The American Revolution (1775-1783)

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The American Revolution(1775-1783)
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Thomas Paine

• Author of Common Sense

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Common Sense

• Most widely read pamphlet in America
• Highlights the wrongs of England
• Promotes Revolution

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Thomas Paine
Why did Thomas Paine title his Pamphlet Common
Sense?
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• Until an independence is declared the continent
  will feel itself like a man who continues putting
  off some unpleasant business from day to day, yet
  knows it must be done, hates to set about it,
  wishes it over, and is continually haunted with
  the thoughts of its necessity.Thomas Paine-
  Common Sense, 1776

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Common Sense that we should revolt and be
independent

• Major Arguments
• It is ridiculous for an island to rule a
  continent, especially one that is so far away
• Remaining a part of Britain will drag America
  into European wars, hurting the trade and economy
  of America
• Even if Britain was originally the "mother
  country" of America, no true mother would harm
  her children so deplorably.

• Propaganda
• Became very popular and helped to spread the
  revolutionary spirit throughout the colonies

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American Independence

• The Influence of the Enlightenment
• Colonial leaders push for independence, rely on
  Enlightenment ideas
• Declaration of Independencedocument justifying
  colonial rebellion
• Leader Thomas Jefferson writes Declaration, uses
  ideas of John Locke

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Declaration of Independence

• Main author Thomas Jefferson
• 3 Parts Preamble, grievances, formal declaration

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Declaration of Independence

• Goal Tell colonists and other countries of our
  plans
• Gain support from more colonists and countries
  (France and Spain)

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• We hold these truths to be
• self-evident, that all men are
• created equal, that they are
• endowed by their Creator with
• certain unalienable Rights, that among these are
  Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.That
  to secure these rights, Governments are
  instituted among Men

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• That whenever any Form of Government becomes
  destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the
  People to alter or to abolish it, and to
  institute new Government, laying its foundation
  on such principles and organizing its powers in
  such form, as to them shall seem most likely to
  effect their Safety and Happiness.

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The Declaration of Independence

• Written by Thomas Jefferson
• Ratified on July 4, 1776
• A letter justifying its reasons for revolting
  (break up letter)
• Borrows from ideas of John Locke
• Unalienable rights Natural rights rights that
  everyone are born with and govt cannot take away
• People have right to alter, abolish, revolt
  against a government that does not protect their
  rights
• Contains List of Grievances (complaints)
• Does not establish a government

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Concepts of the Declaration

• John Locke
• British philosopher
• Two Treatises on Government

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Natural Rights

• Life, Liberty, Property
• Rulers cannot take these rights away

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Social Contract

• People Power
• People create government
• protect their rights

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Social Contract
If rights are not protected..
.People should break their contract
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Edge of War

• Colonies
• 2.5 million citizens
• Weak govt navy
• Little money or weapons
• Colonial jealousy
• Strong leaders
• Defensive war
• France

• England
• 7.5 million citizens
• Strong navy
• Large, well equipped army
• Loyalists
• Weak military leaders
• Distance
• France

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Choosing Sides

• Loyalists People who remained loyal to the King
  and British. Also called Tories.

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Choosing Sides

• Patriots People who supported the independence
  movement
• Risked everything for the cause

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Early Battles

• Bunker Hill
• Bloodiest battle of war
• Dont fire until you see the whites of their
  eyes.
• Casualties
• Britain 1,054
• Rebels 400
• American victory despite abandoning hill

• Fort Ticonderoga
• Ethan Allen Green Mountain Boys
• Benedict Arnold

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The War
Early Defeats British capture major cities New
York, Philadelphia, Boston, Charleston
Washington retreats
live to fight another day
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Battle of Trenton
Early Patriot Victory
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Trenton/ Princeton Christmas, 1776 

• Washington crossed the Delaware River and led a
  surprise attack on the Hessian soldiers who were
  mercenaries working for the British
• All were captured or killed

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Valley Forge

• Washington's forces spent the winter outside
  Philadelphia
• It was a brutally cold winter and the men were
  under supplied
• There were many casualties, but Washington's
  ability to keep up American hopes saved the
  effort!

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Valley Forge
Washington and troops survive long, cold winter
Troops trained by General Von Steuben.
Survival training leads to increased morale
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Valley Forge
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Battle of Saratoga 10/17/1777

• Turning point of war
• France give full support to colonists

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Saratoga
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French Support

• Benjamin Franklin sent to gain French
  support-provided military supplies
• French Motive Revenge
• Secret alliance from onset of war
• Marquis de Lafayette Great supporter of the
  American cause

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Franco-American Alliance

• (1778) Recognize American efforts toward
  independence

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Yorktown (1781)

• Last major battle of the war
• French naval blockade
• Washingtons army, with French support, forced
  General Cornwallis to surrender

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Yorktown

• British General Lord Cornwallis was trapped
  between Washington's forces and the French Fleet
  in Virginia
• Cornwallis surrendered during this siege, and it
  proved to be the final battle in the war.

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Americans Win Independence

• Success for the Colonists
• Despite British military might, colonists have
  advantages
• Motivating cause of freedom
• French assistance
• Wars expense for Britain
• British surrender at Yorktown in 1781 colonists
  win the war

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Treaty of Paris (1783)

• Britain formally recognized US independence
• US stretched west to the Mississippi River, north
  to the Great Lakes, south to Florida

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American concessions

• Loyalists to be forgiven
• Loyalist property to be restored
• America to pay off British debt

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Women in the war

• Greater responsibilities
• Manage farms and businesses while men away
• Travel with army as cooks and nurses

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Mary Pitcher

• When Marys husband was killed, she stepped in to
  take his place.

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Recognition

• Several slides come from the Power Point of
  bthone. US History. Smithtown, NY
• Some have been changed slightly, but slides, 4,
  5,6,10,11, 12, and 14 came from Mr. Thones PPT.