WAS THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE A CONSERVATIVE WAR FOR ENGLISH RIGHTS 1775-1783 The War for American Independence Begins!
Dec 13, 2015
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.
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!”
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.