Unit 3 Lecture The American Revolution US History Unit 3 Lecture The American Revolution

Two Great Struggles Military Conflict with Great Britain Political Conflict within America Independence? Structure of New Nation Big Questions (slavery)

Independence v. Reconciliation Second Continental Congress At first, Reconciliation Move Toward Independence British recruitment of Indians, slaves, “Hessians” Common Sense (January 1776) Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence Two Parts Locke’s Contract Theory (also Rousseau) Gov’ts to protect natural rights List of Grievances & Crimes What the king & Parliament had done wrong

Balance Sheet British Advantages American Advantages Military Superiority army and navy Resources of Empire Better central command Home field Greater commitment to cause (Later) Foreign Aid

Money & Soldiers Needed How to pay for war? States not contributing much (Congress had no power to tax) Continental currency worthless Solution: borrow from other nations What about the army? No centralized command Solution: GW put in charge

Phase One: New England Boston American attacks on troops in 1775 British victory at Bunker Hill British troops eventually withdrew in 1776

Phase Two: Mid-Atlantic 1776-1778 British mistakes and bad luck likely lost the war here General Howe (British) Took NYC Moved into NJ American victories at Princeton & Trenton

Phase Two: Mid-Atlantic Next British Strategy: Divide US in two Burgoyne (British) down from Canada Howe (British) up from New York Failed Plans Howe stayed in PA Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga (October 1777) Saratoga = Critical Point British offer of home rule French recognition of US (February 1778)

Phase Three: The South 1778-1781 British hope: To appeal to loyalists & slaves To the contrary: Support for independence increased as British troops moved through South (Meanwhile, stalemate in North) British surrender at Yorktown (October 17, 1781)

The Peace Players: USA, Great Britain, & France US negotiated separately with Britain Treaty of Paris (September 1783) American independence Land from Canada to Florida (not including), Atlantic to Mississippi River

War & Society Loyalists 1/5 – 1/3 of the colonial population Up to 100,000 fled Anglican church weakened; other denominations strengthened

War & Society Slaves North: All but NY & NJ abolished slavery by end of war South: Slavery survived Text: Conflict between liberty and slavery not as obvious as it is to us today

War & Society Native Americans White demand for Western land increased Indians treated as conquered people Paternalistic attitudes developed Women New roles, but little changed Patriarchal system strengthened Role of women as mothers valued Teaching of republican virtues

War & Society Economy Growing American independence Trade with other nations Interstate trade