1. AMERICA SECEDES FROM THE EMPIRE
Chapter 8

2. Second Continental Congress
After Lexington and Concorde, Minutemen swarm around Boston.
Second Continental Congress met in Philly a month later.
All 13 colonies send representatives this time.

3. George Washington Select George Washington to head the army
Most significant early act of Second Continental Congress
Why not an obvious choice?
Political reasons for choosing Washington?

4. Washington’s Strengths
Outstanding leader of men.
Strong character. Did not seek political power and believed in principles of democracy.
Moral force of patience, discipline and fairness.
Strong emotions.
People trusted him
Served without pay

5. Ticonderoga
May 1775
Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold captured British forts of Ticonderoga and Crown point in upper New York.
Gain precious powder and a number of cannons.
Problem—cannons are hard to move.

6. Bunker Hill June 1775 Bunker Hill/Breeds Hill.
Brits under Siege in Boston.
Militia puts forces on Breeds Hill.
Brits under Gage blundered by assaulting the hill directly.
Brits beaten off twice and take heavy casualties, but capture the hill on third try.
1/8 of all Brit officers lost in the war are lost here.
Americas take a moral victory
Gives Americans false confidence.

7. Hessians
June 1775, Sec. Cont. Congress adopts the Olive Branch Petition
What does it say?
How does Geo. III respond?
Significance?
Sept Geo III hired thousands of German troops to help crush the rebellion.
Reactions?

8. The Abortive Conquest Of Canada
Oct. 1775, Americans start a two-pronged invasion of Quebec.
Motive?
Conflict with thesis of war.
Almost works militarily, but falls short.
Benedict Arnold

9. Invasion of Canada

10. Brits Leave Boston
March 1776 Brits forced to evacuate Boston because of Henry Knox
What does he do?
Evacuation Day
Knox: Chief of Artillery; First Sec. of War

11. Thomas Paine: Common Sense
Despite the fighting, most colonists deny any intention of Independence.
Reasons?
Paine jolts people out of this view with his pamphlet “Common Sense”
His basic arguments?
Concept of civic virtue

12. Declaration of Independence
June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee moved for a declaration that Colonies were free and Independent.
Adopted July 2, 1776.
Cont. Congress commissions an explanation of basis for resolution: Declaration of Independence
Basic Purpose?
Written by Jefferson with help from Franklin and John Adams

13. Declaration of Independence
Natural rights
John Locke’s theory on the Rights of Man
Part I: Purpose and basis of government is to protect fundamental rights of individuals
Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness
Part II: Bad Acts by King violating these rights.
Part III: Why colonies have no choice and are justified in being independent
Bottom Line:

14. Patriots And Loyalists
Loyalists (Tories)
Percentage of Pop.?
Type of people?
Where located?
Occupations?
80,000 leave; 200,000 stay; 50,000 fight for Brits.

15. Middle War July 1776, Brits invade New York; Battle of Long Island
Washington retreats down Manhattan and into New Jersey
Christmas Night. Washington Crosses the Delaware River. Captures Trenton and Princeton.

16. What’s wrong with this Picture?

17. Valley Forge Valley Forge Terrible conditions: Cold and little food
Washington defeated twice and goes into winter quarters at Valley Forge
Valley Forge
Terrible conditions: Cold and little food
Baron von Steuben
Baron von Steuben turns the Continental Army into a REAL army!

18. Saratoga Burgoyne defeated at Saratoga by Gates/Arnold Oct. 17, 1777.
Surrenders his entire command.
Most significant win for U.S. Why?
Arnold is the reason for win, but Gates gets the credit
Consequences?

19. Strange French Bedfellows
French support US secretly and provide a great deal of powder and arms
We need their money and their navy
Impact of Saratoga
Franklin is minister to France and very popular

20. Treaty with France
1778 France offered the Americans a treaty of Alliance.
Treaty of permanent alliance
Consequences for US?
This treaty became a problem later.

21. Colonial War Becomes World War
In 1778 the Revolutionary War becomes a World War.
France in against England in Spain and Holland come in against England in 1779.
Spanish and French Navy combined are bigger than GB
GB now up to their eyeballs in war.

22. War in the South, 1780–1781

23. The Land Frontier And The Sea Frontier
Most Indians sided with the Brits
Iroquois Confederacy split
1784, the pro-British Iroquois forced to sign the treaty of Fort Stanwix
George Rogers Clark

24. Yorktown And The Final Curtain
Things bleak for US in
But, Cornwallis, had withdrawn back to the Chesapeake Bay at Yorktown, Va.
Washington and Rochambeau come down from the New York area and bottle up Cornwallis.
The French Navy beat off the Brits at the mouth of the Chesapeake
Cornwallis is cut off and surrenders
NOT the end of the war, but decisive victory

25. Peace At Paris
After Yorktown many in England, especially, Whigs, weary of war.
George III wants to keep fighting
Lord North’s ministry had collapsed and Whigs in control
Franklin, J. Adams and John Jay sent to Paris as peace negotiators.
Their instructions?
Terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1783

26. North America After Revolution

27. US in 1787