Chapter 8 America Secedes from the Empire, 1775 – 1783

Congress Drafts George Washington Congress select George Washington to head the army besieging Boston Washington would actually lose more battles than he won Known for his patience, courage, self-discipline, and a sense of justice

Bunker Hill and Hessian Hirelings The curious war of inconsistency May 1775 – a American force under Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold capture Ticonderoga

June 1775 – Bunker Hill July 1775 – the Continental Congress adopted the “Olive Branch Petition’’

The Hessians George III. Hires thousands of German troops Most soldiers-for-hire came from the German principality of Hessen

The Abortive Conquest of Canada October 1775 – the British burn Falmouth (Portland), Maine October 1775 – the rebels invade Canada under General Richard Montgomery January 1776 – the British set fire to Norfolk

Thomas Paine Preaches Common Sense Loyalty to the empire was deeply ingrained 1776 – Thomas Paine published Common Sense Colonies had outgrown any need for English domination and should be given independence

Paine and the Idea of “Republicanism” Paine calls for a new kind of political society The republic Power comes from the people themselves

Jefferson’s “Explanation” of Independence Richard Henry Lee “These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states. . . .’’ Congress creates committee of 5 delegates to draft a declaration of independence

Declaration of Independence Issued July 4, 1776 The declaration drafted by Jefferson listed specific grievances of King George III’s government

The King’s Government’s Response King George III (American signers reason to fear) “…You are to be hanged by the neck, but not until dead; for while you are still living your bodies are to be taken down, your bowels torn out and burned before your faces, your heads then cut off, and your bodies divided each into four quarters, and your heads and quarters to be then at the King’s disposal; and may the Almighty G-d have mercy on your souls.”

Patriots and Loyalists The Loyalists or “Tories’’ Loyalists most numerous where the Anglican church was strongest The Patriots or “Whigs’’ Rebels were most numerous where Presbyterianism and Congregationalism flourished

The Loyalist Exodus Loyalists after the Declaration of Independence Loyalists become subjected to some brutality Hundreds were imprisoned, and some were hanged Leading Loyalists flee to the British lines

General Washington at Bay The British move to New York 1776 – The Battle of Long Island Washington escaped to Manhattan Island

The Battle at Trenton – December 26, 1776 Washington re-crossed the Delaware River Defeats the Hessians

Burgoyne’s Blundering Invasion British plan to capture the vital Hudson River valley in 1777 General (“Gentleman Johnny’’) Burgoyne leads the British army The Battle of Saratoga – October 17, 1777 Burgoyne is forced to surrender his entire command

Valley Forge Washington and the Continental Army fight to stay alive at their winter camp in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania More than 2,000 soldiers died Foreign Help Friedrich von Steuben Marquis de Lafayette

Strange French Bedfellows British offer home rule after the Battle of Saratoga The French provide firearms and gunpowder 1778 – France offers open alliance

The Colonial War Becomes a World War 1779 – Spain and Holland enter the war against Britain The British evacuate Philadelphia and concentrate their strength in New York City Until 1781, Washington remained in the New York area hemming in the British

Blow and Counterblow 1780 – General Benedict Arnold turns traitor The British invade the southern colonies in 1778–1779 General Nathaniel Greene succeeded in clearing most British troops out of Georgia and South Carolina

The Land Frontier and the Sea Frontier The Iroqouis Confederacy splits The Oneidas and Tuscaroras side with the Americans The Senecas, Mohawks, Cayugas, and Onondagas joined the British 1784 – pro-British Iroquois sign the Treaty of Fort Stanwix

Americas Navy John Paul Jones – father of the navy American privateers

Yorktown and the Final Curtain General Cornwallis falls back to Chesapeake Bay at Yorktown Admiral de Grasse blockades the Chesapeake

Washington’s and Rochambeau’s army surround the British Cornwallis surrenders on October 19, 1781 “The World Turn’d Upside Down’’

Peace at Paris 1783 Terms: Britain would recognize the existence of the United States as an independent nation The Mississippi River would be the western boundary of the U.S. Americans would have fishing rights off the coast of Canada Americans would pay debts owed to British merchants and honor Loyalists claims for property confiscated