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The American Revolution 1776 - 1783 Terms and People • Thomas Paine – American colonist and author of Common Sense • Richard Henry Lee – delegate who introduced a resolution calling for independence to the Second Continental Congress • resolution – formal statement of opinion • preamble – introduction • grievance – formal complaint Americans The issue of separating from Great Divided Britain divided American society. Estimates vary, but historians believe that roughly 30% of Americans were Loyalists, roughly 30% were Patriots, and the other 40% were Neutral or undecided. Most Americans did not support the Revolution. The war divided Native Americans and African Americans as well. Differences over the war even split families. For example, Benjamin Franklin’s son William was a loyalist. Franklin and his son William & Benjamin Franklin stopped speaking. Published in early 1776, Thomas Paine’s helped convince many Americans that a complete break with Britain was necessary. In Common Sense, Paine made powerful arguments in favor of independence. George III is a “royal Kings brute.” should not rule over Americans people. should govern themselves. Virginia’s Resolution In May of 1776, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution to Congress declaring that the colonies should be free and independent states. Congress formed a committee to write a statement explaining the reasons for independence. Richard Henry Lee The statement was to be presented to Congress, and the question of independence was to be put to a vote. The Declaration drafting committee included Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams. Remember the Laidies Weeks before the Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her husband John. The letter admonished “In the new code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Laidies.” Abigail continued “If perticuliar care and attention is not paid to the Laidies, we are determined to forment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.” Abigail Adams explained the reasons for breaking with Britain and declared the colonies free and independent states. It also stated that people have the right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. The colonists believed that the British government had abused its powers by taking away their rights. has four main parts: 1. The Preamble 2. Declaration of Natural Rights 3. List of Grievances 4. Resolution of Independence The Declaration was adopted by Congress and signed by John Hancock on July 4, 1776. On August 2, 1776, a parchment paper copy of the Declaration was signed by 56 persons. The Declaration of Independence begins has four parts, beginning with a preamble. Preamble Declaration of Natural Rights The preamble states the reason for writing List of Grievances the document - to explain why the Resolution colonists were breaking ties with of Independence Britain. To begin the explanation, Jefferson declared that everyone has unalienable rights. Preamble Governments are created to protect Declaration of those rights. Natural Rights List of Grievances If a government Resolution violates those of Independence rights, the people must change their government. The British government, Jefferson argued, had violated the colonists’ rights. Preamble To prove this, he Declaration of presented a long list of Natural Rights grievances, including that the colonists List of Grievances were: • denied trial by jury Resolution of Independence • taxed without their consent Therefore, Jefferson concluded, the colonies are free and independent states. Preamble Declaration of Natural Rights All ties between the colonies and the List of Grievances British government are now dissolved. Resolution of Independence The Declaration of Independence was approved by Congress on July 4, 1776. Although the document was signed primarily on August 2, Americans still celebrate July 4th as Independence Day. Today, the Declaration of Independence remains a source of inspiration for Americans and for people around the world. Interact with History John Trumbull’s famous painting of the Declaration of Independence being signed was created between 1817 and 1819. Question: Does this image help historians understand what happened at the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776? Terms and People • Nathan Hale – Connecticut officer and American spy who was executed by the British • alliance – formal agreement between two powers to work together toward a common goal • Marquis de Lafayette – French noble and high- ranking officer in Washington’s army • cavalry – units of troops on horseback • Friedrich von Steuben – German baron who helped train the Continental army In July 1776, British General Howe arrived in New York with 130 ships carrying 32,000 well trained men. This was the largest expeditionary force Great Britain had ever assembled. Included in this force were 9,000 Hessian soldiers. Redcoats & Hessians George Washington had approx. 19,000 poorly trained, undisciplined, & poorly equipped troops to defend all of New York City. The soldiers needed everything from blankets and food to ammunition. They fired their muskets off in camp, ruined their flints, used their bayonets to cut food, and often didn’t clean their muskets. There were also conflicts between men from different regions of the colonies. The Myth of the Colonial Rifleman Muskets were the primary weapon used during the Revolutionary War. Rifles took a long time to load, and had no bayonets. Compare and contrast the British and the American armies during the Revolutionary War: British Americans The Empire Strikes Back Washington had his army fortify the Brooklyn Heights hoping that the British would attack head-on like they did at Bunker Hill. Instead, General William Howe outflanked the continental Army and dealt Washington a humiliating defeat. A Strategic Retreat Washington’s Army retreated from the superior British forces. The stunned British followed the continental army and defeated them again near Kip’s Bay. Nathan Hale Nathan Hale volunteered to go behind enemy lines and report on British troop movements. During his mission, New York City fell to British forces, and Washington was forced to retreat to the island's northern tip. On September 21, a quarter of the lower portion of Manhattan was burned in a fire. After the fire, the British rounded up any Patriots and Hale was captured. He is best remembered for his speech before being hanged, in which he said, "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.” STRANGE but True The Turtle, the first combat submarine, was built by the Americans. It’s mission, to attach a bomb to a British warship in New York Harbor, was a failure. After losing the Battle of White Plains on October 28, Washington retreated further north. Howe returned to Manhattan and captured Fort Washington and Fort Lee in mid November, taking over 3,000 prisoners. Washington brought much of his army across the Hudson into New Jersey, but was immediately forced to retreat. The British gained control of New York harbor and the surrounding areas, and held New York City until the war ended in 1783. Washington managed to withdraw the core of his army and avoided a decisive defeat that could have ended the war. The Game is Pretty Near Up American morale was very low. The Continental Army had been ousted from New York and forced to retreat across New Jersey. Ninety percent of the Continental Army that had been at Long Island was gone. Many men had been captured or deserted, feeling that the cause for independence was lost. Congress and some officers were losing faith in George Washington. Washington also expressed some doubts. He wrote to his cousin in Virginia, "I think the game is pretty near up.” Trenton, a small town in western New Jersey, was occupied by 1,400 Hessian soldiers. Washington's force comprised 2,400 men. The Continental Army needed a victory, so Washington devised a plan to cross the Delaware River on Christmas night and surround the Hessian garrison. December 25, 1776. Because of freezing temperatures and a mix of sleet, snow and icy rain, the Hessian troops at Trenton felt secure enough to pull back their picket sentries. Desperate for a victory, Gen. George Washington led columns of Continental Army soldiers across the icy Delaware River under cover of that same storm. Though not all the American forces managed to get across, those that did defeated the Hessian troops and broke a long string of demoralizing battlefield losses. Washington Crossing the Delaware Washington’s daring plan caught the Hessian troops in Trenton by surprise. The Americans captured or killed more than 900 Hessians and gained needed supplies. Washington Crossing the Delaware Washington’s crossing of the icy Delaware River probably looked more like this. A D a r i n g P l a n The Battle of Trenton Washington followed up his victory at Trenton by attacking the British garrison at Princeton. These victories helped to keep the American army together and even began to attract new recruits. The Battle of Princeton The British Strategy The overall British strategy was to (1) seize the Hudson Valley and isolate the New England Colonies, (2) capture Philadelphia, and (3) capture Charles Town a southern port closer to the West Indies. The strategy to capture the Hudson Valley called for three armies to meet at Albany. In June 1777, British General John Burgoyne attempted to divide the rebellious colonies by moving south from Quebec to gain control of the Hudson River valley, separating the New England states from those to the south. After an early success at Ticonderoga, his campaign had become bogged down in difficulties. Barry St. Leger's expedition down the Mohawk River valley had turned back after the failed Siege of Fort Stanwix and the bloody Battle of Oriskany.

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