The American Revolution An incredibly simplified version…

A little bit of background… Setting the Stage

: Tea Act Tea Party Coercive Acts 1775: Lexington & Concord (April) 2 nd Cont. Congress (May) 2 nd Cont. Congress (May) Sequence of Events Focus: Boston

How to respond to the British? Create a Continental Army…Appoint George Washington commander Create a Continental Army…Appoint George Washington commander Bear in mind…most in the colonies were not in favor of independence. That ideas was pushed by the most radical of the representatives Negotiate or take action? Negotiate or take action? John Adams v. John Dickinson John Adams v. John Dickinson 2 nd Continental Congress May, 1775

“I Have Looked for Our Rights”: Adams (MA) v. Dickinson (PA) at 2 nd Cont. Congress argue how to respond to Lexington & Concord (Adams insults Dickinson’s religion) I Have Looked for Our Rights – YouTube 2nd Cont. Congress debates a declaration of independence: Adams v. Rutledge (SC) John Adams Continental Congress and Edward Rutledge - YouTube I Have Looked for Our Rights – YouTube John Adams Continental Congress and Edward Rutledge - YouTube

John Hancock (MA) reads the Royal Proclamation (Oct., 1775) that the “traitors…shall be punished with death by hanging…” CA24B67BA04 CA24B67BA04 “While I Live, Let Me Have a Country…a Free Country”: Adams makes his final plea to vote for independence. John Adams - While I live, let me have a country, a free country! - YouTube

Learning Objectives: 1. Assess the relative strengths/weaknesses of both the British and the Americans at the start of the war 2. Think of the War in 2 distinct phases: A.The War in the North B.The War in the South 3. Identify key battles, including Yorktown which led to Britain’s recognition of American independence

Why did the British lose the war? Greatest imperial power in the world Greatest imperial power in the world Powerful, experienced, well-trained, fully equipped army and navy Powerful, experienced, well-trained, fully equipped army and navy Strong central government with winning record against major European rivals Strong central government with winning record against major European rivals Fighting an untrained, poorly equipped, undisciplined, poorly funded colonial force Fighting an untrained, poorly equipped, undisciplined, poorly funded colonial force

American Disadvantages Confederation government Confederation government –Relatively weak and decentralized –No power to tax –Did not trust professional army Continental Army took time to train and equip, hampered by morale problems Continental Army took time to train and equip, hampered by morale problems At least one-fifth of population were Loyalists (opposed independence), perhaps half remained neutral At least one-fifth of population were Loyalists (opposed independence), perhaps half remained neutral

British Disadvantages British Disadvantages Fighting on foreign soil Fighting on foreign soil Colonial territory too vast to effectively occupy Colonial territory too vast to effectively occupy Strategic and public relations problems Strategic and public relations problems –“Scorched earth” strategy would hurt their image as a liberating force, alienating people against the Crown –But too much leniency would encourage and sustain resistance movement

Why the British Lost: The War in the North ( ) Background Background –Early American success: Ft. Ticonderoga, Montreal, Boston (forced British to abandon) –British strategy: invade down Hudson from Canada, capture Philadelphia with troops from New York, seal off New England, end rebellion in one campaign –Interactive Map Revolutionary War Battles, mht Interactive Map Revolutionary War Battles, mhtInteractive Map Revolutionary War Battles, mht

Why the British Lost: Ambivalence at New York, 1776 August 1776: British have 30,000 troops, almost 500 ships, August 1776: British have 30,000 troops, almost 500 ships, Continental Army under G. Washington routed at Long Island, narrowly escaped from Manhattan Continental Army under G. Washington routed at Long Island, narrowly escaped from Manhattan But Howe failed to deal decisive blow, hoping for show of force and settlement instead… Washington and the Continental Army escaped to Pennsylvania and survived But Howe failed to deal decisive blow, hoping for show of force and settlement instead… Washington and the Continental Army escaped to Pennsylvania and survived Watch a short video here: Washington Escapes New York

Why the British Lost: Trenton and Princeton, Continental Army on the run, demoralized, deserting field Continental Army on the run, demoralized, deserting field Washington turns tables, attacks Trenton on Christmas Eve, 1776, Princeton soon thereafter Washington turns tables, attacks Trenton on Christmas Eve, 1776, Princeton soon thereafter Strategically not much gained, but huge morale booster Strategically not much gained, but huge morale booster Keeps army in the field, can now take time to train Keeps army in the field, can now take time to train Watch short video here: Washington's surprise attack on Trenton

Why the British Lost: The Tide Turns at Saratoga, 1777 Britain’s bungled campaign Britain’s bungled campaign –Burgoyne and Howe plan –Defeat at Ft. Stanwix, Saratoga –Brits surrender Consequences Consequences –Stalemate in the north –The French alliance

Attrition in the South: the Southern Campaign Stalemate in north leads British to adopt southern strategy – –Offer freedom to slaves who escape to British lines – –Invade coast, march into interior with conquering force, loyalist supporters will rise up and help occupy conquered territory Early victories in Georgia and South Carolina, but... – –Loyalist militia commits atrocities, sparks vicious inland civil war – –Guerilla resistance weakens occupying forces – –British suffer heavy losses at Cowpens, King’s Mountain – –Nathaniel Greene’s Continental forces prove adept at running away, wear Cornwallis down – –Cornwallis goes to Yorktown to re-supply

The Battle of Yorktown, October 1782 A joint operation: A joint operation: –Washington moves troops south to lay siege to Yorktown –French navy blockades harbor, prevents re-supply –Cornwallis surrenders after prolonged siege engineered by French generals Washington’s finest moment – thanks to the French Washington’s finest moment – thanks to the French The Treaty of Paris (1783) The Treaty of Paris (1783)

Summary: Why the British lost Despite superior military force Despite superior military force Despite America’s divided population Despite America’s divided population British lost because British lost because –Ambivalence, arrogance, blunders –Key American victories at Trenton and Saratoga –The Americans bought time with defensive warfare –The British failed to win hearts and minds of the people –They could not effectively occupy so much territory –The French joined the Americans after Saratoga