Causes & the Revolutionary War American Revolution Standards 3-4 Causes & the Revolutionary War

More causes… standard 3 extras Thomas Paine – Common Sense Author - Thomas Paine Published in 1776 challenged the authority of the British government & the royal monarchy. The plain language that Paine used spoke to the common people of America and was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain. First Continental Congress 1774, delegates from 12 colonies met together – Georgia did not participate  agreed to halt trade with Britain. Expanded the militia of citizen soldiers (minutemen) throughout the colonies, in anticipation of armed conflict with Britain. Committees of Correspondence - colonial leaders from all but one colony (Pennsylvania), communicated ways to protest British policies.

Escalating Conflict: Lexington & Concord BRITISH ACTION: April 1775 General Gage sent troops to march on Concord, Mass. & seize colonial weapons & capture “rebel” leaders: Samuel Adams & John Hancock Results: Lexington: 8 colonists dead, 10 wounded After Concord: British suffered 273 causalities, colonists suffered less than 100 COLONIAL REACTION: Minutemen intercept the British and engage in battle—first at Lexington, and then at Concord. Patriot leader Paul Revere, who along with William Dawes, heard about the plan of the British & decided to spread the alarm. “The British are coming!”

Thomas Jefferson of Virginia was the principal author By July 1776, enough Americans were “patriots” that members of the Second Continental Congress formed a 5-man committee to draft a Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson of Virginia was the principal author All men are born with “natural rights” of life, liberty, & property Citizens can break their social contract with their gov’t when their gov’t becomes tyrannical “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” 2nd continental congress: 3 weeks after battles of Lexington & Concord – continental congress met in Philadelphia. Important people: Ben Franklin, John Hancock, Sam Adams 1st issue was defense  Congress voted to “adopt” the militia army surrounding Boston. It was based on the “enlightened” ideas of John Locke & explained why the colonists were rebelling

Americans who backed Britain were known as Loyalists, or Tories. People who believed Britain had become tyrants were known as Patriots, or Whigs. Patriots vs. Loyalists What is a Patriot & what is a Loyalist? Where were the Loyalist strongholds? Why might Indians have been loyalists?

Based on this word cloud, hypothesize THREE major themes present in the Declaration of Independence?

Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) Severing all ties with Great Britain and declaring themselves the United States of America Committee to draft the Declaration: Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, & Roger Sherman

Founding Fathers video: “We Declare our Independence” http://www.jibjab.com/originals/founding_fathers

3. Americans were divided among Patriots, Loyalists, & Neutrals The Declaration of Independence was a formal demand for separation, but the Revolutionary War had already begun in 1775 1. Lexington & Concord 2. Formation of a Continental Army under George Washington 3. Americans were divided among Patriots, Loyalists, & Neutrals

Let’s Discuss What was the biggest advantage the American colonists had during the Revolutionary War? What was the biggest advantage that Great Britain had during the Revolutionary War? Based on this chart, who should win the war?

Revolutionary War When the war began, the British had a clear military advantage: 400% larger & more experienced army More money The world’s most dominant navy Manufacturing to make war supplies

But, the American colonists had: Familiarity with the environment Revolutionary War Britain under-estimated the colonial commitment to independence But, the American colonists had: Familiarity with the environment A commitment to win the war Short supply lines to their soldiers A defensive strategy to outlast the British To win, the English had to find & defeat the Continental Army

He had to build a professional army & coordinate the militias As leader of the Continental Army, George Washington was the symbol of the American cause He had to build a professional army & coordinate the militias Encouraged common citizens & volunteer soldiers to support the war even when the British seemed destined to win during the early years of the revolution

American Military: Continental Army, Colonial Militias, & Civilians

Differing Military Strategies General Washington The Americans General Gage The British Divide & Conquer Use Loyalists, seize property, encourage slave revolts Split the Northern & Southern colonies Blockade ports to prevent trade Outlast the British Defend colonial lands & drag out the war Guerilla tactics Make an alliance with France As long as Britain did not defeat the Continental Army, England could not win

The American Soldier http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/videos/american-revolution?playlist_slug=america-the-story-of-us-season-1-curated-list

The American Revolution began at Lexington & Concord

British victories from 1776-1777 made an American victory look impossible

British Seizure & Burning of New York, 1776

On Christmas Eve 1776, Washington gave Americans hope by crossing the Delaware River & surprising British troops in Trenton, NJ Washington & his men were suffering from losses to British, loss of thousands of troops

This victory gave new hope to the Americans Crossing the Delaware in route to a surprise attack at Trenton & Princeton, 1776 This victory gave new hope to the Americans

From the beginning of the war, American diplomats, led by Benjamin Franklin, tried to form an alliance with the French The French gov’t was willing, but needed to see that the Americans had a chance to win The French agreed to join the American cause after the battle of Saratoga in 1777

The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point because France joined the Americans as an ally included the surrender of almost 5,000 British soldiers, proved America’s ability to fight, & bolstered American resolve while attracting European support.

The “turning point” of the Revolution: The Battle of Saratoga, 1777 After Saratoga, French general Lafayette helped train American troops while the French navy helped neutralize the British advantage on the high seas When French troops arrived in the spring 1778, the tide of the war shifted in favor of the Americans Marquis de Lafayette

During the winter of 1777-78, Continental Army troops nearly starved at Valley Forge, PA but Washington & Lafayette inspired & trained the troops to continue the fight http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/videos/declaration-of-independence#george-Washington Washington: the story of us video (2.19) Valley Forge (outside Philadelphia), served as the site of the Continental Army’s camp during the winter of 1777-78. British occupied Philadelphia & took quarters inside while the underclothed & underfed Patriots were in makeshift huts in the freezing, snowy woods. low point for General Washington & his troops

Near Starvation at Valley Forge, PA in 1778

From 1778-1781, both sides traded victories, but the war finally came to a conclusion at the Battle of Yorktown

The Battle of Yorktown By 1781, Washington trapped the army of British General Cornwallis between the Continental Army & the French navy http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/videos/declaration-of-independence#yorktown America the Story of Us video on Yorktown (3.00)

Cornwallis’ surrender was the “day the world turned upside down” The Battle of Yorktown General Cornwallis surrendered to Washington in 1781, ending the American Revolution Why the Americans won the Revolutionary War: America Story of Us video (3.20) Cornwallis’ surrender was the “day the world turned upside down”

The treaty gave America: The Treaty of Paris in 1783 ended the American Revolution The treaty gave America: 1. Full independence 2. All territory east of Mississippi River, between Canada & Florida 3. The removal of the British army from U.S. claims in America

North America 1754 North America 1763 North America 1783

Practice Questions Of what importance were men such as Marquis de Lafayette and Baron von Steuben to the American cause? A) they served as spies B) they provided expertise C) they assisted the British D) they served in Congress

Practice Questions How did the Treaty of Paris 1783 change the political map of North America? A) Great Britain gained land. B) The United States claimed land that had been under British control. C) France ceded Florida to Spain. D) The United States gained Florida from Spain.