THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

First Continental Congress (Sept. 1774) Brought colonists together as Americans (9 colonies present) It issued a Declaration of Rights protesting Great Britain’s actions. All delegates agreed that Parliament was exerting too much control. Agreed not to import or use British goods Agreed to stop exports to Britain Formed a force of minutemen, colonial soldiers who would be ready to resist a British attack with short notice

Second Continental Congress (May 1775)  Authorized raising of army, money to pay for it, and appointed George Washington as commander of the forces  Olive Branch Petition: written by the Continental Congress to King George III  Reaffirmed American loyalty to the crown  Hoped to reconcile with the king  King George III rejected it, and Britain responded by  Declared colonies in a state of rebellion  Dispatched thousands of troops  Closed all colonial ports

Strengths and Weaknesses Strengths Well-trained military Ample resources Alliances with Loyalists Weaknesses Fighting in unfamiliar territory Fighting far from home Strengths Strong military leadership Fighting on home territory Alliance with France Weaknesses Small, untrained military Shortages of resources Weak central government British ArmyContinental Army

Loyalists vs. Patriots  2/5 of U.S. pop’n  Mostly from the middle colonies/southern  Were seen as ‘traitors’  1/5 of U.S. pop’n  Mostly from VA and NE states (esp. Mass)  Made up of local militia members  Low supplies, low pay, poor equipment Loyalists/ToriesPatriots/Whigs This means that 2/5 of the pop’n was NEUTRAL during the war!!!

Additional Troops  Split the Iroquois Confederacy  Many sided with the British, who promised to stop American settlement westward  Originally not accepted by G.W.  When the British promised freedom to A.As as a recruitment tool, the Patriots allowed them Native AmericansAfrican Americans

Major Leaders  Continental Army:  George Washington: Commander of Americans Forces  Nathanael Greene: Top Strategist  Henry Knox: Artillery Expert  Benedict Arnold: Commander under Washington  British Army:  General Charles Cornwallis  General John Burgoyne  Benedict Arnold (after he turned traitor in 1781)  William Howe All considered America one of the worst places to serve

Thomas Paine- Common Sense  Stated that America fighting for its freedom was a matter of ‘common sense’  Smaller Great Britain should not control all of America  Condemned monarchy and particularly the rule of George III  Called for an American declaration of independence, not just a protest against taxes  The pamphlet sold more than 100,000 copies. It was one of the first American bestsellers.

Declaration of Independence July 4 th, 1776  Written by Thomas Jefferson  Document listed rights and grievances against King George III  Preamble  Declaration of rights (‘natural rights’)  List of Grievances (against the King)  Resolution  John Hancock first to sign in large print  Anyone who signed it and was caught would be hanged  “We must all now hang together, or most assuredly we will all hang separately." - Benjamin Franklin

Treaty of Paris (1783)  Britain recognized United States as an independent nation  Mississippi River-Western boundary of U.S., Great Lakes as the Northern boundary, Florida-Southern boundary  Americans would have fishing rights off the coast of Canada  Americans would pay debts owed to British merchants and honor Loyalist claims for property confiscation during the war  Allow British troops to leave/Loyalists to stay  U.S. would have access to Mississippi River– extending the western boundary to the River