1. Chapter 3: The American Revolution

3. Learning Goals: Where did the 1st Continental Congress meet?
Where was the 1st Battle of the American Revolution?
What evidence would lead you to believe that the members of the 2nd Continental Congress were conflicted about what they should do now that the Revolution was underway?

4. The Revolution Begins
The First Continental Congress demanded certain rights from Britain
First Continental Congress – a meeting of delegates, in Philadelphia, from all colonies (except GA)

5. They decided to do 2 things:
Boycott – stopped trade with G.B. and told colonial militia to prepare for war
Drafted the Declaration of Rights – includes right to “life, liberty and property”
John Locke

6. As a result, British leaders order troops to seize colonial militia weapons

7. The “shot heard ‘round the world”
700 British troops are sent from Boston to seize weapons at Concord, MA
Paul Revere and two others ride to warn colonists

8. April 19, 1775 - Minutemen meet the British in the Battle of Lexington and Concord
Redcoats are attacked as they retreat back to Boston

9. Second Continental Congress - May 1775 – meet in Philadelphia
They Compromised …
They sent the “Olive Branch” Petition to King George III in a call for peace,
But they also created the Continental Army to prepare for war - George Washington (VA) to command

10. Battle of Bunker/Breeds Hill
Colonial forces fortify Breed’s Hill to prevent British from escaping Boston
"Don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes“ - General William Prescott

11. Colonials = 1,600 vs. Redcoats = 2,400
American forces retreat, but not after causing large British casualties
Colonists prove to be tougher than expected

12. Learning Goal… Where did the 1st Continental Congress meet?
Answer: Philadelphia, PA
Where was the 1st Battle of the American Revolution?
Answer: The Battle of Lexington and Concord, just outside of Boston
What evidence would lead you to believe that the members of the 2nd Continental Congress were conflicted about what they should do now that the Revolution was underway?
Answer: They compromised, they asked for peace (Olive Branch Petition) but prepared for war (created the Continental Army)

13. Declaring Independence

14. Learning Goal… Who wrote Common Sense and what point did it argue?
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence and what were it’s three main points?

15. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense led many colonists to support independence
Common Sense was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine, Jan. 1776
Urged separation from G.B.
**Argued that citizens, not monarchs, should make laws**

16. Argued for economic freedom and right to military self-defense
Cried out against tyranny and abuse of government power
Sold over 500,000 copies and changes people’s minds about the King

17. Declaration of Independence
Many agreed with Paine’s ideas
Second Continental Congress created a committee to write a document declaring independence
Thomas Jefferson was main author
Formally announce break with G.B.
Approved July 4, 1776

18. Three Main Points of the Declaration of Independence
All men possess unalienable rights  the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”
Argues that the King violated the colonists rights by passing unfair laws, taxing without their consent, and posting the British army in the colonies
Social Contract – the right to break from the government if the government does not protect the rights of the citizens.

19. Colonists had differing reactions to the Declaration of Independence
Patriots - chose to fight for independence
About 40 – 45% of Americans
Loyalists - Also called Tories, remained loyal to Britain
20 – 30% of Americans were Loyalists
Neutral  25%
It did not address the rights of women or slaves

20. Learning Goal… Who wrote Common Sense and what point did it argue?
Thomas Paine – Common Sense argued that citizens, not monarchs should make laws.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence and what were it’s three main points?
All men have “unalienable rights”
The king violated these rights
Social Contract - the people have the right to break from the government

21. III. Patriots Gain New Hope

22. Learning Goal… What was the significance of the Battle of Trenton?
Why was the victory at the Battle of Saratoga so important?

23. Colonial Forces
British Forces
Strengths
Fought for a cause they believed in
Well-trained, well equipped soldiers
Had most citizens on their side
Large powerful navy
Weaknesses
Untrained, and poorly equipped
Had to cross ocean to fight
Small navy
Many soldiers were mercenaries

24. Early Defeats
Canada - some believed Canada should be the “14th Colony,” American forces attacked Quebec, but fail
New York - Washington’ forces were pushed back into N.J.

25. Battle of Trenton the 1st American Win (The Crossing)
Washington defeated the Hessian mercenaries
Changed tactics  went on the offensive

26. Saratoga was a MAJOR turning point in the war
Battle of Saratoga was the greatest victory for the Patriots because it gave them foreign allies

27. France – Marquis de Lafayette supplied money and military skills, French Navy
Prussia – Baron Friedrich von Steuben trained Continental Army
Spain – Bernardo de Galvez – Spanish governor of Louisiana seized British posts

28. The winter at Valley Forge tested the strength of Patriot forces
Washington and 12,000 men wintered at Valley Forge, PA during 1777 – 78.
Suffered through brutal winter with little food, clothing, or shelter
The Continental Army survived, but 2,000 died of disease and hunger

29. The War Continued at Sea and in the West
John Paul Jones – most famous Revolutionary naval captain
George Rogers Clark – his efforts helped contain the British on the frontier

30. Learning Goal… What was the significance of the Battle of Trenton?
1st Colonial victory, but also gave them the confidence and supplies they desperately needed.
Why was the victory at the Battle of Saratoga so important?
It gave them foreign allies: the French sent money/supplies, Marquis de Lafayette, Baron Friedrich von Steuben, Bernardo de Galvez.

31. IV. Independence!

32. Learning Goal… What battle ended the American Revolution?
What did the Treaty of Paris do?

33. The War in the South
War was not going well in the North for the British, so they moved south
British hoped to find support from large loyalist population in GA, NC, SC, and VA.
Planned to free slaves and arm them

34. Brutal fighting in the South where Patriots fought directly with Southern Loyalists
GA fell to the British in 1778, and Charleston, SC in 1780
Patriots unable to drive British out of SC in 1780

35. Francis Marion –“Swamp Fox” used guerrilla warfare against the British

36. Battle of Yorktown, VA
British General Cornwallis surrendered on Oct. 19, 1781 after weeks of fighting – Patriots take 8,000 prisoners

37. The Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the American Revolution

38. The British and Americans officially ended the war with the Treaty of Paris of 1783
After Yorktown, there were only a few small battles. The British lacked money and a new army, so they entered into peace talks