Bell Ringer

Bell Ringer

“It is dangerous to be right when the

government is wrong.”Explain this quote in your

own words.

The American Revolution

Seceding from the Empire

Philosophical Stirrings

The Ideas that Shaped the Revolution

The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment was a cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe and the United States, whose purpose was to reform society and advance knowledge through reason and logic.

Humans are all born free and equal, with three natural rights:

life, liberty, and property.

Man’s right to freedom of religion and speech must be

protected, oui?

“I may not agree with a thing you say, but I

will defend to the death your right to

say it.”

Power should not be held by one man alone, but separated amongst

several branches. Power should be a

check to power.

Man is born free, and everywhere he is in

chains. The sovereignty of the

people is essential to the creation of a just

government.

Just because you have been accused of a

crime does not mean you shouldn’t be

treated humanely. Torture should never be used. You should

have a speedy trial and your punishment

should fit the crime.

If all men are born free, how is it that all women

are born slaves?

If humans freely follow their own self interest,

government will be guided by an invisible hand. This is laissez

faire.

The Road to Revolution

BritainIncreased her

colonial empireIt greatly enlarged

England’s debtBritain’s contempt

for the ungrateful colonials created bitter feelings

United them under a common enemy for the first time

It created bitter feelings towards the pompous British

Were no longer able to ignore British tax laws

Effects of the War

Colonies

Prohibited colonists from moving west of the Appalachians; only intended to be temporary

British aim: Protect colonists from Indian attacks

Colonists’ view: infuriated; saw the law as being permanent.

Colonists generally ignored the Proclamation

Proclamation of 1763

War and Money

Mercantilism: Colonies existed for the benefit of the mother countryo Act as both suppliers and consumers for the

empire.

Navigation Acts: Restricted commerce to and from the colonies to English or American vessels

Molasses Act: imposed heavy duties on all molasses, rum, and sugar imported from the French Caribbean.

Salutary neglect: An unofficial British policy of avoiding enforcement of navigation laws to promote American business.

Positives and Negatives of Mercantilism

Positives:o Colonials held more independence and

opportunities than their English brethreno Had British military protection free of charge

and profited from British trade Negatives:

o Suffered from high export priceso Writs of Assistance harassed colonial shipping

to reduce illegal trade• “No taxation without representation”

The Acts that Broke the Camel’s Back

Proclamation of 1763

Sugar Act Quartering Act Stamp Act Townshend

Acts Tea Act

America’s Separation Issues

Colonists felt physically separated from Englando Led to support of republicanism

Colonists felt economically separatedo Colonial money not accepted for taxeso Felt used under mercantilism (salutary

neglect) Colonists felt philosophically

separatedo Support of Enlightenment ideas

Virginia Resolves

Patrick Henry of VA rejected the taxes because the colonists were not fully represented in Parliament.

PM Grenville claimed colonists had “virtual representation”.

Colonists did not necessarily want direct representation – would mean higher taxes.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, "Peace! Peace!" -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!

Sons of Liberty

Led by Samuel Adams Violently enforced

boycotts of British goods

Used tar and feathering

Caused all Stamp Act agents to resign, causing the repeal of the Stamp Act

Boston

Massacre

What’s wrong with this picture?

Boston Tea Party

The Committees of Correspondence

Samuel Adams established the “committees of correspondence” – letter-writing network with the goal of exchanging news and organizing resistance.o Quickly grew to all the colonies.o Acted as colonial governing groups,

ignoring or overriding the rulings of colonial legislatures

o Grew into the first American congresses (would send the delegates to Continental Conventions)

First Continental Congress (1774)

Philadelphia, 12 colonies present (GA absent) Did NOT desire independence, but did send the

king a list of grievances. Wrote Declaration of Rights and Grievances: Raised

fourteen points of colonial protest. It asserted thato Only the colonial assemblies had a right to tax the

colonies. (no taxation without representation). o Trial by jury was a right, and the use of Admiralty

Courts was abusive. o Colonists possessed all the Rights of Englishmen. o Without voting rights, Parliament could not represent

the colonists.

Common Sense Thomas Paine’s

Common Sense: Urged American independence as common sense

Wrote plainly and convincinglyo In the physical world,

the smaller body never ruled the larger one

o It was illogical for a country to rule another from 3000 miles away

o He had no respect for a king who did not protect his own people

The Revolution Begins!

The Shot Heard ‘Round the World

Lexington and Concord

Praying for Peace

The Second Continental Congress met in May 1775 in Philadelphia to address the worsening situation.

Olive Branch Petition: Pledged America’s loyalty and asked for peace

King George III formally declared the colonies to be in a state of rebellion

The Matchup!

Britain Best trained, best

equipped army and navy on Earth

Immense wealth Estimated 50,000

American Loyalists (Tories)

Poor officers Difficulty providing

supplies overseas

The Colonies Fighting a defensive war

with home-field advantage

Strong leadership Had a defined cause Poorly trained, poorly

equipped army; no navy to speak of

No central government; no stable economic system

The Dividing Line

Patriots Generally younger Lived in areas where the

Anglican Church was weak

Generally were inland and away from the coast (which were links back to England);

Tories Usually older and from

conservative families Usually from richer,

aristocratic families Were strong in areas

where the Anglican Church was strong

The Early War The 2ndCC took measures

to raise money to create an army and navy

Appointed George Washington as general of the continental army

The Americans took Bunker Hill, only to have the British take it in a frontal assaulto “Don’t shoot until you see the

whites of their eyes”

America Secedes From Great Britain

Richard Henry Lee made a motion for independence on June 7, 1776.

A committee was formed to create a formal written declaration of America’s independence: o John Adams, Benjamin

Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman

Declaration of Independence

July 4, 1776

Declaration of Independence

Friendship with France

Genius George General Washington

faltered when faced with a strong British force in New York

December 26, 1776 – Washington surprises the Hessians at Trenton after crossing the icy Delaware

America’s first victory; boosted morale

A week later, Americans scored another victory at Princeton after leaving their campfires burning as a distraction for the British

Britain’s Plan B England’s new plan was to divide the colonies.

The plan had three parts:o Col. Barry St. Leger would move from Lake Erie

eastward along the Mohawk River.o Gen. Burgoyne would descend from Montreal on Lake

Champlaino Gen. Howe would drive men northward from NY up

the Albany River. They’d all meet in Albany. Problems:

o Benedict Arnold had stuck around in Montreal and delayed the British until Spring.

o Terrain was difficult and supplies ran lowo St. Leger’s men were defeated and turned back;

Howe decided to use his own plan and attack Washington at Philadelphia (whom he defeated)

A Bitter Winter at Valley Forge

Washington’s troops camped for the winter at Valley Forge

It was bitterly cold, morale and supplies were low, desertions were high

Von Steuben’s trainings were kicked into high gear, transforming the rag-tag militia into a true army.

A Crucial Battle Burgoyne's 7,000 troops arrived at the

site of the planned battle at Saratoga tired and weary. He was alone, the other 2/3 of the plan didn't arrive.o He had no choice but to surrender on Oct.

17, 1777. Saratoga was the turning point in the

war because o it was truly a major victory in military termso it gave a huge boost to colonial moraleo it convinced France that America might

actually have a chance to win and to openly aid America.

Friendship with France

A World War Emerges

France pledges aid to America, then goes to war with Englando Longtime enemy of Englando Louis XVI wanted to show his people he

was a strong leader France’s navy would prove to be the

most essential element of its alliance with the colonies.

France spirals into severe debt as a result of its aid to the colonies, helping spark the French Revolution

Waging War The British planned to attack the South.

o The war turned ugly here. The Americans fought guerilla style, thrashing at British supply lines. The most famous was Francis Marion (the "Swamp Fox") who'd attack then disappear with his men into the swamps.

1777 was called "the bloody year" on the frontier when the British paid Indians for scalps.

Yorktown

• British General Cornwallis moved his men to Chesapeake Bay to get more supplies via the British navy.– The French navy moved in and sealed off the Bay.– Gen. Washington and Rochambeau saw the chance and

moved their troops in to seal off the peninsula.– Cornwallis was penned in and was forced to surrender.

Yorktown?

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Ending the War Treaty of Paris,

1783: Ended the American Revolution. o England recognized

American independence

o Colonists gained control all the way to the Mississippi River.