American Revolution

John Adams  Boston Lawyer  Cousin of Sam Adams  Defended British soldiers in Boston Massacre  Delegate at the 1 st and 2 nd Continental Congresses

Sam Adams  Leader of the Sons of Liberty  Delegate at the Continental Congresses  Cousin of John Adams  Massachusetts

Patrick Henry  Delegate at the Continental Congresses  Virginia  “Give me liberty, or give me death”

John Hancock  President of the Continental Congress  One of the wealthiest colonists  Merchant  Colonial politician

Paul Revere  Silversmith  Patriot  Engraved Boston Massacre  Midnight Rider  Lexington and Concord  “The British are coming”

“The British are Coming”

Thomas Jefferson  Delegate from Virginia  Student of the Enlightenment  Declaration of Independence  Died on July 4, 1826

George Washington  Virginia  Veteran of the French and Indian War  Land Surveyor  Commander of the Continental Army

Thomas Paine  Author of the book Common Sense  150,000 copies sold in the colonies  Inspired the colonists to fight for freedom  Influenced the writing of the Declaration of Independence

Benjamin Franklin  Convinced Thomas Paine to move to the colonies  Inventor, author, philosopher  Poor Richard’s Almanac  Leading American negotiator in Paris

Abigail Adams  Wife of John Adams  Supporter of independence  Advocate for women’s rights  Future 1 st Lady

Marquis de Lafayette  19yr old nobleman from France  Became Washington’s most trusted soldier

Bernardo de Galvez  Spanish governor of Louisiana  Provided money and supplies to the Patriots  Prevented British ships from Entering the Mississippi River

Baron Von Steuben  German volunteer  Drill Instructor  Trained soldiers during the winter at Valley Forge

The Continental Congresses  1 st Continental Congress  Fall of 1774  Philadelphia, PA  12 out 13 colonies attended  Declaration of Resolves  2 nd Continental Congress  May of 1775  Philadelphia, PA  All the colonies attended  Olive Branch Petition  Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence  Thomas Jefferson  July 4, 1776  “all men are created equal”  Women, African slaves, and Native Americans were left out

Lexington and Concord  April 19, 1775  British troops sent out to arrest John Adams and John Hancock  “Minute Men” engage British troops  200 Red Coats killed or wounded

British Strengths and Weaknesses  Strongest military in the world  Red Coats have 6 times more fighting experience  Leader in Manufacturing  Established Government  Strong Economy  Did not take the Americans serious  Long supply lines  British thought they were fighting a traditional war

American Strengths and Weaknesses  Fighting to win independence  Defense of their homes and land  European Support  Congress couldn’t tax to raise money for army  No central government  Poor economy  Lack of supplies  Divided people

Women during the War  Women ran farms and shops left behind by their husbands.  They made blankets, clothing, and shoes for the soldiers.  They served in the army as nurses and spies.  Some helped fire cannons or served as soldiers disguised as men

Women at War

Military Strategies The Americans  Guerilla Style War  War of Attrition  Form alliances with France and Spain The British  Divide the colonies  Blockade colonial ports  Divide the colonists by using Loyalists against the Patriots

Battle of Trenton

Battle of Saratoga “Turning Point of the War”

Winter at Valley Forge

Battle of Monmouth

The Patriot

General Cornwalis

The Patriot

Treaty of Paris 1783  Treaty was negotiated by Ben Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay.  It gave the colonies their independence from England.  It marked new boundaries for the creation of a new nation.  The United States stretched from the Atlantic Ocean west to the Mississippi River.

The United States 1783

Costs of the War  1,300 land and sea battles  25,324 American losses  6,284 Americans killed in action  10,000 Americans died of disease  8,500 Americans died as POW’s  $11,710,379 in debt  No Central Government  13 colonies acting as 13 independent countries  No power to tax  Articles of Confederation were weak