Creation of the United States: The American Revolution (GA SSUSH 4a-d)

John Locke – Natural Rights – Equality – The Right of Revolution – Consent of the Governed Thomas Jefferson – Drafted the Declaration – Borrowed from European Philosophy Portrait of Thomas Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale in 1800.

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume…the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them... We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. …when a long train of abuses and usurpations… [place] them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security…

Only 33% of colonists were in favor of a war for independence 33% Revolutionaries 33% Loyalists 33% Neutral State/colony loyalties Congress couldn’t tax to raise money for the Continental Army Poor training (until the arrival of Baron von Steuben)

War of Attrition (Fight an insurgent war: you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down) Guerilla tactics (Hit-and-run Warfare) Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies…France “Divide and Conquer” Attack at NY and split New England from other colonies Attack at Virginia and rely on Carolina loyalists to help fight Block Ports to stop supply flow The goal wasn’t to cripple the Colonies. It was to win them back.

British suffered 40%+ casualties

Painted by Emanuel Leutze, 1851

Britain thought that there were more Loyalists in the South. Southern resources were more valuable/worth preserving. The British win a number of small victories, but cannot pacify the countryside [similar to U. S. failures in Vietnam!] Good US General: Nathanial Greene

Admiral De Grasse Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, Marshall of France

Watch: 35:00- 42:00

By John Trumbull, depicting the British surrendering to French (left) and American (right) troops. Oil on canvas, 1820.