America's Fight for Independence: Battles, Declarations, and Victory

1. Chapter 8 America Secedes from the Empire

2. Second continental congress • May 10th, 1775 • Olive Branch Petition • All states present • Raise money to establish an army and navy • George Washington chose as general of Revolutionary Army

3. Who had an advantage??

4. Battle of Bunker Hill • June 1775 • The first official battle in the Revolutionary War. • Fought in Charlestown, Massachusetts. • Possession of Bunker Hill (Breeds Hill) • There were three times that the British attacked.

5. Battle of bunker hill

6. German hessians • Thousands of German troops hired • “Hessian flies” • Good soldiers, but not loyal

7. The conquest of canada • In October 1775, the British burned Falmouth (Portland), Maine.  • Colonists made an failed attack on Canada in hopes that it would close it off as a possible source for a British striking point.  • In January 1776, the British set fire to Norfolk. 

8. Jefferson and independence • On July 2, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia'sresolution of declaring independence was passed.  • It was the formal declaration of independence by the American colonies. • Thomas Jefferson was appointed to draft up the Declaration of Independence.  • The Declaration of Independencewas formally approved by Congress on July 4, 1776.

9. Declaration of independence

10. Patriots and loyalists • Loyalists were called "Tories“ • Patriots were called "Whigs."  • Loyalists -16% of the American population.  • Loyalists were most numerous where the Anglican church was strongest.  • The Patriots were numerous where Presbyterianism and Congregationalism flourished-mostly in New England.

11. Battle of Long Island (Battle of Brooklyn) • August 1776 • British General Howe landed fleet off of Staten Island • Washington unaware of main army surrounding behind them •  Washington and his men escaped to Manhattan Island. • On December 25, 1776: Crossing of the Delaware (Battle of Trenton)

12. Crossing of the delaware

13. Battle of Saratoga • Burgoyne (British) wanted to separate N.E from southern colonies • British won small battles initially • Surrendered at Saratoga on October 17, 1777 to American general Horatio Gates (Burgoyne's Blunder).  • This win made it possible for the urgently needed foreign aid from France. • Turning point in war

14. Valley forge • Winter camp 77 & 78 for Washington and troops • Critical shortages • Firecake – flour and water • Inadequate clothing and food

15. Benedict Arnold • Started as colonial supporter • Commander of West Point • Offered to hand fort over to British for money • Became brigadier • Went to Canada, then England • "Let me die in this old uniform (Colonial) in which I fought my battles. May God forgive me for ever having put on another"

16. Yorktown: the final curtain • From 1780-1781, the U.S. government fell nearly bankrupt. • British General Cornwallis fell back to Chesapeake Bay at Yorktown to await seaborne supplies and reinforcements.  • George Washington, along with Rochambeau's army, and Admiral de Grasse cornered Cornwallis.  • He was forced to surrender on October 19, 1781.

17. Signing of treaty of paris Jay, Adams, Franklin, Laurens, and William T. Franklin

18. Treaty of paris (1783) • Franklin, Adams and Jay • Florida given to Spain • Colonists granted generous boundaries, stretching to the Mississippi on the west, to the Great Lakes on the north, and to Spanish Florida on the south. •  Yankees were to retain a share in the priceless fisheries of Newfoundland. •  The Loyalists were to no longer be prosecuted. • Congress was to recommend to the state legislatures that confiscated Loyalist property be restored.