The American Revolution: 1775-1783

Path to War Chart Repeal of Stamp Act and Declaratory Act (1766) Townshend Acts (1767)

Boston Massacre (Mar. 5, 1770) 770)

Tea Act (1773) British East India Co.: Monopoly on Br. tea imports. Many members of Parl. held shares. Permitted the Co. to sell tea directly to cols. without col. middlemen (cheaper tea!) North expected the cols. to eagerly choose the cheaper tea.

Boston Tea Party (Dec. 16, 1773) y (Dec. 16, 1773)

Intolerable Acts (1774) 1. Port Bill 2. Government Act 3. New Quartering Act Lord North 4. Administration of Justice Act

Quebec Act (1775)

First Continental Congress (Sept. 4, 1775) 55 delegates from 12 colonies Agenda  How to respond to the Coercive Acts & the Quebec Act? 1 vote per colony represented.

eTje re Coming . . . The British are coming! Paul Revere & William Dawes make their midnight ride to warn the Minutemen (April 19, 1775).

The shot heard round the world… Lexington & Concord – April 19,1775

June 15, 1775: Continental Congress names Washington commander of Continental Army.

What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Colonials and British?

Loyalist Strongholds

Washington’s Headaches Only 1/3 of the colonists were in favor of independence. State/colony loyalties. Congress couldn’t tax to raise money for the Continental Army. Poor training of militias.

Military Strategies The Americans The British Attrition [the Brits had a long supply line]. Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war  you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down] Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies. Break the colonies in half by getting between the No. & the So. Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally. “Divide and Conquer”  use the Loyalists.

Bunker (Breed’s) Hill (June, 1775) The British suffered over 1000 casualties taking the position.

Freeing Boston (March 1776) Ethan Allen at Fort Ticonderoga, May 10, 1775 Henry Knox

Washington observing the British retreat from Boston, March 17, 1776

Phase I: The Northern Campaign [1775-1776]

Thomas Paine writes and distributes the pamphlet, “Common Sense” in January 1776.

Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776)

Phase II: NY & PA [1777-1778]

New York City in Flames (1776) Washington is defeated at White Plains, retreats to NJ.

Washington Crossing the Delaware Painted by Emanuel Leutze, 1851 Christmas Day, 1776 Painted by Emanuel Leutze, 1851

Saratoga (October 1777) “Turning Point” of the War

Battle of Brandywine (September 11, 1777) The British capture Philly, Washington retreats south.

Winter at Valley Forge, PA (1777-1778) Bad: 2,000 soldiers die of diseases and exposure Good: Von Steuben aides in the training of troops

Battle of Monmouth, NJ (June 28, 1778) ”Molly Pitcher” at the last major northern battle.

Phase III: The Southern Strategy [1780-1781]

Britain’s “Southern Strategy” Britain thought that there were more Loyalists in the South Southern resources were more valuable/worth preserving The British win a number of small victories, but cannot pacify the countryside [similar to U. S. failures in Vietnam] Good Colonial Leadership: Nathanial Greene, Daniel Morgan, & Francis Marion

Battle of King’s Mountain (October 7, 1780) 900 Hillbillies vs. 1,200 Loyalists and Redcoats Loyalist army annihilated. 1,100 British casualties 75 American casualties

Battle of Cowpens (January 17, 1781) American General Daniel Morgan vs. British Colonel Banastre Tarleton 1,700 Colonials decisively defeat 1,200 British 200 American casualties 1,100 British casualties Cornwalis abandons the Carolinas; retreats to VA.

The Battle of Yorktown (1781) Count de Rochambeau Admiral De Grasse

Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown: “The World Turned Upside Down!” Painted by John Trumbull, 1797

Why did the British Lose???

Treaty of Paris (1783) 10 Articles, including… British recognize American independence North American boundaries Confiscated Loyalist property to be returned

North America After the Treaty of Paris, 1783

Wholesale Price Index: 1770-1789