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George Washington on his horse. Hand-colored engraving.

The War for Independence1775–1783

The battle for American independence wins popular support in Georgia and the colonies. The Continental Army faces harsh conditions, but eventually defeats the British.

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The War for Independence1775–1783

SECTION 1

SECTION 2

SECTION 3

Moving Toward Independence

Declaring Independence

Fighting for Independence

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Section 1

Moving TowardIndependence Fighting between American and British troopsconvince most colonists that they should seekindependence from England.

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The Second Continental Congress

Moving Toward Independence

Forming the Continental Army• Second Continental Congress meets in

Philadelphia, May 1775• Georgia had not joined Continental Association

trade boycott• Continental Congress cuts off trade with Georgia• Delegates vote to create Continental Army on

June 14, 1775• Name George Washington commander; accepts

post without pay- former British officer in French and Indian War

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1

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1

Patriots Rebel• Georgia Patriots discuss Massachusetts events at

Noble W. Jones’ home- plan first act of rebellion in Georgia

• Noble and other Patriots steal 600 pounds of gunpowder

• Governor Wright realizes loss of control, writes to England for aid

• Patriots intercept letter; forgery sent saying situation under control

Georgia Takes Action

Continued . . .

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1

The Second Provincial Congress Convenes• Georgia’s second provincial congress opens

July 4, 1775• Ten of 12 parishes represented, 102 delegates

- vote to join Continental Association boycott- form Council of Safety to coordinate boycott

with other colonies- elect five representatives to Second Continental Congress

• Claim rights as British subjects and threaten independence

continued Georgia Takes Action

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“Don’t Fire Until You See the Whites of Their Eyes”• Patriot militia take Bunker, Breed’s Hill outside

Boston• British attack Breed’s Hill with 2,200 soldiers, June

1775• American Colonel Prescott orders not to fire until at

close range• Americans lose, but British lose 10 times as many

men• Battle of Bunker Hill proves Americans can stand

up to British

The Battle of Bunker Hill

Image

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Olive Branch Petition• Congress drafts Olive Branch Petition asking to

restore peace (1775)• Adopts Declaration of the Causes and Necessities of

Taking Up Arms- written by Thomas Jefferson- colonists would rather die than accept English

enslavement• King George III rejects petition, announces new acts

to punish colonies- blocks American ports- sends 10,000 Hessians—hired German soldiers—

to fight

A Last Attempt at Peace

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1

Battle of Moores Creek• North Carolina’s militia plan to meet British near

Wilmington• Patriots remove planks from Moores Creek

Bridge; grease supports- surprise Loyalist troops, 50 killed, 850 captured

in three-minute battle

Fighting Spreads Through the Colonies

The British Retreat From Boston• Continental Army surrounds British in Boston; neither side

backs down• Americans send 50 heavy cannons from New York’s Fort

Ticonderoga• British see cannons; 9,000 soldiers retreat to Canada

Continued . . .

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1

The Battle of the Rice Boats in Georgia• Georgia’s first battle in March 1776• English fleet in Savannah for supplies; Wright

wants cooperation• British want nearby rice boats; colonists burn

ships instead • British sail away, taking Wright; royal government

ends in Georgia• Council of Safety, Committee of Thirty take

control of colony

continued Fighting Spreads Through the Colonies

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1

Booklet Changes Opinions• Most Americans still do not want to break away from

England• Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense in

January 1776- pamphlet explains Patriot point of view; urges

independence• Many colonists change minds after reading

Common Sense is Published

Image

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The Declaration of Independence states the colonies’ intention to be free of British control.

Section 2

Declaring Independence

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The Decision for Independence

Declaring Independence

Continental Congress Debates• Continental Congress undecided on

independence, appoints committee• Thomas Jefferson chosen to write a Declaration

of Independence • Jefferson from Virginia—colony’s support is critical

for success- excellent writer—Ben Franklin, John Adams

make minor changes• Debate resumes, seven colonies including Georgia

favor independence • Button Gwinnett, George Walton, Lyman Hall are

Georgia’s delegates

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2

Continued . . .

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The Colonies Agree• Independence resolution passes second vote

July 2; New York abstains• Congress makes two changes to Declaration of

Independence• Does not want Declaration to blame British

people; Jefferson agrees

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2

continued The Decision for Independence

Slavery Threatens Their Unity• Congress deletes passage blaming King George III for

slave trade- passage offends Georgia, South Carolina, New

England shippers- passage removed against Jefferson’s wishes

Continued . . .

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Congress Accepts the Declaration• Declaration of Independence adopted

July 4, 1776• Read publicly four days later to cheers and

celebration• Sons of Liberty in New York destroy King George

III statue- melt statue, use for bullets

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2

continued The Decision for Independence

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Signing the Declaration of Independence

The Cost of Signing• Document officially signed August 2; John

Hancock first to sign• Remaining delegates signed in order of votes—

by colony, north to south• Georgia’s Walton, Gwinnett, Hall are last to sign• Signers expect to be hanged as traitors, but none

killed by British• Homes of twenty signers damaged or destroyed

- many become poor by war’s end; sell property to help war effort

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2

Section 3

Fighting for IndependenceThe poorly trained and equipped Continental Army defeat a much stronger British army to win independence for America.

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War in the Middle States

Fighting for Independence

Fighting in New York• March 1776, British general Howe’s troops flee

Boston, go to Canada• Washington expects attack on New York; sends

army to Long Island• Howe, Hessians arrive in New York in July;

reinforcements come in August• After months of fighting, Washington retreats to

Pennsylvania- many of his soldiers die in battle

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3

Continued . . .

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A Desperate Situation• Washington’s troops discouraged, many desert

army, only 3,000 remain• Howe waits for spring, does not follow

Washington into Pennsylvania• Thomas Paine writes The American Crisis to

promote the cause- series of pamphlets urging soldiers not to

give up

continued War in the Middle States

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3

Continued . . .

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Washington Crosses the Delaware• Washington needs victory to raise troop morale

- also running out of time—enlistments end December 31

• Christmas 1776, Washington crosses Delaware River into New Jersey

• Americans enter Trenton at daybreak, surprise Hessian soldiers

• Hessians surrender—gunpowder is wet, unusable; commander killed

• Victory encourages soldiers, attracts Continental Army recruits

continued War in the Middle States

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3

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War at Sea

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3

Continental Navy Forms• Over 400 British ships off American coast; small

battles at sea• Early in war, private ships allowed to attack

British supply ships • Accused of being pirates, but become first ships

in Continental Navy- navy grows to 12 warships; some states have

own navies• John Paul Jones becomes first American naval

hero• Wins sea battle September 23, 1779 against

world’s best navy

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European Allies for the Patriots

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3

French Aid• Jones delivers news of victories to France in

1777 • For two years France had been secretly aiding

colonies; now openly• Marquis de Lafayette—French noble, volunteers

in Washington’s army- convinces France to send 6,000-man army;

hero to Americans, French

Casimir Pulaski• Count Casimir Pulaski of Poland also assists in

Revolution- killed at Battle of Savannah, October 9, 1779

Image

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War in the South

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3

War in Georgia• Americans don’t give up despite losses; British

turn south• British take Savannah December 1778, then

Sunbury, Midway, Augusta • Creek help British gain control over most of

Georgia

Fighting Comes to the Backcountry• Patriots determined, continue fighting British in occupied

Georgia• Battle of Kettle Creek—attack on Loyalist militia,

February 1779• South Carolina, Georgia Patriots beat Loyalists, lose just

9 men

Map

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The British Try to Take the South

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3

The British Try to Take the South• General Cornwallis is in charge of taking North

Carolina, Virginia• British not used to hot, humid summers;

Cornwallis postpones attack• Delay lets North Carolina militia prepare, slow

down British• Small battles move British further from their

supplies at coast• British eventually forced to retreat to get supplies• Georgia, South Carolina back in American control

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Battle of Yorktown• Most fighting in Virginia in 1781; Cornwallis

based at Yorktown• Yorktown on peninsula in Chesapeake Bay; ships

deliver supplies• Washington has French fleet block bay, traps

British in Yorktown• Washington moves south; French, Americans fire

cannons on city • Cornwallis surrenders at Battle of Yorktown on

October 19, 1781- last major battle, though some fighting

continues

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3

The End of the War

Continued . . .

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The War Ends in Georgia• Americans reclaim Augusta, June 1781; British

leave Backcountry • British leave Savannah in 1782; postwar years

bring prosperity

continued The End of the War

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3

The Treaty of Paris• War officially ends with Treaty of Paris in 1783• Negotiations include recognition of nation and its

boundaries

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The Articles of Confederation• War teaches colonies that their strength is

greater when together• Articles of Confederation hold the 13 new states

together• Country quickly outgrows Articles of

Confederation- needs stronger Constitution to unite Americans

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3

From Colonies to States

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