Albany Congress 1754 Albany Plan of Union the Road to War the Road
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Albany Congress 1754 Source: www2.ku.edu/~kunrotc/academics/380/ revolution_in_america.doc Albany Plan of Union The Road to War ! British defeat French in French and Indian Wars 1754-1763. This •Proposed by Benjamin Franklin action costs $$$$ – Defeat of Indians removes colonists perceived need for British protection. •First formal attempt at uniting the colonies – Colonists see British troops in action. •Plan rejected by colonial legislatures and the King ! Stamp Act of 1765 (must buy tax stamp to buy paper, legal documents, newspapers, etc) was enacted to force Colonists to pay for their own •Franklin believes it might have prevented revolution protection. Colonists are outraged. ! Colonists protest – Formation of Stamp Act Congress – Nonimportation movement ! Britain repeals Stamp Act, but issues Declaratory Act The Road to War ! Townshend Acts introduced in 1767 – Indirect tax on imports of manufactured goods....and tea. ! 1770 Boston Massacre (5 killed while protesting taxation without representation) ! 1773 Boston Tea Party – Britain responds with the Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) ! Boston Harbor closed ! Quartering Act ! Martial Law enacted ! Mass. General Assembly curtailed The BLOODY MASSACRE Perpetrated in King Street, BOSTON on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th REG Artist: Paul Revere (and Henry Pelham?) Unhappy BOSTON! see thy Sons deplore, Thy hallowe'd Walks besmear'd with guiltless The Road to War Gore: While faithless --- and his savage Bands, With murd'rous Rancour stretch their bloody Hands; Like fierce Barbarians grinning o'er their Prey, Approve the Carnage, and enjoy the Day. ! Townshend Acts introduced in 1767 If scalding drops from Rage from Anguish Wrung If speechless Sorrows lab' ring for a – Indirect tax on imports of manufactured goods....and tea. Tongue, Or if a weeping World can ought appease The plaintive Ghosts of Victims such as these; The Patriot's copious Tears for each are shed, A glorious Tribute which ! 1770 Boston Massacre (5 killed while protesting taxation without embalms the Dead. representation) But know, FATE summons to that awful Goal, Where JUSTICE strips the Murd'rer of his Soul: Should venal C-ts the scandal of the Land, Snatch the relentless Villain from ! 1773 Boston Tea Party her Hand, Keen Execrations on this Plate inscrib'd, Shall reach a JUDGE who never can – Britain responds with the Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) be brib'd. ! Boston Harbor closed ! Quartering Act The unhappy Sufferers were Messs. SAM. L GRAY, SAM.L MAVERICK, JAM.S ! Martial Law enacted CALDWELL , CRISPUS ATTUCKS & PAT.K CARR Killed. Six wounded two of them ! Mass. General Assembly curtailed (CHRIST.R MONK & JOHN CLARK) Mortally The Road to War ! 1774 First Continental Congress (vote to protest British actions) ! 19 Apr 1775 “Shot heard round the world” (Lexington) ! 17 June 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill ! 8 July 1775 “Olive Branch Petition” sent to the King ! Jan 1776 “Common Sense” published ! 7 June 1776 Richard Henry Lee proposes that “these United Colonies are, and of a right ought to be, free and independent States.” ! 2 July 1776 Delegates at 2nd Cont. Congress vote for independence ! 4 July 1776 Delegates adopt the Declaration Washington’s Headaches Colonial Strategy ! Only about 1/3 of colonists were in favor of a war for ! Washington adopts a strategy of attrition since independence, the other 1/3 were for England, and 1/3 were neutral. the Brits have a long supply line, and not much will to fight for overseas possessions (or so he ! As Washington battles the Brits, he also battles internal hopes) problems. – England has enemies in Europe that will prevent the ! State loyalties deployment of too many British forces to the US. ! Congress unable to tax to raise money for Federal Army. – Continental dollar drops to less than 1 cent in value – Conflict in the Colonies was unpopular in England – Army to requisition supplies, farmers cut back production in response ! Riots in the streets over the recruitment of Irish and ! Poor training (until arrival of Von Stueben 1778) Scottish Catholics British Army British Strategy ! Made up of least valuable socially and ! Break colonies in half by getting in between N and S economically – Separate passion from provisions. ! Hessians = German mercenaries ! Blockade ports and prevent flow of goods ! Little public support ! Their strategy of “divide and conquer” fell apart as they ran into trouble with Spain and Holland at home, – “No dogs, lackeys, prostitutes, or soldiers.” and the West Indies to the South. As she kept more – Contributed to Colonial opposition to quartering. forces at home, she had less to deal with the US. Bunker Hill June 1775 ! Colonials take positions that will threaten Boston. – Bunker and Breed’s Hills ! British attack uphill to oust the Colonials. ! Colonials dislodged, but Brits suffer over 40% casualties. ! Impacted morale/confidence on both sides. ! Colonists adopt “Fabian tactics.” Saratoga Oct 1777 Southern Campaign Late 1778 ! Burgoyne moves south from Canada with ! British felt there were more loyalists in South than 6K to split US along Hudson River North. – Splits into three columns ! Southern resources more valuable/worth preserving. – Brits moved very slowly ! British win number of victories, but unable to pacify the ! Slow rate of march/lack of urgency allowed Colonials to muster countryside. additional forces – 1778: Brits take Savannah, Georgia – Colonials use scorched-earth policy – 1780: Brits take Charles Town, South Carolina – Turning point of the War. ! Colonials back on the offensive ! Brits lose; France enters war. – ! Brits now focus on S part of US and leave North alone 1781: Colonials triumph at Cowpens ! Americans have to feed captured troops, draining resources Yorktown ! Washington leads combined Colonial and French in feint against NY, then to Yorktown, VA. – Feint ties down British forces that would have reinforced VA. ! French defeat Brit ships at Battle of Capes (sink 19 ships). ADM De Grasse effectively cut off supplies to Cornwallis. ! British faced with American army to their front and French Navy to their rear. ! Colonial Army lays siege to Yorktown, then bombards it. – Virginian plantation owners wait to reclaim surviving escaped slaves ! Americans force Brits to surrender on 17 Oct 1781 The World Turned Upside Down Impact ! “The World Turned Upside Down” If buttercups buzz'd after the bee, ! Who’s going to rule at home? If boats were on land, churches on sea, ! How is the new nation to be governed? If ponies rode men and if grass ate the cows, And cats should be chased into holes by the mouse, If the mamas sold their babies To the gypsies for half a crown; If summer were spring and the other way round, Then all the world would be upside down. Causes of British Defeat French Contributions ! Tactical vs. Strategic: Won battles, but lost the war. ! Majority of weapons and military related ! Geography limited their greatest advantage (Navy). supplies came from French. ! Poor leadership ! French threatened British in other areas. – Decision-making from England – Lack of flexibility – West Indies, Europe – Indecisive and slow to act ! French Navy threatened seaward approaches. ! Focused on terrain (cities) instead of the enemy – US Navy incapable of performing the same function. – Could not impose their will on the Colonies. ! French Army made American threat at – Objective? Yorktown credible..