Chapter 6 Securing Independence, Defining Nationhood, 1776-1788

King Insults Us More December 1775: Prohibitory Act Prohibited trade Created a naval blockade Hired German mercenaries “Hessians.”

Opposing Sides By August 1776: British had sent 32,000 men under command of William Howe. Americans were poorly trained and inexperienced Britain had one of the best armies in the world. Continental Congress had no power to tax, they paper money, but it was completely worthless. Robert Morris pledged larges sums of money to the Continental Army Guerrilla warfare used by the Americans

Opposing Sides Fighting for rights French alliance Patriots Advantages: Home field Good generals Fighting for rights French alliance Disadvantages: Untrained soldiers Low food and ammunition Weak and divided central government British Advantages: Well trained and supplied army Wealth of resources Strong central government Disadvantages: Fighting far from home Hostile territory Low resources Troops and people home didn’t care about the war

Northern Campaign General Howe had a two part strategy: Part I: Massive military build up in NY Part II: Diplomacy. Invited delegates from the Continental Congress to peace talks Franklin, Adams, Rutledge.

Opening Moves Summer 1776: Continental Congress asks Washington to defend NYC after the British land on Long Island. Inexperienced Americans fled the scene and suffered over 1,500 casualties. Washington fled Manhattan and the British used it as their headquarters for the remainder of the war.

Nathan Hale and White Plains Washington sent Nathan Hale to spy on the British, disguised as a Dutch School teacher. He was captured and hanged. Said famously, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” October 1776: Washington then moved his troops north to White Plains, and again met the British. They then retreated to New Jersey.

Race to Philadelphia After Washington retreated, the Brits decide to march to Philadelphia Washington rushed to get there first. Winter begins. British took shelter in NJ and captured Ft. Lee and Ft. Washington.

Crossing the Delaware December 25, 1776: Washington led 2,400 men across the Delaware River into NJ. Attacked a sleeping group of Hessians at Trenton They killed or captured all 1,000 men. Americans suffered only 6 casualties. Known as the Battle of Trenton

Battle of Princeton At this time Cornwallis (Brit) moved from NY to Princeton. After their success at Trenton, Washington’s troops moved into Princeton and launched a surprise attack They scattered 3 British regiments Washington and his troops moved into the hills of NJ for the winter

Philadelphia Falls March 1777: General John Burgoyne planned to isolate New England Three-pronged attack: Move a large force south from Montreal to NY 2nd force from Montreal would move St. Lawrence River to take Ontario, then east to NY 3rd force led by Howe would march north from NYC, up the Hudson, and all 3 would meet in Albany. Small problem: They didn’t coordinate any of this.

Philadelphia Falls Howe did his own thing and attacked Philadelphia Sept. 11, 1777: Howe defeated Washington at Brandywine Creek and took Philadelphia The Continental Congress did escape

Valley Forge Continental Army went to Valley Forge, their winter quarters 2,500 men died from cold and scarce food Marquis de Lafayette (France) and Baron Friedrick von Steuben (Prussia) joined Washington to train the Army.

France enters the War Burgoyne had some early victories but could not fend off the Americans in upper NY. Turning point of the war was when Saratoga surrendered. This convinced France and Spain to enter the war, even though they had been secretly sending aid before this. Sept. 1776: Franklin was sent to France to ask for assistance.

America Makes its First Treaty Feb. 1778: France is the first country to recognize the United States Spain enters as an ally of France

War in the West (Ohio River Valley) 1778: American George Rogers Clark led troops though the Ohio River Valley and captured several settlements. Feb. 1779: British surrender, and America controls the ORV

Role of American Indians Chief Joseph Brant (Thayendanejea) united 4 Iroquois tribes against the Americans July 1778: Brits and Iroquois attacked Western PA and burned settlements. Summer 1779: American troops defeated the Iroquois in Western NY and eliminated the Iroquois threat. In SC and VA: Cherokee fought with Brits against Americans 1780: Militia defeated the Cherokee

War at Sea American navy (Navy? What Navy?) was largely made up of private ship owners called “privateers.” The British navy was the best. American privateers were issued “letters of marques.” These were licenses to attack British merchant ships. Americans seized millions of dollars in goods and damages the British economy.

John Paul Jones Originally from Scotland. Worked at as a soldier of fortune. Owned ship the Bonhomme Richard. Fought against two British ships, the Serapis and the Countess of Scarborough. He latched his ship to the Serapis and boarded it. He fought for about 3 hours, and the British surrendered.

Don’t be a Benedict Arnold Was a pharmacist by trade 1780: he was given command of forts at West Point, NY Soon after, he joined a plot to surrender West Point to the British. John Andre (British spy) was captured, he was carrying blueprints of West Point. We hanged him. Arnold escaped to a British warship on Hudson Bay, and was quickly made an officer He fought the Americans for the rest of the war, and lived out his days in England.

War in the South After Saratoga, General Howe resigned and General Clinton took his place. The South was key to the British, because they could make $$$$.

Savannah December 1778: 3,500 British troops captured the city, and took control over the back country. Restored the Royal Governor in GA Clinton then decided to move north. He attacked Charlestown, SC 14,000 British troops surrounded the city Americans surrendered and 5,500 American troops were captured and taken prisoner He went back to NYC, and Cornwallis took over the British troops in the South

Battle of Kings Mountain Two Calvary men: Tarleton and Ferguson were brutal and tried to subdue “over mountain men” (those living in the Appalachian Mountains). But, they would not be subdued, and 2,000 Americans overtook the 800 British troops. British surrendered on October 7, 1780 This completely destroyed Ferguson’s army Many southern farmers formed their own militias.

Battle of Cowpens Cornwallis retreated north for the winter Dec. 2, 1780: Nathaniel Greene took over American forces. Jan. 1781: Cornwallis went into NC Greene sent Daniel Morgan to intercept Cornwallis’s troops. Cornwallis sent Tarleton to meet up with Morgan. Tarleton and Morgan met at Cowpens (border of NC and SC). Jan. 17, 1781: British surrendered, and lost over 800 men.

The Beginning of the End Cornwallis decides he wants to go to VA, because he knew the French were coming. He went into VA without permission. Jan. 1781 British sent 1,500 troops to VA under the command of our friend Benedict Arnold.

Beginning of the End March 1781: 2,000 more British troops are sent under General William Phillips (but he dies of typhoid fever). Cornwallis takes over Phillips’ troops. **At the same time, American troops in NJ mutiny; this hurts morale Early summer 1781: French arrive with 5,000 troops, and then another 3,000 come later in the Summer.

Yorktown Sept. 28, 1781: French and American troops surround Yorktown and bombard it. Oct. 14, 1781: Alexander Hamilton leads a successful attack on the British. Oct. 19, 1781: 8,000 British troops leave the city and put down their arms. *This marks the last major land battle of the Revolution.

The End March 1781: Parliament decides it’s time to negotiate peace. Americans send Ben Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay.

Treaty of Paris Sept. 1783 U.S. is recognized at as new nation with MS River as its Western border Spain gets Florida back France gets colonies in Africa and Caribbean that it lost in the French and Indian War.