1. America Secedes from the Empire

2. It All Begins  2 nd Continental Congress  All 13 colonies represented  Hopes that king would remove “Acts” and began developing ideas to raise money for army/navy  George Washington  Elected as Commander of Colonial army

3. Bunker Hill and Hessian Hirelings  Loyalists (Tories) vs. Patriots  Fighting continues  Ethan Allen + Benedict Arnold win at Ticonderoga  Colonial victory at Breed’s Hill (aka Bunker Hill)  Colonies had high ground + Britain decided to lead full frontal attack  Lack of supplies hurts the colonial army  Bunker Hill ruined any hope of the Olive Branch Petition  Hired Hessians to put down this “rebellion”

4. Canada Eh?  Colonies begin invasion of Canada  Believe it cold be a 14 th colony and deprive Britain of a valuable base  Unsuccessful in this mission  Able to capture Montreal but not Quebec  Fighting still continues in colonies  Forced out of Boston  Victories at Moore’s Creek Bridge and Charleston Harbor

5. Thomas Pain, Common Sense, and Such  Americans begin to realize the necessity of separating from Britain  Burning of Norfolk and hiring the Hessians  Thomas Pain publishes Common Sense  Pamphlet that criticized the British gov’t/King (also called for Republic)  Reject monarchy and empire and embrace an independent republic  First document suggesting American independence as well as constructing foreign policy

6. Jefferson Explains Independence  “these United Colonies are, and of right tough to be, free and independent states.”  Formal adopted “declaration” of independence by Richard Henry Lee  Give Thomas Jefferson responsibility to give written explanation  Declaration of Independence  Leads to Declaration of the Rights of Man in France  Loyalist Exodus  Persecution of Loyalists mild (occasional tarring/feathering)  Post Declaration -> harsher punishments

7. George Washington and the War  Britain focusing on New York (Loyalist support)  Colonies outnumbered 18k to 35k  Battle of Long Island -> crushed by British  Retreat using nightfall and fog into N.J. and eventually across DE River  Battle of Trenton  Re-crossed the DE River and led surprise attack on Hessians

8. Burgoyne’s Invasion  Britain has plan to split colonies in 2  Gen. Burgoyne would push inland from Canada, Gen. Howe advance up the Hudson River  Benedict Arnold keeps Britain from recapturing Fort Ticonderoga  Slowly advancing Burgoyne + Howe attacks Philadelphia  Howe believes he can clear path for Burgoyne  Washington moves army to Philadelphia -> loses battles at Brandywine Creek and Germantown  Britain settles down in Philadelphia leaving Burgoyne by himself  Washington moves men to Valley Forge  Burgoyne ends up surrendering at Battle of Saratoga to Horatio Gates

9. Diplomatic Affairs  France wants revenge (suppress Britain from becoming superpower)  Create alliance with colonial forces  Colonies also wanted freedom of trade and of the seas  Model Treaty -> treaty with France  No political or military connection -> only a commercial connection  Accept treats, however terms not outline  France recognizes American independence  Revolutionary War becomes a world war

10. Colonial War Expands  Colonies + France + Spain + Holland  Catherine the Great of Russia organizes “Armed Neutrality”  War now fought in North/South America, Europe, Caribbean, and Asia  France puts naval ships on coastline to counter British blockade  Forces Britain to focus on New York not Philadelphia  Attacked by G.W. but escaped -> kept in New York by Washington

11. Blow and Counterblow  Comte de Rochambeau + 6k French troops arrive in colonies  Morale weakened when Benedict Arnold becomes a traitor  Felt his services were not appreciated  Sold out West Point which commanded the Hudson River (6.3k Euros and officers commission)  Plot detected and Arnold fled to British  Britain decides to focus on Southern colonies with plan to move North  Crucial colonial wins in the Carolinas (Gen. Nathanial Greene)

12. The Land/Sea Frontier  Native Americans allied with both sides  Treaty of Fort Stanwix  Frist treaty between the United States and an Indian nation  Native Americans ceded most of their land  Revolutionary War did not stop Westward migration  Colonial navy small -> destroyed British merchant ships  Privateers -> “legal” pirates  British shippers begin pressuring Parliament to end the war

13. The End  Inflation of currency continued to increase  Cornwallis falls back to Yorktown, VA after some other defeats  Awaiting supplies and back-up troops  British navy no longer superior  G.W. marches 300 miles from N.Y. to meet with de Grasse and a French fleet  Tag teamed Cornwallis who was now cornered  Cornwallis surrenders troops on Oct. 19, 1781 at Yorktown

14. Peace at Last  Britain was ready to come to peace  Lost territory in the West Indies  3 Americans meet in Paris: Ben Franklin, John Adams, John Jay  Asked to make no separate peace and consult with French at all times  France torn on what to do; Spanish interests, etc.  John Jay fearful France would help Spain over colonies  Went secretively to Britain  Treaty of Paris (1783)  Formally recognized the independence of the United States  Boundaries to Miss. Rvr in West, Great Lakes in North, and Florida in South

15.  Changes begin to happen in America  Loyalists were to be no longer persecuted and Congress recommended that their property be restored  Britain changes as well  America pays large strategic dividends  Allowed army/navy to be rebuilt  Eventually helps with war against Napoleon