The American The American RevolutionRevolution

An incredibly simplified version…An incredibly simplified version…

A little A little bitbit of background… of background…

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

1773-74: Tea Act Tea Party Coercive 1773-74: Tea Act Tea Party Coercive ActsActs

1775: Lexington & Concord (April) 1775: Lexington & Concord (April)

22ndnd Cont. Congress (May) Cont. Congress (May)

Sequence of Events Sequence of Events Focus: BostonFocus: Boston

How to respond to the British? How to respond to the British? •Create a Continental Army…Appoint Create a Continental Army…Appoint George Washington commander George Washington commander

Bear in mind…most in the colonies Bear in mind…most in the colonies were were notnot in favor of independence. That ideas in favor of independence. That ideas was pushed by the most radical of the was pushed by the most radical of the representativesrepresentatives•Negotiate or take action?Negotiate or take action?•John Adams v. John DickinsonJohn Adams v. John Dickinson

22ndnd Continental Congress May, Continental Congress May, 17751775

“I Have Looked for Our Rights”: Adams (MA) v. Dickinson (PA) at 2nd Cont. Congress argue how to respond to Lexington & Concord (Adams insults Dickinson’s religion)I Have Looked for Our Rights – YouTube

2nd Cont. Congress debates a declaration of independence: Adams v. Rutledge (SC) John Adams Continental Congress and Edward Rutledge - YouTube

John Hancock (MA) reads the Royal Proclamation (Oct., 1775) that the“traitors…shall be punished with death by hanging…” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLIJv6z21XM&list=PL3564BCA24B67BA04

“While I Live, Let Me Have a Country…a Free Country”: Adams makes his final plea to vote

for independence.John Adams - While I live, let me have a country, a free country! - YouTube

Learning Objectives:Learning Objectives:

1.1. Assess the relative Assess the relative strengths/weaknesses of both the strengths/weaknesses of both the British and the Americans at the start of British and the Americans at the start of the warthe war

2.2. Think of the War in 2 distinct phases: Think of the War in 2 distinct phases: A.A. The War in the NorthThe War in the North

B.B. The War in the SouthThe War in the South

3.3. Identify key battles, including Yorktown Identify key battles, including Yorktown which led to Britain’s recognition of which led to Britain’s recognition of American independenceAmerican independence

Why did the British lose the Why did the British lose the war?war?

Greatest imperial power in the worldGreatest imperial power in the world Powerful, experienced, well-trained, Powerful, experienced, well-trained,

fully equipped army and navyfully equipped army and navy Strong central government with Strong central government with

winning record against major winning record against major European rivalsEuropean rivals

Fighting an untrained, poorly Fighting an untrained, poorly equipped, undisciplined, poorly funded equipped, undisciplined, poorly funded colonial forcecolonial force

American DisadvantagesAmerican Disadvantages Confederation governmentConfederation government

– Relatively weak and decentralizedRelatively weak and decentralized– No power to taxNo power to tax– Did not trust professional armyDid not trust professional army

Continental Army took time to train and Continental Army took time to train and equip, hampered by morale problemsequip, hampered by morale problems

At least one-fifth of population were At least one-fifth of population were Loyalists (opposed independence), Loyalists (opposed independence), perhaps half remained neutralperhaps half remained neutral

British DisadvantagesBritish Disadvantages

Fighting on foreign soilFighting on foreign soil Colonial territory too vast to effectively Colonial territory too vast to effectively

occupyoccupy Strategic and public relations problemsStrategic and public relations problems

– ““Scorched earth” strategy would hurt their Scorched earth” strategy would hurt their image as a liberating force, alienating image as a liberating force, alienating people against the Crownpeople against the Crown

– But too much leniency would encourage But too much leniency would encourage and sustain resistance movementand sustain resistance movement

Why the British Lost: The War Why the British Lost: The War in the North (1775-1778)in the North (1775-1778)

BackgroundBackground– Early American success: Early American success:

Ft. Ticonderoga, Ft. Ticonderoga, Montreal, Boston (forced Montreal, Boston (forced British to abandon)British to abandon)

– British strategy: invade British strategy: invade down Hudson from down Hudson from Canada, capture Canada, capture Philadelphia with troops Philadelphia with troops from New York, seal off from New York, seal off New England, end New England, end rebellion in one campaignrebellion in one campaign

– Interactive Map Interactive Map Revolutionary War Battles, Revolutionary War Battles, 1775 - 1778.mht1775 - 1778.mht

Why the British Lost: Why the British Lost: Ambivalence at New York, Ambivalence at New York,

17761776

August 1776: British have 30,000 troops, almost 500 August 1776: British have 30,000 troops, almost 500 ships,ships,

Continental Army under G. Washington routed at Long Continental Army under G. Washington routed at Long Island, narrowly escaped from ManhattanIsland, narrowly escaped from Manhattan

But Howe failed to deal decisive blow, hoping for show But Howe failed to deal decisive blow, hoping for show of force and settlement instead… Washington and the of force and settlement instead… Washington and the Continental Army escaped to Pennsylvania and survivedContinental Army escaped to Pennsylvania and survived

Watch a short video here: Washington Escapes New York

Why the British Lost: Trenton Why the British Lost: Trenton and Princeton, 1776-77and Princeton, 1776-77

Continental Army on the run, demoralized, deserting Continental Army on the run, demoralized, deserting fieldfield

Washington turns tables, attacks Trenton on Washington turns tables, attacks Trenton on Christmas Eve, 1776, Princeton soon thereafterChristmas Eve, 1776, Princeton soon thereafter

Strategically not much gained, but huge morale Strategically not much gained, but huge morale boosterbooster

Keeps army in the field, can now take time to trainKeeps army in the field, can now take time to train

Watch short video here: Washington's surprise attack on Trenton

Why the British Lost: The Tide Why the British Lost: The Tide Turns at Saratoga, 1777Turns at Saratoga, 1777

Britain’s bungled Britain’s bungled campaigncampaign– Burgoyne and Burgoyne and

Howe planHowe plan– Defeat at Ft. Defeat at Ft.

Stanwix, SaratogaStanwix, Saratoga– Brits surrenderBrits surrender

ConsequencesConsequences– Stalemate in Stalemate in

the norththe north– The French The French

alliancealliance

Attrition in the South: the Southern Attrition in the South: the Southern CampaignCampaign

Stalemate in north leads British to adopt southern strategy– Offer freedom to slaves who escape to British lines– Invade coast, march into interior with conquering force,

loyalist supporters will rise up and help occupy conquered territory

Early victories in Georgia and South Carolina, but . . . – Loyalist militia commits atrocities, sparks vicious inland civil

war– Guerilla resistance weakens occupying forces– British suffer heavy losses at Cowpens, King’s Mountain– Nathaniel Greene’s Continental forces prove adept at

running away, wear Cornwallis down– Cornwallis goes to Yorktown to re-supply

The Battle of Yorktown, October 1782The Battle of Yorktown, October 1782 A joint operation:A joint operation:

– Washington moves troops Washington moves troops south to lay siege to south to lay siege to YorktownYorktown

– French navy blockades French navy blockades harbor, prevents re-supplyharbor, prevents re-supply

– Cornwallis surrenders after Cornwallis surrenders after prolonged siege prolonged siege engineered by French engineered by French generalsgenerals

Washington’s finest moment Washington’s finest moment – thanks to the French– thanks to the French

The Treaty of Paris (1783)The Treaty of Paris (1783)

Summary: Why the British Summary: Why the British lostlost

Despite superior military forceDespite superior military force Despite America’s divided populationDespite America’s divided population British lost becauseBritish lost because

– Ambivalence, arrogance, blundersAmbivalence, arrogance, blunders– Key American victories at Trenton and SaratogaKey American victories at Trenton and Saratoga– The Americans bought time with defensive warfareThe Americans bought time with defensive warfare– The British failed to win hearts and minds of the The British failed to win hearts and minds of the

peoplepeople– They could not effectively occupy so much territoryThey could not effectively occupy so much territory– The French joined the Americans after SaratogaThe French joined the Americans after Saratoga