The American Revolution
First Continental Congress
• Met during September and
October of 1774.
• Thomas Jefferson was selected
to write the Declaration of
Independence.
• The Congress decided to meet
again if the demands weren’t
met by the King and Parliament.
Second Continental Congress
• The King did not agree to the Colonists’ demands,
so the Congress met again in May of 1775.
• One of the first things the Congress did was form
an army. They chose George Washington to lead it
Battle of Bunker Hill
and
The Olive Branch Petition
• While the Congress was meeting, the Battle of Bunker
Hill occurred. The Americans lost, but they put up a
strong fight against the British.
• In July of 1775 the Congress sent the Olive Branch
Petition to the King. This was the last attempt to keep
peace between the Colonies and Britain.
Events Leading up to War
• The King refused to accept the Petition. In
August of 1775 he said the Colonies were in
rebellion.
The Declaration of Independence
• In 1776 Thomas Paine published a booklet called
Common Sense encouraging the colonists to seek
independence.
• In June of 1776, the Second Continental Congress
appointed a committee to draft a Declaration of
Independence.
• Thomas Jefferson was the main author.
• The Declaration included a list of complaints
against the King and Parliament.
• On July 4, 1776 the Declaration was adopted by
the Second Continental Congress.
British vs. American
• Advantages of the British army included their wealth,
their experienced army, and their excellent navy.
• Advantages of the American, or Continental, Army
included having George Washington as the leader, help
from countries like France, and the fact that Americans
were fighting for freedom on their own land.
• Disadvantages of the British included having to fight far
from Britain, having to fight over a large area, and
having to adjust to new ways of fighting.
• Disadvantages of the Americans included inexperienced
soldiers, lack of supplies, and a small navy.
Different People
Different Perspectives
• Different people living in the Colonies had different
points of view about the American Revolution.
• Loyalists felt the Colonies should not have declared
independence. Many fought with the British and many
moved to places like Canada.
• Some African American slaves fought with the British
hoping to gain freedom. Others, including many free
African Americans, fought with the Continental army.
• Native Americans were divided in their loyalty. Some
fought with the British. Others helped the Americans.
Still others remained neutral.
The Battles of the Revolution
• George Washington and the Continental Army lost
many battles at the beginning of the war. Most of these
were fought in New England and the Middle Colonies.
• An important turning point in the war was the Battle of
Saratoga which was won by the Americans.
• As a result of the American victory at Saratoga, the
French sent money, supplies, and soldiers to help the
fight against the British.
• After the Battle of Saratoga, Washington and his army
spent a harsh winter camped at Valley Forge.
Turning Point!
• After their defeat at Saratoga, the British decided
to shift their attention to the Southern Colonies.
This was partly due to their hope of gaining more
loyalist support in the South.
• George Washington, with the help of French
troops, moved south also.
• The last major battle took place at Yorktown.
There the French blockaded the harbor and cut
off supplies to the British.
• Washington began a siege of Yorktown and
eventually the British surrendered.
The War Ends… Independence is Won
• The British and Americans signed the Treaty of
Paris in 1783. This officially ended the war.
• As a result of the treaty, Britain recognized the
United States as an independent country.
• The treaty also set the boundaries of the United
States. The young country stretched all the way
to the Mississippi River.
• The decision to fight a war for independence
ended up being one of the most important
decisions in our country’s history.