Chapter 6 (part 1)
British Disadvantages (slide deck)
- 3,000 miles from America - Water separating - Fighting a Guerrilla War—> when your opposition doesn't follow typical practices - lack of support in England - public support declines as years go by
The Perils of War
- A British naval blockade cut off supplies of European manufacturers and disrupted the New England fishing industry; meanwhile British occupation of Boston, NY, and Philadelphia reduced trade - British blockade cut tobacco exports in the Chesapeake, so planters grew grain to sell to the contending armies - Farmers and artisans across the land adapted to a war economy - Governments requisitioned military supplies from the people - patriot women promised yards of linnen and woolen cloth for men in war - Some women took care of farm work while men were away—> this led some women to expect greater legal rights in the new republican society - goods remained scarce and pricey - New England imposed price ceilings in 1777-> farmers and artisans refused to sell their goods - As British and American armies marched back and forth across NJ, they forced Patriot and Loyalist families to flee their homes to escape arrest - Soldiers and partisans looted farms, and disorderly troops harassed and raped women and girls - The war dividend many farm communities - Patriots formed committees of safety to collect taxes and seized the property of those who refused to pay - In parts of Maryland, the number of people who refused to join either side was so large that they successfully defied Patriot mobs
Time is Slipping Away: The British Are Met by Civilians in Bennington
- A trip of 23 miles, it took Burgoyne and his British troops one month to reach the Hudson River - Citizens of Bennington were surprised because Burgoyne saw farmers with guns and Burgoyne was told a majority were loyalists - General Burgoyne should have changed his strategy after events at Bennington because a good leader realizes that once one approach doesn't work, they should try another. Burgoyne continued to fight because he felt that it was how you were supposed to fight and lead
Diplomatic Triumph
- After Yorktown, diplomats took two years to conclude a peace treaty - Americans negotiated secretly with British, prepared if necessary to ignore the Treaty of Alliance and sign a separate peace - Parliament wanted peace, and they feared the loss of a rich sugar island - Treaty of Paris: signed in September 1783, Great Britain formally recognized American independence and relinquished its claims to lands south of the Great Lakes and east of the Mississippi River - British negotiators didn't insist on a separate territory for their Indian allies - Cherokees were forced to relinquish claims to 5 million acres in treaties with Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia - New York and Continental Congress pressed the Iroquois and Ohio Indians to cede much of their land as well - British officials found it easy to abandon allies they had never really understood - Paris treaty also granted Americans fishing rights off Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, prohibited the British from "carrying away any negroes or other property" and guaranteed freedom of navigation on the Mississippi to American citizens - American government allowed British merchants to peruse legal claims for prewar debts and encouraged the state legislatures to return confiscated property to Loyalists and grant them citizenship - Treaty of Versailles: Britain made peace with France and Spain - Spain reclaimed Florida - France received Tobago - Six years later, cries for tax relief and political liberty would spark the French Revolution - The treaties gave them independence and access to the trans-Appalachian west
Surrender at Yorktown
- Americans won the Battle of Yorktown - It takes another year and a half to two years to negotiate the peace treaty but the war is largely over - Date of surrender: October 17, 1781 - The choice of music played at the surrender is unknown - Rumor has it the song "The World Turned Upside Down" was played - Public opinion in England turned against the war - it was too expensive with no end in sights - One soldier mentioned that Rochambeau sounds like "rush on boys"
The Northern Strategy: The British Take Fort Ticonderoga
- Before the British seized Fort Ticonderoga, Americans felt it was an area of comfort and protection - The fall of the fort is devastating for the Americans - British opinion on the war after they seized Fort Ticonderoga: British felt they beat the rebels by seizing Fort Ticonderoga - King George III was thrilled of this happening
Benjamin Franklin Arrives in France
- Benjamin Franklin's arrival in France worries the British because they think he is a devious man with a secretive purpose to be there - French were hesitant to support the Americans because they don't want to get caught up in a world war with Britain - There is a great deal of suspicion if the Americans actually have a chance - Ben Franklin was the American Ambassador to France
The Invasion of the South: The British Gain Control of Southern Colonies
- British General Henry Clinton was successful in the southern colonies - The entire American southern army is captured and falls into British hands - Charleston was beat - It is a paradox that wealthy southerners were fighting for freedom while owning slaves because the slaves would want their freedom as well - Wealthy southerners who own slaves fighting for freedom is a huge contradiction - British had failed in New England, failed in the middle colonies, so they now tried their chance at attacking the southern colonies - Late December 1779, five years into the war
Britain's Southern Strategy
- British gov revised its military strategy to defend the West Indies and capture the rich tobacco- and rice- growing colonies: Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia - Ministry planned to use Scottish Highlanders in the Carolinas and other Loyalists to hold them - The large number of slaves in the South made the Revolution a "triangular war" in which African Americans constituted a strategic problem for Patriots and a tempting, if dangerous, opportunity for the British - Britain actively recruited slaves to its cause - In 1779, the Philipsburg Proclamation declared that any slave who deserted a rebel master would receive protection, freedom, and land from Great Britain - By war's end, African Americans could enlist in every state but South Carolina and Georgia, and some 5,000 fought for the Patriot cause - It fell to Sir Henry Clinton to implement Britain's southern strategy - From the British army's main base in New York City, Clinton launched a seaborne attack on Savannah, Georgia - Clinton's forces and local loyalists controlled coastal Georgia and had 10,000 troops poised for an assault on South Carolina - In 1780, British forces marched from victory to victory - In May, Clinton forced the surrender of Charleston - Lord Charles Cornwallis assumed control of the British forces defeated an American force commanded by General Horatio Gates, the hero of Saratoga - The southern strategy was working - Thanks to the Marquis de Lafayette, France finally dispatched troops to the American mainland - Lafayette persuaded King Louis XVI to send General Comte de Rochambeau and 5,500 men to Newport, Rhode Island, in 1780 - There they threatened the British forces holding New York City
War in the North
- British government had access to wealth by South Atlantic System and industrial revolution - Britain had the most powerful navy and support of thousands of American loyalists and powerful Indian coalitions - Americans= economically and militarily weak—> no strong central government or reliable source of tax revenue - Continental army= poorly trained and inexperienced - Battle of Long Island—> Lord North ordered General How to capture NYC—> wanted to seize control of Hudson River to separate Patriots from the north from southern colonies - Continental army crossed Hudson River to NJ—> by December 1776 rebels were pushed across NJ and over the Delaware River into Pennsylvania - British halted military campaign for cold months—> Americans can catch them off guard—> staged a surprise attack in Trenton, NJ—> small victory for Continental army
Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill: First Major Battles of the Revolutionary War
- British won Battle of Bunker Hill - even though colonists might not be huge and mighty, they are still able to inflict many casualties towards the enemy - first major battle of revolution - Americans fired down on oncoming Redcoats because they had the advantage of height
British Strategy (slide deck)
- Divide and conquer the colonies 1775-1777-> NYC and Philadelphia lost to the British 1777-1778-> Valley Forge
Valley Forge
- Fears reached peak during winter of 1777 - While Howe's army lived comfortably in Philadelphia, Washington's army retreated 20 miles to Valley Forge where 12,000 soldiers and hundred of camp followers suffered horribly - Nearby farmers refused to help - some were pacifists, Quakers and German sectarians unwilling to support either side - others looked out for their own families - That winter of 1777 at Valley Forge took as many American lives as had two years of fighting - Varón von Steuben raise the readiness of the American army - He was a former Prussian military officer - He was appointed as inspector general of the Continental army and instituted a strict drill system and encouraged officers to become more professional Because of von Steuben, the smaller army that emerged from Valley Forge in the spring of 1778 was a much tougher and better disciplined force
The French Alliances
- France and America were unlikely partners - France was a Catholic monarchy - Americans were a Protestant Federation of Republicans - When news of the rebel victory at Saratoga reached Paris in December 1777, Vergennes sought a formal alliance - The Treaty of Alliance of February 1778 specified that once France entered the war, neither partner would sign a separate peace without the "liberty, sovereignty, and independence" of the United States - Alliance gave new life to the Patriot's cause - Its confidence bolstered the Continental COngress addressed the demands of the officer corps - war had become unpopular in Britain - At first George III was determined to crush the rebellion - stunned by the defeat at Saratoga, the king changed his mind and authorized North to seek a negotiated settlement - In Fed 1778, Lord North persuaded Parliament to repeal the Tea and Prohibitory Acts, and to renounce its power to tax the colonies - patriots now allied with France and committed to independence, rejected North's overture
War in the South
- French alliance didn't bring a rapid end to the war - France entered conflicted in June 1778-> hoped to seize Britain's sugar islands
Armies and Strategies
- General Howe still hoped for political compromise—> instead of destroying American Army, he tried to show its weakness and convince the Continental Congress to give up the struggle - Howe's tactics cost Britain a chance to nip rebellion in the bud - Washington strategy= draw British away from sea coast, extend their lines of supply, and an their morale - Congress promised Washington a regular force of 75,000 men, but the Continental Army never reached 1/3 of that number - Yeomen served in local militias to be close to families and farms - VA gentry imposed military draft for property less men to serve for 3 years—> they resisted so legislature paid them bounties agreed to a shorter term of service - Continental soldiers recruited in Maryland were poor American youths and older foreign born men, former indentured servants, and British ex-convicts - Inexperienced soldiers panicked when they came to face British - Thousands deserted because they didn't want to endure the military life - women made do with the supplies given to care for troops - Continental army held in suspicion by Radical Whig Patrios who believed a standing army= threat to liberty
"Victory or Death": The Battle of Trenton
- George Washington attempted to inspire his men through inspirational writing - Washington was able to win the Battle of Trenton because he realized he needed to do unconventional and unexpected things that the British would not be prepared for - This proves how he is able to adapt to new circumstances and how he understands that the Americans can't just fight the British toe to toe - he realizes that slow and steady wins the race - Washington was never seen so determined - Huge win for Americans - Not so big for the British
A Shift in Strategy: the Continental Army Avoids Risk
- George Washington had to persuade and convince his soldiers, while British were ordered and if they disobeyed, there was punishment - Washington adopted the tactic of quick retreats - A British soldier described it as hide and seek - Washington was trying to protect the army at all times - He wants to avoid a large battle - This tactic is tiring but it helps to protect more of the army - Soldiers want to go home - eager to leave
Congress Chooses a General: George Washington Will Lead the Continental Army
- George Washington was chosen as the leader of the Continental Army - this was a risky choice because he never commanded a successful operation - however, he did have experience and seemed relatively qualified for this position - Congress decided to form a national army - John Hancock felt he was the right person to lead and was surprised when John Adams opposed him - Washington from Virginia, a southerner, was chosen
Victory at Saratoga
- Howe failed at victory, Lord North and Lord George Germain launched another major military campaign in 1777-> goal was to isolate New England - Germain planned a three-pronged attack converging on Albany, NY - Howe was supposed to lead troops north from NYC - Instead he decided to attack Philadelphia, home of the continental congress—> hoping to end rebellion—> loaded troops on boats, sailed up the Chesapeake Bay to attack from the south, it worked - Continental Congress was determined to continue the struggle - Burgoyne's troops had first advanced quickly, overwhelming the American defenses at Fort Ticonderoga in early July and driving south toward the Hudson River - Burgoyne was used to high living and fought in Europe in leisurely fashion - He believed his army would dominate rebels - The American troops led by General Horatio Gates also slowed Burgoyne's progress by felling huge trees in his path and raiding British supply lines to Canada - Burgoyne's army of troops were stuck near Saratoga, desperate for food and horses, British raided nearby Bennington, Vermont but were beaten back by 2,000 American militiamen - The British commander in New York City recalled 4,000 troops he had sent toward Albany and ordered them to Philadelphia to bolster Howe's force - Thousands of Patriot militiamen joined Gates, blocking Burgoyne in a series of skirmishes that finally gave the British no avenue of escape - October 1777, they forced Burgoyne to surrender - Patriot victory at Saratoga was a turning point in the war
Burgoyne Surrenders
- I think the French King received Franklin after hearing the news of the Battle of Saratoga because this showed him that the Americans are capable of a win - Alliance of Americans and French might lead to a war between the French and British
The Tide Turns: Victory at Trenton Gives Momentum to Continental Army
- In military terms, the Battle of Trenton should not be considered a turning point because if you lost 1,000 Germans in battle it was easy for the British to compensate for even more - this was a reversal - Washington's leadership position is secure
An "Olive Branch": One Last Attempt for Peace With Britain
- John Adams was opposed to the petition that John Dickinson sent - King George declares the colonists enemies out of his protection - John Adams thought the petition was a waste of time - The petition was the last attempt at reconciliation
"We Are Like a Crab": The American Army Avoids Conflict in the South
- Nathaniel Greene's reaction to events happening in the South during the Revolution was that he was very shocked at the bloodshed caused and how bad the circumstances are - Historians describe Greene as remarkable because he loses almost all battles - People are turning against the British - it is hard to win a war without support - Nathaniel Green's southern strategy relied on mobility, marching, and maneuvering to steer clear of Cornwalls. This is working. - British were incapable of distinguishing between an American Loyalist and a rebel
The Path to Victory, 1778-1783
- Patriots prospects improved dramatically in 1778 when the Continental Congress formed a military alliance with France - It gave Americans needed money, supplies, and troops
Two Different Armies: The British Army vs. The Continental Army
- Soldiers in the continental army identified themselves by local town or state - George Washington's two main goals were to forge a united and professional army and Washington wanted to act as an officer and be a gentleman - Many young men have never been away from home - soldiers came from all different parts of the colonies ***virginia plantations ***wilderness ***sovereignty of Maryland
Battle of Trenton (slide deck)
- Surprise attack - American victory is a huge morale boost* - Enlistments were about to end!
The Patriot Advantage
- The British ministry pointed to a series of blunders by the military leadership - Historians acknowledge British mistakes, also attribute the rebels' victory to French aid and the inspired leadership of George Washington - Washington won the support of the Continental Congress and the state governments - Washington persuaded a defensive strategy that minimized casualties and maintained the morale of his officers and soldiers through five difficult years of war - Patriots' control of local governments gave Washington a greater margin for error than the British generals had - American people decided the outcome, especially the one-third of the white colonists who were zealous Patriots - As millions of dollars changed hands multiple times, the currency taxes paid by ordinary citizens financed American military victory
It Will Take a Miracle: The Americans and French Plan an Attack on Yorktown
- The commander of the French fleet that was arriving to help the Americans was Count de Grasse - While the French fleet was gaining control of the Chesapeake, Washington was starting to build trenches and prepare for the siege - American and French forces outnumber the British 2 to 1 - They are able to use sea warfare
Burgoyne Continues South: British Forces March Towards the Hudson River
- The king of France was waiting for concrete proof that Americans win - Burgoyne brought 30 carts of his own personal possessions as he traveled towards the Hudson River, which was a huge mistake - Iroquois side de with the British because they had been living with the Americans who they did not like because they were encroaching on their land, and the British enforced rules to prevent westward expansion - British were keeping Americans from entering native land which the Iroquois liked
Saratoga (slide deck)
- Turning point of the war (10/77) - British general Burgoyne trapped deep in New York, loses entire army - Huge American victory convinces French to support the colonists
Guerrilla Warfare in the Carolinas
- Washington dispatched General Nathanael Greene to recapture the Carolinas - Greene put local militiamen under strong leaders and unleashed them on less mobile British forces - In October 1780, Patriot militia defeated a regiment of Loyalists at King's Mountain, South Carolina - American guerrillas commanded by General Francis Marion won a series of small but fierce battles - In January 1781, General Daniel Morgan led an American force to a bloody victory at Cowpens, South Carolina - In March 1781, Greene's soldiers fought Cornwallis's seasoned army to a draw at North Carolina's Guilford Court House - British general decided to concede the Carolinas to Greene and seek a decisive victory in Virginia - Cornwallis moved easily through the Tidewater region of Virginia in the early summer of 1781 - As Benedict Arnold and Cornwallis sparred with an American force led by Lafayette near the York Peninsula, Washington was informed that France had finally sent its powerful West Indian fleet to North America, and he devised an audacious plan - French fleet took control of Chesapeake Bay - Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown in October 1781 - Franco-American victory broke the resolve of the British government
"An Army That Wasn't an Army": A Continental Army Without Professional Soldiers
- Washington had a lack of uniforms, powder, and in general a lack of a strong army - Advantages of having an army of volunteers are that they have to be extremely passionate for the cause they are fighting for - Volunteers are committed to the cause - The colonists turned to African Americans to solve the shortage of soldiers - This was the most racially integrated war fought by Americans until the 20th century
Burgoyne's Last Month: The Battle of Saratoga
- When the British entered Saratoga, Americans targeted British officers - What Burgoyne was surprised about at Saratoga was about the lack of cooperation of New York. He could have retreated, but instead attacks and continues his mission - While General Burgoyne was in Saratoga, General William Howe took over Philadelphia, home of the Continental Congress - This was important because it was the city that represented the colonists. It was a symbolic location. - I would give credit to the Americans for winning the Battle of Saratoga because there were many deaths on the British side of important people - British didn't benefit in the end and it looked like the end result left them struggling with losses and lack of rations - Americans hide at top of trees and strike down on the British, in particular the British officers - Gates refuses to leave his tent during the Battle - He was worthless on the Battlefield - Benedict Arnold brought a new kind of energy on to the field
British Advantages (slide deck)
- can sail ships anywhere they want - world's strongest Navy - Professional Army - Hired soldiers from Germany Hessians - many resources—> had access
The Trials of War, 1776-1778
- few American victories kept rebellion alive - patriot cause hung in the balance
American Advantages (slide deck)
- fighting for a cause, important to them, must really be passionate - only had to NOT LOSE, only had to keep the revolution alive, technically don't have to win; they can't give up struggle - possible help from France
"The Shot Heard Around the World": Battle in Lexington and Concord
- first shots were fired at concord on the grounds of Lexington on April 19, 1775 - firing of shots changed rebellion because that started the feud - word broke out that British were coming - turning point as it initiated the revolution, there was no turning back - no one knows who fired first, some say someone tripped over a riffle
American Disadvantages (slide deck)
- no navy - no professional army, no professional training, volunteers - mixed support for the war (1/3 of colonists were loyalists)—> no complete 100% support - lack of resources—> acts of violence between loyalist colonists and patriot colonists, friends fighting friends, civil war - Because of mercantilism there was not a lot of industry around
Financial Crisis
- refusal of joining a side exposed Patriot government weakness - most states were afraid to raise taxes so officials used bonds to secure gold or silver from wealthy individuals - When those funds ran out, individual states financed the war by issuing so much paper money that it lost worth and most people refused to accept it at face value - Finances of the Continental Congress collapsed despite efforts of Philly merchant Robert Morris (government's chief treasury official) - Congress lacked authority to impose taxes, Morris relied on funds requisitioned from the states but the states paid late or not at all - The Congress was issuing paper money quickly fell in value - As the exchange rate deteriorated it sparked social upheaval - As morale crumble, Patriot leaders feared the rebellion would collapse
News of Independence: Colonists Learn of the Declaration of Independence
- the video claimed the Dec of Ind marks the beginning of independence - i don't agree with this because shots were fired prior to the signing of it - Significance of tearing down King George III's statue is that the colonists saying they are down with Britain. When they tear it down, the message they are saying is that they are no longer associated and under George - New Yorkers heard of the signing of the Dec of Ind on July 9,1776
The Battle for Long Island
- typical battles were fought close together - both sides were close to one another because if they were 100 yards away, there wasn't a big chance of the bullet the opponent - British won the Battle of Long Island - they slaughtered the fleeing soldiers when the British cornered them - August of 1776 - fear is inspiration for hard work - British have a 2 to 1 advantage - British use the land better than Americans because they are not experienced - Starts out well for Americans then quickly went down hil
The Invasion Force Arrives: The British Arrive to Settle the Rebellion
1/3 of the colonists were loyalists 1/3 of the colonists were patriots - King George III's goal in sending troops to America was to restore British sovereignty to the colonies. He wanted the colonists to maintain his subjects - American key leaders: George Washington - British key leaders: Richard Howe and William Howe - Hessians are German troops who joined the British forces - New York was a difficult battle ground for the colonists - British waited 2 months for supplies in the colonies—> shows difficulty of waging a war from a far - British troops are one of, if not, the best forces in the world of the time
In what year was the Treaty of Paris signed? (Kahoot)
1783
Nathanael Greene said his forces should be like a _________? (Kahoot)
Crab
Treaty of Paris (slide deck)
Declares the intention of both parties to "forget all past misunderstandings and differences" and "secure to both perpetual peace and harmony."
What was "remarkable" about Nathanael Greene? (Kahoot)
He ran more than he fought, but still won
Who were the "Hessians"? (Kahoot)
Hired German soldiers
Battle of "Bunker Hill" (slide deck)
June 17, 1775 Colonists could stand up to British troops - British plan was for Howe's light infantry to break through along the shore and get behind the Americans - Howe's main force was then to seize rail-fence position, turn left, and attacking Breed's Hill in rear - Meanwhile Pigot, without attacking, was to threat forces on Breed's Hill to hold them in position - The attempts at breakthrough of rail fence failed, and the battle developed into a series of costly frontal attacks
Who was the young French aristocrat who loved the idea of liberty and George Washington? (Kahoot)
LaFayette
Where was the "Shot Hear Round the World" fired? (Kahoot)
Lexington
At what battle did George Washington have his men sneak away in the middle of the night to avoid capture? (Kahoot)
Long Island
The political ideology of citizens being represented by elected officials is? (Kahoot)
Republicanism
This American Victory is often considered the turning point in the war? (Kahoot)
Saratoga
Cornwallis Digs In: The British Prepare for a Siege at Yorktown
State of Washington's army by time of Battle of Yorktown: army was prepared and under solid leadership. In the beginning, they didn't even know how to use the land - The historian compares an advancing army to a boa constrictor dealing with its victims - The siege lasted week after week - As it lasted, Cornwallis's provision began to shorten - Men were starving
All is Quiet: Winter Brings Combat to a Temporary Stop
The British were settled comfortably in New York during the winter of 1776 The American soldiers were at Valley Forge and struggling to survive during the winter of 1776 - men were losing hope, energy, and motivation to endure further harsh conditions
At what battle did George Washington surprise his opponents by attacking on Christmas? (Kahoot)
Trenton
Washington Asks for a Permanent Army
Washington proposed to recruit soldiers to the Continental Army- he proposed money and land to soldiers - this demon started how desperate they were - the effects of the battles at Fort Washington and Fort Lee were that the two forts fell and many soldiers were dead or captured - by the end of 1776, many Americans thought it was time to give up and that the British army was too big and strong - Washington wants to stand and fight
Washington Slips Away: Retreat After the Battle of Long Island
Washington runs away in the middle of the night—> unexpected maneuver by Washington following Battle of Long Island - This tactic of his was not gentlemanly - Washington's main concern is staying alive and winning the war - Most people in NYC are loyalists so they didn't have anything against the British troops, but the Americans they were opposed to - 1/5 Americans remained loyalists
A Thin Line of Heroes (slide deck)
• At Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, American men went without food for 3 days in the winter of 1777-1778 • Baron von Steuben - German who helped to whip the America fighters into shape for fighting the British • Lord Dunmore - royal (British) governor of Virginia - in 1775 he issued a proclamation promising freedom for any enslaved black in Virginia who joined the British army. "Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment"
Impact on Society (slide deck)
• Egalitarianism* - A belief in the equality of all people * Ability, effort, and virtue defined one's worth * (not wealth or family) • Native Americans - population declined about 50% with French and Indian War and Revolution - No protection in Treaty of Paris—> settlers moving west • A new government needed to be created
Peace (slide deck)
• October 19, 1781 - Cornwallis' forces surrender at Yorktown • Peace negotiations in Paris 1782 - U.S., Great Britain, France, Spain *John Adams, Ben Franklin, John Jay—> demanded Britain recognize US independence before beginning negotiations • September 3, 1783 Treaty of Paris signed - US independent - Boundaries set - Britain to leave their forts - Debts to Britain to be paid - Loyalists losses to be paid *Loyalists allowed to come back to US without being harassed
