyalist and British soldiers surrounded and
slaughtered, many after surrendering
Reprisal for loyalist raids
General Nathanael Greene new American
commander in South, kicked out of Quaker
church for not being pacifist
Pacifist: opposed to war
Patriots wore out British with small skirmishes
designed to inflict heavy losses
The End of the War
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In 1781 most of fighting took place in
Virginia
British General Cornwallis set up base at
Yorktown on Chesapeake Bay
Washington took advantage, August 1781
French fleet arrived and blocked the Bay
Large French force under General
Rochambeau joined Washington
Battle of Yorktown
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American and French troops bombarded
British troops with cannon fire
On October 19, 1781 Cornwallis
surrendered his force of 8,000 soldiers
Yorktown last major battle, some fighting
afterwards
British leaders forced to resign, new
British leaders began to negotiate a peace
treaty
Surrender of General Cornwallis at Yorktown, Oct. 19, 1781
Do Now
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Write down tonight’s hw
Quietly answer first three questions on
sheet (your opinion)
Notes, skit, current events
Legacy of the War
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In November 1783, last British ships and
troops leave New York
Washington’s farewell letter to his troops
Americans won through persistence,
despite lack of training, experience,
supplies, weapons
December 4, 1783 Fraunces
Tavern, NYC
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Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge reports:
"After partaking of a slight refreshment in almost
breathless silence the Gen. filled his glass with wine and
turning to the officers said, 'With a heart full of love and
gratitude I now take leave of you. I most devoutly wish
that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as
your former ones have been glorious and honorable.‘..
"Gen. Knox being nearest to him turned to the
Commander In Chief Who suffused in tears was
incapable of utterance but grasped his hand when they
embraced each other in silence. In the same affectionate
manner every officer in the room marched up…and
parted with his general in chief. Such a scene of sorrow
and weeping I had never before witnessed and fondly
hope I may never be called to witness again."
American Advantages
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Better leadership – British
overconfident, did not correct mistakes,
Washington learned
Foreign aid: French troops, fleet, loans,
supplies
Knowledge of the land
Motivation
Treaty of Paris (1783)
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Treaty of Paris ended Revolutionary War
U.S. independent
Boundaries: Mississippi, Canada, Spanish Florida
U.S. could fish off of Canada
Each side to repay debts to other
British would return enslaved persons
Congress would recommend the states return
any property seized from Loyalists
Treaty of Paris (1783)
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Neither side fully lived up to the terms
Americans did not repay prewar debt
owed to British merchants or return
Loyalist property
The British did not return runaway slaves
or give up military outposts in the Great
Lakes area, including Fort Detroit
Treaty of Paris
Costs of the War
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Estimates of 25,700 Americans died in war;
1,400 missing; 8,200 wounded
(10,000 died in camp, 8,500 in British prisons,
7,200 died in battle)
British suffered about 10,000 military deaths;
7,000 Hessians
Many soldiers with little money or pay, some
given certificates for western land
Congress and states with debt of $27 million,
huge debt
Many loyalists lost their property, between
60,000 and 100,00 left the U.S.
Virginia Statute for Religious
Freedom
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Proposed by Thomas Jefferson in 1777
People have right to natural opinion, including
religious opinion
Opposed state laws barring Jews and Catholics
from holding state office
Opposed practice of tax money being used to
support churches
Eventually adopted as law in Virginia, served as
basis for religious rights in Constitution
Issues After the War
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Republicanism replaces idea of rights of
Englishmen
Republicanism: people rule, rather than the
king, obtain authority from people, responsible
to them
Calls for more religious freedom
Before war, some states discriminated against
Jews, Catholics
Stopped practice of using government money for
churches
Hopes of African-Americans
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Elizabeth Freeman, a slave, sued for her
freedom in Massachusetts and won (1781)
This and other similar cases ended slavery in
that state
Richard Allen: helped start the Free African
Society, also founded the African Methodist
Episcopal Church, the first African-American
church in the United States
Issues After the War
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Many saw a conflict between slavery and ideal of
liberty
A primary issue was how to shape the
government
Anger over British taxes, violation of rights, and
control of trade had caused the war
U.S. needed a government that would protect
citizens’ rights and economic freedom