American Revolution Unit 2 US History

John Adams

"The Colossus of Independence"; led the push in Congress for Independence; later helped draft Declaration of Independence; from Massachusetts

Southern Battles

- Cowpens, Guilford Courthouse, Kings Mountain, Savannah, Charleston; region where all these battles took place

American strengths

-They have great leaders -Military; George Washington -Diplomatic; Ben Franklin -European Imports; Lafayette -Colonist fighting defensively (less energy, less resources) -self-sustaining agricultural base -colonists were better marksmen (Americans accurate at 200 yds.) -Moral Advantage. Americans were supporting a just cause with a positive goal

Great Britain Weaknesses

-Unrest in Ireland (attention is divided) -British Government inept and confused, led by George III -Lack of British desire to crush American Cousins -Military difficulties -Second-rate generals -Inadequate, poor provisions (old, rancid, wormy) Undernourished -Armies were 3000 miles from home. Orders took months to reach the front -Vast colonial territory (1000 by 600 miles) to subdue

Declaration of Independence

-all men have natural rights (life liberty and the pursuit of happiness) -When a government abuses rights, the people have the right to "abolish" it -King George has acted tyrannically. Long List of grievances done by King to colonists -The colonies are independent

Common sense

-appealed to natural law ("an island should not rule a continent") -King George was Brutish and undeserving of colonials' respect -America had a moral obligation to the world to be independent and democratic

American Weaknesses

-colonies were badly organized, unprepared for war -Continental Congress debated, but took little action and exercised less leadership -No written constitution (articles of confederation wasn't adopted until 1781) -Colonies were jealous of Congress, each other's region -Economic difficulties -little matallic currency available (no wealth) -Fearful of taxation, Congress issued virtually worthless Continental currency -inflation led to increased prices, desertions from army -limited military supplies -inadequate firearms and powder -clothing and shoe scarce. At Valley Forge, 280 men barefooted -American soldiers were numerous but unreliable

Great Britain Strength

-population (7.5 million to the 2.5 million colonists) -Wealth (resources and money, but still in debt from previous wars) -Best navy in the world -Professional army armed with 6' muskets with bayonets attached -50,000 British -30,000 Hessians -30,000 American Loyalists

Thomas Jefferson

A Virginian; primary author of the Declaration of Independence

Dorchester Heights

American Victory Massachusetts March 17, 1775 "evacuation day" Washington wants the hills that has a good shooting point into Boston Harbor if they have the fire power. So he wants it. So he gets cannons from Fort in New York and Knox leads it. Long trip. In March, they get the cannons to the heights and fire. British ships are open ducts so they evacuate Boston.

Saratoga

American Victory New York September 19 and October 7 1777 The capture of Fort Ticonderoga was a great success for General Burgoyne, but it was the last bit of good news he would receive. In August he dispatched a raiding party of nearly 1,000 Hessian mercenaries to nearby Bennington, Vermont, but the mission ended in disaster when they encountered a larger force of local militia and were forced to surrender. This was followed by the news that Barry St. Leger had abandoned the siege of Fort Stanwix, and that Howe had shifted his focus away from New York in an effort to capture Philadelphia. Nevertheless Burgoyne pressed onward, even though he now had only 7,000 men under his command. On September 13 he crossed the Hudson River near the town of Saratoga, where the American General Horatio Gates was waiting with an army of close to 10,000 men. What is usually called the "Battle of Saratoga" today actually consists of two separate battles, fought nearly three weeks apart. In the first—sometimes called the Battle of Freeman's Farm—Benedict Arnold was able to hold off a British attack, but the result was otherwise inconclusive. Burgoyne's troops then dug entrenchments, hoping that they would be joined by soldiers from New York City. When this relief failed to materialize, Burgoyne ordered one final attack. In this second battle of Saratoga—sometimes called the Battle of Bemis Heights—not only was the British assault repulsed, but it was followed up by an American counterattack that drove Burgoyne's army from the field. Burgoyne withdrew into the town of Saratoga, but with fewer than 6,000 men remaining under his command he realized that the situation was hopeless. He opened negotiations with Gates, and on October 17 he and his army laid down their arms. Saratoga is generally thought to have been the turning point of the American War for Independence. Although British forces still held New York and Philadelphia, the victory convinced the French monarchy that the Continental Army had at least a decent chance of winning the war. In February 1778 France became the first foreign country to recognize the United States of America, and this paved the way for active French involvement in the conflict.

Yorktown

American Victory North Carolina Spetember 21 - October 17 Although General Cornwallis had been the victor at Guilford Court House, he withdrew afterward to Wilmington, North Carolina. While he was there he became convinced that he could not pacify the Carolinas until Virginia was conquered, so with 1,500 men under him he headed north. Upon his arrival he took command of all British forces in Virginia, bringing his army to a total of roughly 8,000 men. He then set out to pursue the Marquis de Lafayette, a French volunteer whom Washington had dispatched to Virginia with some 4,500 soldiers from the Continental Army. Throughout the spring and summer of 1781 Cornwallis sought to engage Lafayette in battle, but the Frenchman continued to elude the British. Finally, exhausted and running short of supplies, Cornwallis led his men to Yorktown, where he was to await supplies and reinforcements from New York. Meanwhile General Washington, who had been planning operations against the British in New York, received word that a French fleet was heading toward the Chesapeake Bay. Washington knew that this would effectively prevent Cornwallis from receiving reinforcements, so he abandoned his plans for New York and headed for Virginia with a combined French and American force of over 17,000. The French fleet arrived off the Virginia coast in early September, and won a significant naval victory against a British squadron. Once Washington arrived later that month it was clear that Cornwallis was trapped. Still hoping for aid from New York, the British general withdrew behind a line of fortifications, but by the middle of October his position was hopeless. On October 17 Cornwallis opened negotiations with Washington, and two days later he surrendered along with his army.

Cowpens

American Victory South Carolina Jan 17 1781 There was little activity in the weeks after Kings Mountain, as both sides paused to wait for reinforcements. By the middle of December, General Nathanael Greene, now based in Charlotte, had an army of roughly 3,000, thanks mainly to the arrival of 1,400 regulars sent by Washington from the North. At the same time, Cornwallis managed to increase his force to 4,000 due to the arrival of British regulars from Charleston. In late December Greene ordered General Daniel Morgan to head west with a force of 1,000 men, while Greene himself led the rest of the army southeast into South Carolina. Had Cornwallis kept his army together, he might have been able to destroy both rebel forces. However, he instead divided his own army, sending Banastre Tarleton with a mixed force of regulars and Tories to go after Morgan while he went off in search of Greene. This would prove a costly mistake. Morgan gathered his forces at a grazing area called the "cow pens," and Tarleton rashly attacked him there. In a brilliant maneuver by Morgan, the rebels quickly encircled the British force, and of the original 1,100 men under Tarleton's command all but 160 were killed, wounded, or captured. Tarleton himself barely escaped with his life. Not only was this a costly British defeat, but it did a great deal to quiet loyalist activity in the Carolinas.

King's Mountain

American Victory South Carolina October 7 1780 After his victory at Camden Cornwallis entered North Carolina, reaching Charlotte in late September. However, he soon began receiving reports of guerrilla activity to the west. Rather than risk his regulars in what seemed to him nothing more than a frontier uprising, he sent a detachment of 1,100 loyalists, under the command of Colonel Patrick Ferguson, to deal with the problem. Ferguson led his men to Kings Mountain, a heavily wooded hill just south of the North Carolina border. However, at dawn on October 7 a band of 900 rebel frontiersmen crept up the mountain, surrounding the Tories on all sides. After a brief but savage fight the entire loyalist force surrendered, with fewer than 100 casualties on the rebel side. Kings Mountain has the distinction of being the only large-scale engagement of the Revolutionary War in all the participants—with the exception of Ferguson—were themselves Americans. When Cornwallis learned of the defeat—the first real British setback of the southern campaign—he decided to withdraw from Charlotte, postponing his intended invasion of North Carolina.

Trenton and Princeton

American Victory (only 5 deaths) Pennsylvania and Delaware December 26, 1776 In November 1776 Washington and his Continental Army managed to slip back into Pennsylvania, with British forces in hot pursuit. However, in early December General Howe ordered his army to cease operations for the winter. The Continental Army, he concluded, was no longer worth the trouble; he could wait until spring to resume his advance on Philadelphia. With the British pursuit called off, the Continental Army encamped in the town of Valley Forge, just outside Philadelphia. By this time Washington had fewer than 5,000 men fit for duty, and he realized that all but 1,400 of these were likely to head for home after their enlistments expired at the end of the year. Thomas Paine, who had accompanied the army during its retreat, called these weeks "the times that try men's souls." Washington then tried the unexpected. On Christmas Day he and his men quietly crossed the Delaware River and headed toward Trenton, where three regiments of Hessian mercenaries were stationed for the winter. On the morning of the 26th the Continental Army attacked, taking the enemy completely by surprise. By 9:30 am the fighting was over; roughly 100 Hessians had been killed, nearly 900 others captured, with only a handful of American losses. By noon Washington and his men had withdrawn back across the river into Pennsylvania, carrying their prisoners and captured supplies with them. General Washington sought to follow up his victory at Trenton by attacking the British in New Jersey before ceasing operations for the winter, so on December 30 the Continental Army crossed the Delaware once more. For a moment it appeared that this foray, however, might end in disaster, as a much larger British force under General Cornwallis nearly trapped him at Trenton. But on January 3 Washington skillfully eluded Cornwallis and headed north toward Princeton. There the Continental Army encountered a smaller British force, and inflicted 500 more casualties on the enemy. In a matter of days Washington managed to drive the British from much of southern New Jersey. More importantly his exploits reenergized the revolutionary cause, leading some 8,000 new recruits to join the Continental Army in the coming months.

Thomas Paine

Author of Common Sense

Savannah

British Victory December 29, 1778 Georgia Frustrated by their failure to bring about victory in the North, the British shifted their efforts in 1778 to the South. Here, it was believed, there were large numbers of Americans who remained loyal to the British Crown—including black slaves, who might be enticed into serving the King in exchange of promises of freedom. In addition, if they could occupy the ports of Savannah and Charleston, they could bring the rebellion to an end through the slow strangulation of American trade. The southern campaign began in December 1778 when a British force under Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell landed at Savannah, Georgia, and quickly overwhelmed the city's defenders. In the fall of 1779 a combined force of French and American troops tried to recapture the city, but failed after suffering heavy casualties. Savannah would remain in British hands for the remainder of the war.

Guilford Courthouse

British Victory North Carolina March 15 1781 Morgan's victory at Cowpens dealt a severe blow to the British effort in the South, but Cornwallis still had a considerable force under his command. Morgan and Greene reunited, but pulled back into Virginia with Cornwallis close behind. At this point Greene received a new detachment of volunteers, bringing his total force to 4,400, although most of the newcomers were untrained and inexperienced militiamen. Cornwallis decided to withdraw back into North Carolina, and Greene followed. On March 15 Cornwallis, now with fewer than 2,000 men, went on the attack just outside the town of Guilford Court House. Although the British were outnumbered by more than two to one, their superior training and experience allowed them to drive the Americans from the battlefield. However, the victory came at a high price, as Cornwallis lost nearly 600 of his men in the engagement—over a quarter of his original force. Fearing what another battle might bring, he headed south toward Wilmington to regroup.

Charleston

British Victory South Carolina Feb. 11 - May 12, 1780 On the day after Christmas, 1779, General Clinton sailed with 8,000 men from New York City to attack Charleston. These men were joined by other British regulars and Loyalist forces in the area, so that by February 1780 there were 14,000 British forces in the area. They laid siege to Charleston, which was defended by a force of 5,400 local militiamen. After three months of heavy bombardment the city surrendered in what may have been the single greatest American defeat in the entire war. The capture of Charleston was particularly satisfying to Clinton, who had attempted to do so once before, in 1776. That attempt had ended in humiliating failure after American shore batteries under the command of Colonel William Moultrie devastated British ships. Convinced that the conquest of the South would soon follow, Clinton returned to New York, leaving the rest of the campaign to his subordinate, General Charles Cornwallis.

Evacuation of Boston

British evacuated Boston Following the Placement of Cannons atop Bunker hill

blockade

British strategy that limited the flow of goods into and out of American ports during the revolution

Second Continental Congress

Delegates from 13 colonies; met in Philadelphia; drafted and Ratified the Declaration of Independence

Bunker hill

Following __________________ (costly victory for British), King George III proclaimed colonies in rebellion and hired Hessians to crush rebels

Hessians

German soldiers hired by George III to smash Colonial rebellion; hit men; paid

life liberty and the pursuit of happiness

Identify the three natural "inalienable" rights as stated in the Declaration of Independence

George III

King of Great Britain during the American Revolution

Battle of Yorktown

Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General Washington here, marking the last major battle of the American Revolution

Lexington and Concord

Massachusetts April 19, 1775 American Victory Under orders from General Gage, Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Smith led a detachment of roughly 900 British soldiers to seize military supplies that were being assembled by members of the Massachusetts Militia in the town of Concord. However, the militia leaders had received word—in part through the efforts of Paul Revere—that the British were on their way, and they prepared an ambush. As they passed through the village of Lexington, the British came under fire from a small force of militiamen. The British heavily outnumbered this group, though, and the militiamen were forced to retreat. A more substantial skirmish erupted as the British crossed a bridge just outside Concord. The Massachusetts militia inflicted heavy damage on the enemy, and while the British managed successfully to withdraw to Boston, Smith's mission had been a complete failure. In an 1837 poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson the fighting at Concord was famously described as "the shot heard 'round the world."

Bunker Hill

Massachusetts British Victory June 17, 1775 After the American victory at Concord, a force of roughly 10,000 Massachusetts militiamen advanced on Boston and declared the city under siege. Actually it was an incomplete siege, since the British were freely able to move troops and supplies into and out of the city by sea. Nevertheless, the presence of rebel forces just outside Boston was a great embarrassment to British pride, so General Gage ordered an amphibious assault against American forces north of the city, in the hope of seizing the rebel headquarters and breaking the siege. Suspecting that the British might attempt something along these lines, the Americans began to fortify Bunker Hill, which overlooked the coast. Once Gage learned that new fortifications were going up, he ordered an assault against Bunker Hill as well as the nearby Breed's Hill. The British launched two attacks, both of which were repulsed by American fire. However, the British had nearly a two-to-one numerical advantage, and a third assault finally drove the rebels from the two hills. Yet the battle was extremely costly for the British; out of a total of about 2,600 engaged, more than a thousand were killed or wounded. Gage, therefore, did not press the attack, the siege of Boston continued until March 17, 1776, when the British withdrew to Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was the Battle of Bunker Hill that convinced the British government that this was no minor rebellion. What they faced was a full-scale revolution, one that would require a large army, and probably the hiring of foreign troops as well.

New York City

New York British Victory June 29, 1776 Having abandoned Boston in March 1776, the British decided to focus their efforts on New York. This they entrusted to two remarkable brothers of the Howe family; Rear Admiral Richard Howe was commander of all British naval forces in North America, while a large force of troops—roughly a third of which were Hessian mercenaries, from modern-day Germany—was placed under the command of General William Howe. This massive invasion force appeared off the coast of New York on June 29. The Howes' orders were to take New York City, then proceed northward along the Hudson River, eventually meeting up with General Burgoyne's force heading south from Canada. On July 3 General Howe and his men landed on Staten Island, which he planned to use as a base for his assault on New York City. There was little indication that the Continental Congress was intimidated by this move, as on the very next day in Philadelphia the Declaration of Independence was formally approved. On August 22 General Howe began sending his forces across the narrow channel that separates Staten Island from Long Island, and within a few days there were over 20,000 British and Hessian troops in Brooklyn. General George Washington, commander of the Continental Army, sent roughly 10,000 men under the command of Israel Putnam to slow down the British advance, while Washington and the rest of the Continental Army prepared for an expected attack on Manhattan. In the action that followed over 300 of Putnam's men were killed, and another 1,400 captured or missing. Total British losses were fewer than 400. Three days later, under the cover of darkness, Putnam's remaining forces evacuated Long Island to join Washington's army in Manhattan. On September 15 Howe landed in on Manhattan. Recognizing that the Continental Army was insufficient to prevent the British from taking New York City, Washington ordered a withdrawal.

Ben Franklin

Pennsylvanian; oldest member at the Second Continental Congress; helped secure French Alliance

John Dickinson

Pennsylvanian; vocal opponent to the independence resolution in Congress; believed it was not the right time to declare independence; later joined Continental Army despite his Quaker beliefs

July 4 1776

Second Continental Congress declared independence on...

Battle of Bunker Hill

a costly victory for the British in June 1775; the battle convinced the colonists that they could stand up to the mighty British Empire

Olive Branch Petition

a last ditch attempt to peacefully ease tensions between the colonists and Great Britain; sent to the King; he didn't bother to read it

Battle of New York City

a low point in the revolution for the Continental Army; Washington and his men barely escaped from here in the summer of 1776

Loyalists

another name for a colonist who remained faithful to the British crown during the Revolutionary War

Militia

another name for armed citizens who serve during emergency

Preamble

another term for introduction; it is the opening line to the Declaration of Independence

casualty

any dead, missing, or wounded during a war or accident; the British suffered 3x as many as Americans during the battle of Bunker Hill

Battle of Saratoga

battle that marked the turning point in the Revolutionary War because it helped secure the French Alliance

Battle of Trenton

battle where the colonists'surprised Hessians; ended a long losing streak for the Continental Army

Second continental congress May 1775

called Washington to head colonial army -while not a military genius (he lost more battle than he won), he was trusted by his soldiers -He refused to be paid, though his records indicate expenses of over $100,000

George Washington

commander of the Continental Army; well respected by all; Virginian; fought in the French and Indian War

Declaration of Independence

document that officially declared separation of colonies from Great Britain

Treaty of Paris 1783

in the first provision of this document the British officially recognized the independence of the United States of America

Common Sense

pamphlet published in 1776 that convinced many Americans to support independence

Battle of Lexington and Concord

site of the first battle of the Revolutionary War; resulted in American victory