© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. NATION OF NATIONS, SIXTH EDITION DAVIDSON DELAY HEYRMAN LYTLE STOFF Chapter 7: The American People & The American Revolution

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Preview “Would Americans actually fight for independence? Even after the Battle of Bunker Hill, the answer was not clear. But British victories in the North were countered by an American triumph at Saratoga, convincing the French to commit to a crucial alliance with the United States...” “Would Americans actually fight for independence? Even after the Battle of Bunker Hill, the answer was not clear. But British victories in the North were countered by an American triumph at Saratoga, convincing the French to commit to a crucial alliance with the United States...” 2

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Highlights The Decision for Independence The Decision for Independence The Fighting in the North The Fighting in the North The Turning Point The Turning Point The Struggle in the South The Struggle in the South The World Turned Upside Down The World Turned Upside Down 3

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Decision for Independence The Second Continental Congress The Second Continental Congress –Drafted the “Olive Branch Petition” (July 1775) as a last-ditch effort at peace –British response was aggressive –Governor Dunmore of Virginia offered freedom to any slaves who fought for the British 4

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Declaration The Declaration –Thomas Jefferson, age 33, selected to write the explanation of America’s attempts at independence –Blamed George III; affirmed government by consent of the people –Declaration of Independence adopted, July 4, 1776 American Loyalists American Loyalists –Large pockets of loyalists, or “tories,” in the colonies, particularly in seaboard areas and parts of the backcountry 5

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The Fighting in the North The Two Armies at Bay The Two Armies at Bay –Washington faced a powerful foe in the British army –Cobbled together the Continental “regulars” and colonial militias –Trouble gaining enlistments –“Women of the Army” were wives of poor soldiers who did support work in exchange for half-rations 7

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Laying Strategies Laying Strategies –British assumed that the rebellion could be quashed by focusing on Massachusetts resistance –By 1776, British enlarged target to New England –Problems in British military leadership: William and Richard Howe The Campaigns in New York and New Jersey The Campaigns in New York and New Jersey –Continental victories at Trenton and Princeton spurred support for the rebellion 8

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Capturing Philadelphia Capturing Philadelphia –Summer 1777: British focus on Philadelphia –Washington’s army defeated at Brandywine and Germantown –British conduct during capture of the city in the fall of 1777 engendered hatred, strengthening support for American cause Disaster at Saratoga Disaster at Saratoga –Just days after the capture of Philadelphia, Americans achieve most significant victory to that point of the war in New York –Victory convinced France to help Americans 9

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© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Turning Point The American Revolution Becomes a Global War The American Revolution Becomes a Global War –Benjamin Franklin the key figure in strengthening the French-American alliance Winding Down the War in the North Winding Down the War in the North –Winter of 1778: a low point for Continental Army at Valley Forge –Series of army uprisings,

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. War in the West War in the West –Contest between the British and Americans over Indian alliances –Most tribes tried to remain neutral, but generally lost power during course of conflict The Home Front in the North The Home Front in the North –Devastation from war continued to produce social, economic, and political problems –Daughters of Liberty remained vigilant supporters of war effort 12

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© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Struggle in the South The Siege of Charleston The Siege of Charleston –British captured Savannah, Georgia in 1778 –Moved on to Charleston, which surrendered in 1780 “Despite their armed presence in the North, the British had come to believe that their most vital aim was to regain their colonies in the mainland South.” 14

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Partisan Struggle in the South The Partisan Struggle in the South –The fall of Charleston energized the loyalist movement on the frontier –Rebels and loyalists battled for the backcountry, both committing brutal acts –Major American defeat at Camden, S.C. 15

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Greene Takes Command Greene Takes Command –Defeated general at Camden, Horatio Gates, replaced by Nathaniel Greene –Greene began unconventional campaign against superior British forces –Southern militia units stemmed the British advance northward 16

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. African Americans in the Age of Revolution African Americans in the Age of Revolution –Black Americans made up one-third of southern population –Dunmore’s offer of freedom in 1774 sparked white fears of slave rebellion that never materialized –African Americans sought liberty by fighting for both sides: approximately 55,000 fled to freedom behind British lines and to the North “The British also lost in the Carolinas because they did not seek greater support from those southerners who would have fought for liberty with the British—African American slaves.” 17

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The World Turned Upside Down Surrender at Yorktown Surrender at Yorktown –Cornwallis waiting for British navy, which did not arrive in time –British surrounded by American and French troops, and by French navy –Cornwallis surrendered, October 19, 1781 “Despite his losses in the Carolinas, Cornwallis still believed that he could score a decisive victory against the Continental Army. The theater he chose for that showdown was the Chesapeake.” 18

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Significance of a Revolution The Significance of a Revolution –American citizen-soldiers fought on their own terms –the Continental Army, whose ranks contained a disproportionate number of the poorest Americans, bore the brunt of the successful rebellion –With the end of the war, what awaited the revolutionaries as they tried to build a new nation? 19