WAS THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE A CONSERVATIVE WAR FOR ENGLISH

RIGHTS1775-1783

The War for American Independence Begins!

Conserving English Rights

The war between the colonies and English government is more of a struggle for the conservation of rights as Englishmen and for the right of self-government.

The Stamp Act being enforced without the consent of the colonists is an act considered by colonists as a breach of their rights as Englishmen. (no direct representation in Parliament)

The Stamp Act Congress 1765 in New York Protest against taxation on grounds that it violated their ancient chartered

rights (Magna Carta) as Englishmen Colonial leaders contended that the colonies could only be taxed by their own

colonial legislatures Patrick Henry, of Virginia, creates the “Virginia Resolves” saying that

Virginians can only be taxed by the General Assembly (House of Burgesses) of Virginia.

The American War for Independence was fought not only against taxation but mainly to preserve self-government and their rights as Englishmen.

Challenging the Minute-Men

April 19, 1775Lexington and then Concord

(Massachusetts)General Gage and British

ordered to seize Boston Militia’s supplies in Concord and arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock.

Goes through Lexington first and meets resistance from Minute-men. The British continue on to Concord and are forced to retreat to Boston when they meet 400 Minute-men.

This signaled the beginning of the Revolution.

“Shot heard ‘round the world”

The Second Continental Congress meets as a result of this battle.

Battle of Lexington and Concord

Second Continental Congress

May, 1775Continental Army

established and organizedGeorge Washington voted

to lead as GeneralMany delegates still did

not want to declare independence yet.

Drafted the Olive Branch Petition pledging their allegiance to the King looking for one last effort at a peaceful compromise.

King George III refused to acknowledge the colonies’ efforts at peace and declares them officially in rebellion.

He declares all members of the Continental Congress have committed treason and will be hanged.

“We will all hang together or we shall all hang separately”. –Ben Franklin

Continental Army British Army

Home field advantage Great leadership Passionate cause

FREEDOM! French alliance

Navy, money, troops Time

Just ride it out long enough. Do not have to win outright.

Great Britain fighting on many fronts….not just in the North American colonies.

Well-trained, supplied professional army.

NAVY!WealthStrong government

organization already established

Sizing Up the Competition

Battle of Bunker Hill

June 16, 1775Boston, MassachusettsBritish reinforcements

attack a militia fort at the top of Breed’s Hill. The colonists fought off to attacks but ran out of ammo. The Boston militia was forced to retreat but not before taking 1,000 British casualties.

“Don’t fire till you see the whites of their eyes!”

Battle of Bunker Hill

Declaring Independence

In the wake of the Battles at Lexington and Bunker Hill; and the ignoring of the Congress’ Olive Branch Petition reconciliation between the colonies and Great Britain was impossible.

The Congress met again and voted on whether to declare independence.

Drafted by Thomas Jefferson in June of 1776.

The motion in the Congress passed to declare independence on July 2 and the official document was first read to Americans and the world on July 4, 1776.

This has come to be known as our Independence Day.

Declaration of Independence

Crossing the Delaware: The Battle of Trenton

December 25, 1776Trenton, New JerseyGeneral Washington

and the Continental Army cross the Delaware River in the middle of the night and surprise the Hessians (hired German soldiers) in their sleep after their Christmas celebration.

Desperate for a victory this gave the Americans the boost in confidence that they needed to keep fighting.

This also boosted their allegiance to General Washington.

Battle of Trenton

Camping at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Freezing, starving, no supplies, enlistments ending, desertions, no hope, disease.

The Revolution was almost lost here in January-March 1777.

Enter: Baron Friedrich von Steuben

Washington knows a professional army is necessary.

George Washington and von Steuben kept the men together and began to drill the men with discipline and military training.

Rumors of the French coming to the aid of the Americans also lifted their spirits.

Valley Forge

The Turning Point: Battle of Saratoga

October 17, 1777Saratoga, New YorkThe British leave

Quebec to take New York by sea.

They are met and surrounded by the Americans when they arrive.

The Americans take over 5,000 British soldiers as prisoners.

This victory convinced the French to fully aid the Americans to knock out the British.

Ben Franklin is sent to France to negotiate the treaty of alliance with the French.

Now the Americans have a Navy, money, and more soldiers!

Colonists dislike France but need the help.

Battle of Cowpens

Nathaniel Greene was commander in the Carolinas and Georgia Only a little over

1,000 Continentals and bands of ill-disciplined militia against Cornwallis’ 10,000 men

Had to create circumstances to achieve success

Greene’s strategy lured Cornwallis away from his bases of supply

Morgan recognized his militia was ill-disciplined Deployed militia in two

lines, 300 and 150 yards in front of his Continentals

He asked each militia line to fire twice before retreating behind the Continentals

A small force of 125 cavalry was posted in the rear to cover the exposed flanks

Cowpens

Americans executed as planned Militia in the first lines two

effective volleys into the infantry before retreating behind the Continentals

British rushed after the retreating militia and became disordered

Continentals fired repeated volleys into the British

British disintegrated against American counterattack

Americans suffered 6.2% losses (12 killed and 60 wounded)

British suffered 90% losses

Cornwallis became obsessed with Morgan and turned to pursue him Morgan retreated into

Virginia (flexibility) In a month Cornwallis had

marched 225 miles without achieving decisive battle

Cowpens to Yorktown

Battle of Saratoga

The Final Battle: Battle of Yorktown

September, 1781Yorktown, VirginiaThe British move to the

Chesapeake Bay to wait for supplies to arrive.

Washington and French General Rochambeau corner Brits. on land and the French Navy led by General DeGrasse by sea.

French navy shows up for the first time.

The British are completely surrounded.

They are forced to officially surrender.

Battle of Yorktown (French Navy)

Battle of Yorktown

Treaty of Paris

September, 1783 John Adams, Ben Franklin,

and John Jay negotiate the treaty with the British

Great Britain recognizes American Independence

The Mississippi River is established as our western border.

Florida goes back to Spain. The last British troops leave

New York on November 24, 1783.

Agreed to treat Loyalists still in America with respect.

Independence and New Borders