Revolution!

The Fight For Independence

Key Words Continental Army- Colonial Army set up by

the Second Continental Congress Patriot- Person siding with the colonies Loyalist- Person siding with the British Olive Branch Petition- Loyalty to the king in

exchange for repealing the intolerable acts

Attempt at Peace The Second Continental Congress was

convened in Philadelphia after the battles at Lexington and Concord Sent the Olive Branch petition to King George III

The King was less than enthused Felt Colonies wanted their own empire Ordered 20,000 more troops to the colonies

Many were convinced that war could not be avoided

The Beginnings Volunteers known as the Green Mountain

Boys took fort Ticonderoga Captured the fort and its cannons, gun powder

and control of a key route to Canada The Second Continental Congress created

the Continental Army at this same time They appointed George Washington as its

commander

Advantages Patriots

Most colonial men owned rifles and were good shots

Patriots were defending their own land, homes and families while the Brits were paid soldiers

Home field advantage (knew the land) Could be immediately reinforced with supplies

Washington was a brilliant leader and tactician

Advantages The British

Far superior military Well trained army, best navy in the world Had some colonists support (Loyalists)

Mainly in the south Loyalists were tarred and feathered and had their homes

and possessions stolen by Patriots

Bunker Hill The Americans surrounded Boston

They did not let the British march out Colonel Prescott and 1,200 minutemen held Bunker Hill

The British attempted to take the hill but were turned back On the third try, the British took the hill The British lost 1,000 men

The Americans lost 400 This showed that the Americans could fight bravely

Also that the British would be very difficult to beat Washington began to train the army

Tough with colonial differences British set up a blockade and hired mercenaries

Independence Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” justified a

break from England The Continental Congress drafted a Declaration

of Independence It was written by Thomas Jefferson

Congress voted to separate from England on July 2, 1776 They knew they would be seen as traitors The declaration was ratified on July 4th

Triggered much celebration in the colonies

3 Parts Natural Rights

Declared that “all men are created equal” These are inborn rights

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness If these rights are not met, then the people have the

right to rebel British Wrongs

Disbanding Colonial Legislatures, sending troops in peacetime, limits on trade and taxation without representation

Declared independence as well as the rights of the colonies to carry on as a free and sovereign nation

Roles in the War Women

Women added men’s work to their own Planted and harvested crops Made blankets and uniforms, some even made cannons and

guns Betsy Ross sewed flags

Cared for the wounded soldier at the front, washed and cooked

Mary Ludwig Hayes (Molly Pitcher) carried water to the soldiers in the field

When her husband was wounded, she took his place and loaded and fired his cannon

This helped lead to more equality for women

Roles in War African Americans

The continental army did not allow African Americans to fight

The British offered to free slaves if they fought for them

In response, Washington allowed free African Americans to fight

Tough calls Fight for the Brits and be hanged by Patriots Fight for colonies and be captured and sold

Roles in the War Native Americans were wanted by both sides

British were more effective Convinced them that a Patriot victory would mean more

settlers moving west of the Appalachians Some, such as the Miami’s allied with the Patriots

Helped trick the British into surrendering fort Vincennes

New Spain Spain was neutral, but Bernardo de Galvez, the

Governor of Louisiana supported the Patriots Supplied them with guns, medicine and cloth He soon captured forts along the Mississippi and drove the

British from Western Florida. Galveston, Texas is named after him