Key Events of the American Revolution

Recap March 1770 Boston Massacre Dec Boston Tea Party October st Continental Congress April 1775 Lexington & Concord

2 nd Continental Congress Phila. May 10, 1775 Washington appointed as commander of Continental Army Choice was a compromise between south and north No pay-expense account $100,000=1.2 million today

2 nd Continental Congress Olive Branch Petition – professed loyalty to the crown and begged the king to prevent further hostilities King proclaimed colonies in rebellion in August of 1775

Fort Ticonderoga & Crown Point May 1775 Ethan Allen (Green Mountain Boys) & Benedict Arnold captured weapons depots at Ft. Ticonderoga and Crown Point

Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775

Bunker Hill June 1775 Colonists seize Breed’s Hill overlooking Boston British launched frontal assault on hill Americans outnumbered 2-1 held the British off until they ran out of gunpowder “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” King George hires Hessians

Revolution in the North Colonists think that by taking Canada they would weaken British General Montgomery and General Benedict Arnold captured Montreal and Quebec Almost worked, Montgomery killed, Arnold wounded British forced to flee Boston

Thomas Paine & Common Sense, 1776 Norfolk, VA and Falmouth Maine burned down by British. Had Lived in England British Persuaded colonists to seek independence Republicanism – government by the people

Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776

Declaration June 1776 Richard Henry Lee of Virginia- ”These united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states”, was formal declaration Committee put together to make a formal announcement to world, writing it fell to Jefferson Announced “natural rights” of man, along with grievances against the king Preamble influenced by John Locke

Patriots v. Loyalists Patriots-Reluctant revolutionaries Loyalists-colonists loyal to crown “Tories” about 20% of colonists

Battles of Trenton & Princeton

Washington at Bay Boston evacuated, Britain looks to NYC for base of operations 500 British ships with 35,000 soldiers appear off NYC coast July 1776 G.W. only had tired, unprepared soldiers Americans routed in battles that summer G.W. on the run into New Jersey G.W. secretly crosses Delaware river into N.J. and surprises 1,000 Hessians morning after Christmas Also uses questionable tactics to win at Princeton, N.J.

Winter Quarters at Valley Forge Baron von Steuben – Prussian drill master who whipped rabble into professional army

Battle of Saratoga One of most decisive battles of history

Saratoga cont. “Gentleman Johnny” Burgoyne is cut off from rest of British army in Canada then eventually northern N.Y. With his reinforcements living it up in Philadelphia Burgoyne is continually attacked by Benedict Arnold and Horatio Gates and eventually forced to surrender his entire army at Saratoga N.Y. Oct 17, 1777 After this battle the Americans started receiving support from France

Foreign Relations France want to help Americans defeat British American treaties with other countries would have 3 principles 1. No political connection 2. No military connection 3. Only commercial connection – Adams British offered Americans home rule in the colonies 1777 Ben Franklin used this in treaty with France, which promised to help gain the Americans freedom at any cost

War wages on French arrive with 6000 soldiers 1780 Benedict Arnold turns traitor and helps out the British, plot is uncovered, Arnold flees to the English side to fight against his countrymen, only to be called back to England British devise plan for General Charles Cornwallis to capture southern colonies and move north cutting them off from rest of colonies (Cornwallis Campaign)

Joseph Brant Mohawk chief sided with the British (hoping to stop Americans from moving west) – “bloody year” on the frontier Treaty of Ft. Stanwix was 1 st treaty between US & Indian nation (Iriqouis)– Indians ceded most of their land

John Paul Jones and the navy Chief contribution was in destroying British merchant shipping Privateers (private merchant ships) were more effective – captured 600 British “prizes”

War in the South

Battle of Yorktown The surrender – Cornwallis cornered by Washington while French Admiral DeGrasse blockaded them at sea

Treaty of Paris, 1783 Three negotiators – Ben Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay Very generous terms – Britain eager to keep US out of the arms of France! Recognized independence of US

Reconciliation Between Britannia and Her Daughter America

EFFECTS Political Revolution Social Revolution An American Identity

Political Revolution Republican ideology New state constitutions Articles of Confederation

Social Revolution Equality – weakened old habits of deference Paradox of slavery Status of women Freedom of religion

Emergence of an American Culture Independence Day (July 2, 1776) Education America’s destiny & sense of mission (call world toward liberty & equality)