The America Revolution,
1775-1783
Theme: When hostilities began in 1775, the colonists were still fighting for
their rights as British citizens within the empire, but in 1776 they declared their
independence, based on a proclamation of universal, “self-evident” truths.
Inspired by revolutionary idealism, they also fought for an end to monarchy and
the establishment of a free republic.
Theme: A combination of Washington’s generalship and British bungling in
1776-1777 prevented a quick British victory and brought French assistance,
which enabled the Patriots to achieve victory after several more years of
struggle.
Theme: American independence was recognized by the British only after the
conflict has broadened to include much of Europe . American diplomats were
able to secure generous peace terms because of the international political scene:
Britain’s recently reorganized government that favored peace and France’s
inability to make good on its promises to Spain.
I.
A.
Early Colonial Efforts
of Reconciliation
2nd Continental Congress, May 1775-1776
1.
Continental Army
a. G. Washington
B.
Early Battles 1775-1776
1. Fort Ticonderoga & Crown Point
2. Breed’s Hill
3. Dec. of the Causes and Necessity of
Taking Up Arms
1. Olive Branch Petition
a.
2.
3.
Hessians!
Boston Evacuated
Moore’s Creek and Charleston
II. Turning Point, 1776
A.
Declaration of Independence
1.
Loyalty to England
a.
b.
2.
Common Sense (500,000
copies!)
1.
3.
4.
5.
Transanlantic community
Lack colonial unity
Independent republic
governed by popular
consent
Richard Henry Lee’s
Resolution
Authorship
Impact
a.
b.
c.
Foreign Aid
Loyalists (“Tories”)
Patriots (“Whigs”)
Declaration of Independence
by John Trumbull
III. War in the North
A.
General Washington, 1776
1.
2.
B.
Long Island
Trenton and Princeton
British Offensive, 1777
1.
Battle of Saratoga
a.
2.
Burgoyne v. Benedict Arnold
Battles of Brandywine &
Germantown
a. Howe v. General Washington
3.
C.
Valley Forge
Diplomacy at Work
1.
2.
3.
4.
A Model Treaty
Benjamin Franklin (AngloAmerican reconciliation or
American-Franco alliance?)
Armed Neutrality, 1780
Battle of Monmouth, 1778
IV. War in the West
A. Native American
Support
1. Chief Joseph Brant
2. Treaty of Fort
Stanwix
3. George Rogers Clark
B. Privateers
1. John Paul Jones
2. Capture merchant
ships
V. War in the South, 1778
A. New British Strategy
1.
2.
3.
4.
Capture of Georgia
Capture of Charleston
Capture of SC
American riflemen
and Nathanial Greene
5. Cornwalis at
Yorktown
IV. Building a Republic
A. Treaty of Paris (1783)
1.
American Impact
a.
b.
2.
British recognition
Huge boundaries
British Impact
a.
b.
Loyalist treatment
Pay back loans
3. French Impact
a.
b.
Relieved but perturbed
Revolution
Map Questions
Use the maps and charts in Chapter 8 to answer the following questions
(answers are on next slide)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Revolution in the North, 1775-1776: Which two British strong points in
Canada did the American generals Arnold and Montgomery attack in 1775?
New York-Pennsylvania Theatre, 1777-1778: When Washington recrossed
the Delaware River before the Battle of Trenton on Dec. 26, 1776, which
state did he come from, and which state did he go to?
New York-Pennsylvania Theatre, 1777-1778: Which of the three British
generals who were supposed to meet near Albany, New York moved in the
opposite direction and failed to get to the appointed gathering?
Britian Against the World: Besides france, which two European nations
directly declared war on Britain during the America Revolution?
War in the South, 1780-1781: Name three cities in the South occupied at
one time or another by General Cornwallis.
Georg Rogers Clark’s Campaign, 1778-1779: Which river did George
Rogers Clark moved down as he went to conquer western forts from the
British?
George Rogers Clark’s Campaign, 1778-1779: Which three British posts
did Clark capture?
Using maps on p. 144 and 154 as a basis, explain why control of the
Hudson River-Lake Champlain Valley was strategically crucial to both the
British and the Americans in the war.
Answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Montreal and Quebec
From Pennsylvania to New Jersey
General Howe
Spain and Holland
Any three of the following; Charleston, Wilmington,
Charlottesville, Jamestown, and Yorktown.
Ohio
Cahokia, Vincennes, and Kaskaskia
British would have cut radical New England off from
rest of the colonies. Americans needed the supply route
from Canadian frontier.