Bellwork for Dec. 16, 2013 Look at your strengths and weaknesses chart. Just looking at the chart which side do you think should have won the war and why? 2-3 sentences.

The American Revolution: 1775-1783

On the Eve of the Revolution ? Britain Americans Advantages ? Disadvantages

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.

Military Strategies The Americans The British Attrition [the Brits 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. Break the colonies in half by getting between the No. & the So. Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally. “Divide and Conquer”  use the Loyalists.

Phase I: The Northern Campaign [1775-1776]

The British suffered over 40% casualties. Bunker Hill (June, 1775) The British suffered over 40% casualties.

Phase II: NY & PA [1777-1778]

New York City in Flames (1776)

Washington Crossing the Delaware Painted by Emanuel Leutze, 1851

A modern-day re-enactment Saratoga: “Turning Point” of the War? A modern-day re-enactment

Bellwork for Dec. 17, 2013 In 2-3 sentences, explain why the British felt it was so important to capture Philadelphia.

Phase III: The Southern Strategy [1780-1781]

Britain’s “Southern Strategy” 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

The Southern Campaign Clinton’s focus will shift South Sails some of his forces (14,000) from NY to South Carolina The British will attack and control Charleston Clinton will return to NY, leaving Charles Cornwallis in command

The Southern Campaign The British are generally successful at the start, because they are better equipped than the Americans However, the British truly expected a lot of loyalists to jump over to their side; that really won’t happen in big enough numbers for the English As usual, the British will be successful in many conventional battles, but as the campaign drags on, they will continually have to deal with guerilla attacks Slowly and steadily, the Americans will start to chip away at the British

The Southern Campaign Within the first year of Southern combat, Cornwallis took control of most of South Carolina American leadership is somewhat ineffective at that point; Washington is still up North (butting heads with Congress and the French) Horatio Gates had been put in charge of the Southern forces, but he tended to fight the British head on (and that’s not a strategy that helps the Americans) Ultimately, Gates will need to be replaced; new commanding officer in the South will be Nathanael Greene Probably the 2nd best general in the American army, behind GW

The Southern Campaign Greene is younger and more realistic than Gates Understands that the Americans can’t go toe-to-toe with the British He will rely on smaller, faster armies that can strike quickly and run Greene wants to wear the British out

The Southern Campaign As for the English, Cornwallis actually starts to get bored in SC Believing that GA and SC are secure, he decides that he would like to start moving his armies North As he sees it, the war can’t end until Washington is forced to surrender; Cornwallis would like to force the issue The goal is to make a GW sandwich- Catch Washington in between the forces of Cornwallis and Clinton Cornwallis begins to move through South Carolina away from his base of ops in Charleston, through the Upstate region, and into North Carolina

The Southern Campaign This is where the Americans really use guerilla tactics; they really try to avoid open battlefields Greene and Daniel Morgan will shadow Cornwallis and make life difficult Also have militias under the command of Francis Marion (think Mel Gibson in “The Patriot”)

The Southern Campaign Cornwallis depends on loyalists for his extra forces, but when the going gets tough they will bail out Cornwallis is forced to chase after Greene, Morgan, and Marion, but it’s very tough to fight three armies at one (while still trying to march North) His armies are continually weakened, and there’s no way to reinforce them (supplies lines are cut off by Marion’s forces) After an exchange of letters, Cornwallis is instructed by Henry Clinton to head for Yorktown, VA and wait for navy transport to NY This is an awful idea

The Battle of Yorktown (1781) Count de Rochambeau Admiral De Grasse

Yorktown Yorktown is a peninsula French Navy will have it blockaded American/French armies will converge on the town Cornwallis is put under siege Ultimately he has to surrender This will end the major fighting in the American Revolution

Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown: “The World Turned Upside Down!” Painted by John Trumbull, 1797

Why did the British Lose???

North America After the Treaty of Paris, 1783

Articles of Confederation Government: 1781-1789

Wholesale Price Index: 1770-1789

Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist Strongholds at the End of the War

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation A unicameral Congress [9 of 13 votes to pass a law]. 13 out of 13 to amend. Representatives were frequently absent. Could not tax or raise armies. No executive or judicial branches.

State Constitutions Republicanism. Most had strong governors with veto power. Most had bicameral legislatures. Property required for voting. Some had universal white male suffrage. Most had bills of rights. Many had a continuation of state-established religions while others disestablished religion.

Occupational Composition of Several State Assemblies in the 1780s

Indian Land Cessions: 1768-1799

Disputed Territorial Claims Between Spain & the U. S.: 1783-1796

State Claims to Western Lands

Land Ordinance of 1785

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 One of the major accomplishments of the Confederation Congress! Statehood achieved in three stages: Congress appointed 3 judges & a governor to govern the territory. When population reached 5,000 adult male landowners  elect territorial legislature. When population reached 60,000  elect delegates to a state constitutional convention.

The United States in 1787

American Exports, To & From Britain: 1783-1789

Annapolis Convention (1786) 12 representatives from 5 states [NY, NJ, PA, DE, VA] GOAL  address barriers that limited trade and commerce between the states. Not enough states were represented to make any real progress. Sent a report to the Congress to call a meeting of all the states to meet in Philadelphia to examine areas broader than just trade and commerce.

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7 Daniel Shays Western MA Small farmers angered by crushing debts and taxes.

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7 There could be no stronger evidence of the want of energy in our governments than these disorders. -- George Washington