1.  In April of 1775, the Battles of Lexington and Concord spurred war to new level  Second Continental Congress met the next month  Still bent on making amends with Britain

2.  George Washington was chosen as the commander of armed forces. Why??  Mainly because he was from Virginia – pacify the South  Steadfast in his will to win  refused to be paid – there was no money

3.  Fighting for over a year before it became a war for independence  Thomas Paine writes and sells “Common Sense”  Printed in 1776 as propaganda to fight for independence  He argued that the king was not worthy of loyalty  Also argued that America was more valuable to Britain, not other way  Also argued for a republican form of government – radical idea

4.  Battle of Bunker Hill in June of 1775  British controlled Boston  Colonials took Breed’s Hill and fired on British  British tried to crush it and lost.  Olive Branch Petition written and delivered  George III refused it

5.  George III closed door on reconciliation  Hired some 30,000 Hessians to go to America  The War is on and there is no turning back

6.  In response to burning of Falmouth in Maine  General Montgomery took Montreal  General Arnold and Montgomery failed to take Quebec  They had to retreat

7.  June of 1776, Richard Henry Lee declared America’s Independence  July 4, 1776, Jefferson’s Declaration was adopted  It was an appeal to the world to back America  Opened the door for alliances

8.  Most of the aristocracy remained loyal to the king  Only about 20% of population were Loyalists  The South also had a large Loyalist population  Slaves and free Blacks joined the British to get their independence  Many fled America after the Declaration of Independence

9.  Washington defends New York and New Jersey  Loses most of his battles  In October of 1777, wins the Battle at Saratoga – wins alliances

10.  Louis XVI doesn’t want a war with England – just embarrass  Franklin and others convince him to send troops and money  More importantly, France sent navy – Mainly to protect West Indies  Formal alliance formed in 1778  Most of Europe aligned with America – Why? (Armed Neutrality)  Kind of like a world war at this point

11.  The Frontier is often neglected in Revolutionary history.  Indians often sided with Britain in the frontier. Why?  George Rogers Clark helped secure that portion of the battle.  He is one of the original hero “Indian Killers”

12.  America had virtually no navy to speak of  Privateers (pirates) did most of the damage on merchant British ships  British merchants wanted the war over

13.  Cornwallis was surrounded by French navy in Virginia  He was also surrounded by American and French armies  October 19, 1781 – Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown  Fighting went on for more than a year  This defeat forced a settlement

14.  Ben Franklin (PA), John Adams (MA), John Jay (NY)  Supposed to negotiate with the French  Jay knew French were trying to settle with Spain  Jay defied the Congress and met with England  Peace Treaty signed with London in 1782

15.  America got more land than France wanted them to have  England gave up more than America asked for  England maintained trading privileges with America  France got nothing (less than nothing)  Spain got nothing  England got nothing