American Revolution

First Battle – Lexington and Concord, Mass. – April 19, 1775 “Shot Heard Round The World” British army against Militia (Minutemen)  Mecklenburg Resolves – May 31, 1775 declared that British rule in the colonies was ended Second Continental Congress – May- June, 1775 – Philadelphia A. Created a Continental Army B. Chose George Washington to command C.Olive Branch Petition The Coming Revolution

Second Continental Congress

Battle of Lexington Bunker Hill

War in North Carolina Opposing Sides 1. Patriots – in favor of independence, many former Regulators 2. Loyalists/Tories – wanted to remain part of England - political elite, recent immigrants 3. Population is One/Third Patriot, One/Third Loyalist, One/Third Neutral at start of war – majority has become Patriot by end of war

Halifax Resolves – April 12, 1776 – –document that makes NC the first colony to officially support independence Some Trivia: Two dates on North Carolina’s state flag May 20, 1775=Mecklenburg Resolves April 12, 1776=Halifax Resolves

Declaring Independence Common Sense – published January 9, 1776 Thomas Paine B. First written work to state that the colonies should be independent Declaration of Independence A. Approved by Second Continental Congress on July 4 th, 1776 — signed by John Hancock President of the 2 nd Continental Congress B. Not signed until August 2 nd, 1776 C. Contained three main ideas 1. All men possess Unalienable Rights 2. England had violated the colonists’ rights 3. Colonies had the right to break away from England

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 4. People have “certain unalienable rights” (rights that can not be taken away) –a. Life –b. Liberty –c. Pursuit of happiness 5. People establish government to protect those rights. 6. Government derives power from the people. 7. People have a right and a duty to change a government that violates their rights.

Declaration of Independence Picture of the Original Document

D. Written by Thomas Jefferson – originally contained a clause outlawing slavery – southerners would not approve E. Declaration of Independence did not address the rights of slaves or women – New England states abolished slavery on their own by 1784 Signers from NC – William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn Signers of the Declaration of Independence were committing treason and it was punishable by death

Thomas Jefferson Signing of Declaration of Independence

Molly Pitcher Attakullakulla

Advantages British Professional leaders Best army in world Best navy in world More financial resources Americans Fighting for a cause (Independence) Support of the people Fighting on their own land

A – British win most battles B. Low point of war for Patriots – early winter of Battle of Trenton – December 25, Hessians – German mercenaries C. Turning point of war in Northern colonies was the Battle of Saratoga – October 17, Defeated British plan to split the colonies in half 2. France and Spain join the Patriots against England War in the North

Washington crossing the Delaware Battle of Trenton

Battle of Saratoga

1.3 types of troops: Continental Army, militia, partisans or “irregulars” 2. Valley Forge – Winter of – Americans did not have enough food, clothing, or shelter. They had also not been paid for months died. Ages ran from 12 to 60 – Friedrich Von Steuben 3. Alliance with France in 1778 Marquis De Lafayette sent supplies, money, troops, navy

Valley Forge Marquis De Lafayette Steuben trains the Americans

War in the South After Saratoga (turning point of the war), British focus on the southern colonies – most loyalists in South A. British are successful at first, winning most southern battles B. Patriots had to resort to Guerilla warfare – hit and run, (terrorist-style) – Francis Marion (used as model for “The Patriot”) – Partisans C. Nathanael Greene became commander of Continental Army in the South D. British were commanded by Charles Cornwallis – decide to move north through North Carolina to meet main British army in the North.

Battle of Guilford Courthouse –March 15, 1781 –Greene goes to NC and waits for Cornwallis at Guilford County Courthouse (now Greensboro) –British win, but are badly weakened—1/4 of British troops dead or badly wounded

End of War Cornwallis is surrounded by American and French armies and French navy at Yorktown, Virginia British surrender on October 20, 1781 – last major battle of war Some trivia: The British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down” British decided war was not worth the cost Treaty of Paris is signed in 1783 – America gets independence

Francis Marion – The Swamp Fox Kings Mountain

Charles Cornwallis Nathanael Greene

British surrender at Yorktown