Day 2

DO NOW Read the documents provided. Decide which document would be from the perspective of a LOYALIST and which would be from the perspective of a REBEL. How did you decide this?

Objectives Students will discuss the differing opinions of loyalists and patriots. Students will write a persuasive letter stating why they do/do not support independence. Students will determine how the struggle for independence was affected by Enlightenment concepts.

Warm up: Choosing Sides Patriots – Supported the Revolution Loyalists – Americans who supported the King Red Coats/ Lobsterbacks – British Army When teams were divided up to pick sides in the battle, American colonists were split. One-third were for the Revolution; they called themselves Patriots. One-third who named themselves Loyalists were against it. One-third apparently didn’t care to choose sides. When it was all said and done, two major groups of the War emerged. The first lineup included the Patriots fighting against King George III. The second group were the Loyalists teamed up with the king’s Red Coats, called Lobsterbacks, fighting against the Patriots.

“I Will Not Fight”

Write a letter You’re a young colonist in the early 1770s. Write a short letter (paragraph max) to your newspaper’s editor stating why you do or do not support independence from Great Britain. Explain your reason(s).

Midnight Ride American colonists stockpiled weapons in Concord, Massachusetts. 800 British troops marched through Lexington on the way to Concord Paul Revere: “The British are coming!”

Witness Account We Nathaniel Mulliken, Philip Russell, (Followed by the names of 32 other men present on Lexington Green on April 19, 1775) . . . all of lawful age, and inhabitants of Lexington . . . do testify and declare, that on the nineteenth of April, about five o’clock in the morning, we proceeded towards the Green, and saw a large body of troops marching towards us. Some of our men were coming to the Green, and others had reached it, at which time, they began to disperse. While our backs were turned on the British troops, they fired on us, and a number of our men were instantly killed and wounded, not a gun was fired by any person in our company on the British soldiers to our knowledge before they fired on us, and continued firing until we had all made our escape. Lexington, April 25, 1775.

The document is sworn testimony by 34 colonists The document is sworn testimony by 34 colonists. The testimony was given six days after the battle, so the colonists might have been able to talk to one another and agree to tell the same story. “To our knowledge” none of them fired first… Why did they feel the need to give a sworn testimony?

“The Shot Heard ‘Round the World”: Lexington & Concord March 1775 “Minutemen” 70 minutemen on the Village Green Uncertain which side fired first 50 Americans killed; 45 wounded or missing 65 British killed; 208 wounded or missing

American Military Leaders George Washington: Commander of Americans Forces Nathanael Greene: Top Military Strategist Henry Knox: Artillery Expert Benedict Arnold: Commander under Washington George Washington wasn’t a one-man band. He was assisted by other American military leaders, including top strategist Nathanael Greene and artillery expert Henry Knox, both of whom excelled at a variety of military tasks.

British Military Leaders General Clinton (NY) General Charles Cornwallis (South) General John Burgoyne Benedict Arnold (wait…what?) All considered America one of the worst places to serve The English didn’t exactly find America an ideal vacation spot to hold a war. Great Britain’s military leaders, such as General Charles Cornwallis and General John Burgoyne often considered America one of the least desirable places to serve. The dense forests and seasonally extreme heat offered major obstacles to traditional warfare.

Losers take all… 1776 was not the best year for the American Army or Washington

Battle of Trenton- 1776 Surprise attack the day after Christmas The third significant battle called the Battle of Trenton was a surprise attack by General Washington. Washington and his men crossed the Delaware on Christmas night 1776. They caught trained German soldiers, known as Hessians, napping early the next morning. Washington’s brilliant strategy led to a great American victory. Surprise attack the day after Christmas Washington crossed the Delaware Approximately 1000 German soldiers fighting for the British captured

Battle of Saratoga – 1777 After the American victory France changed its policies. Feb. 1778 France and America formed an alliance France declared war on Britain the next month

Battle of Saratoga- 1777 The turning point of the war The biggest American victory at the time Approximately 5,000 British surrender to Washington A major turning point of the war occurred as a result of the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777. It was the biggest American victory at the time. British General Burgoyne surrendered to American General Horatio Gates.

Valley Forge 1777-1778 American Army out of food and clothing Valley Forge briefly a refuge Supplies ran out and many died Washington appeals to Congress for help Low point for American Army Any deserters are shot Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, saw the Americans in a battle not against the British but rather against nature. The winter of 1777-1778 was a time for Americans to regroup, re-supply, and train. The American Army had run out of food and clothing, and Washington had to appeal to Congress for help because supplies were quickly used up at Valley Forge. Also, the bitter cold added to the deaths of many exhausted, wounded, maimed, malnourished, and dispirited soldiers. The American Army reached a low point during this time.

Battle of Yorktown- 1781 French blockade aided this final battle Escape for the British was impossible British General Cornwallis faced American forces approximately twice his size The end was in sight with the Battle of Yorktown. The Americans were aided by a French blockade making British escape impossible. British General Cornwallis faced American forces approximately twice his size and no where to go.

Yorktown

Yorktown Approximately 8,700 British troops surrendered The last campaign of the Revolution took place in the south at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781. About 8,700 British troops surrendered when the Americans and the French naval fleet pinned in the British in a series of brilliant strategic maneuvers. General Benjamin Lincoln accepted the surrender sword from a Cornwallis aide. The British bands played “The World Turned Upside Down.”

The Treaty of Paris 1783: The Treaty of Paris officially ends the Revolutionary War Set geographic borders of U.S. & Canada The Treaty of Paris in 1783 officially ended the American Revolution.

The Aftermath: Penalties inflicted on Loyalists Some Loyalists were “tarred and feathered” and put on ships bound for Canada or Great Britain Penalties awaited those who had been loyal to the king or who did not support the Revolutionaries’ cause. For example, some Loyalists were “tarred and feathered.” Ships waited in numerous harbors to transport Loyalists back to Great Britain or to Canada. Many descendants of former Loyalists reside in Canada today.

3-2-1 Exit Ticket 3 important events leading up to the Revolution 2 important leaders 1 battle you think was the most significant