1 / 15

You Say You Want A Revolution?

You Say You Want A Revolution?. In April of 1775, the Battles of Lexington and Concord spurred war to new level Second Continental Congress met the next month Still bent on making amends with Britain. General Washington. George Washington was chosen as the commander of armed forces. Why??

indira-cote
Download Presentation

You Say You Want A Revolution?

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. You Say You Want A Revolution? • In April of 1775, the Battles of Lexington and Concord spurred war to new level • Second Continental Congress met the next month • Still bent on making amends with Britain

  2. General Washington • George Washington was chosen as the commander of armed forces. Why?? • Mainly because he was from Virginia – pacify the South • Steadfast in his will to win • refused to be paid – there was no money

  3. Common Sense • Fighting for over a year before it became a war for independence • Thomas Paine writes and sells “Common Sense” • Printed in 1776 as propaganda to fight for independence • He argued that the king was not worthy of loyalty • Also argued that America was more valuable to Britain, not other way • Also argued for a republican form of government – radical idea

  4. Which Hill? • Battle of Bunker Hill in June of 1775 • British controlled Boston • Colonials took Breed’s Hill and fired on British • British tried to crush it and lost. • Olive Branch Petition written and delivered • George III refused it

  5. Reaction to the Battle • George III closed door on reconciliation • Hired some 30,000 Hessians to go to America • The War is on and there is no turning back

  6. Abortive Conquest of Canada • In response to burning of Falmouth in Maine • General Montgomery took Montreal • General Arnold and Montgomery failed to take Quebec • They had to retreat

  7. Philadelphia Congress decided to take the plunge • June of 1776, Richard Henry Lee declared America’s Independence • July 4, 1776, Jefferson’s Declaration was adopted • It was an appeal to the world to back America • Opened the door for alliances

  8. Loyalists and Patriots • Most of the aristocracy remained loyal to the king • Only about 20% of population were Loyalists • The South also had a large Loyalist population • Slaves and free Blacks joined the British to get their independence • Many fled America after the Declaration of Independence

  9. Significant Battles • Washington defends New York and New Jersey • Loses most of his battles • In October of 1777, wins the Battle at Saratoga – wins alliances

  10. France comes to the aid of America • Louis XVI doesn’t want a war with England – just embarrass • Franklin and others convince him to send troops and money • More importantly, France sent navy – Mainly to protect West Indies • Formal alliance formed in 1778 • Most of Europe aligned with America – Why? (Armed Neutrality) • Kind of like a world war at this point

  11. The Frontier • The Frontier is often neglected in Revolutionary history. • Indians often sided with Britain in the frontier. Why? • George Rogers Clark helped secure that portion of the battle. • He is one of the original hero “Indian Killers”

  12. Naval Power? • America had virtually no navy to speak of • Privateers (pirates) did most of the damage on merchant British ships • British merchants wanted the war over

  13. Yorktown • Cornwallis was surrounded by French navy in Virginia • He was also surrounded by American and French armies • October 19, 1781 – Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown • Fighting went on for more than a year • This defeat forced a settlement

  14. Paris Peace conference • Ben Franklin (PA), John Adams (MA), John Jay (NY) • Supposed to negotiate with the French • Jay knew French were trying to settle with Spain • Jay defied the Congress and met with England • Peace Treaty signed with London in 1782

  15. Peace deal • America got more land than France wanted them to have • England gave up more than America asked for • England maintained trading privileges with America • France got nothing (less than nothing) • Spain got nothing • England got nothing

More Related