America Secedes from the Empire

1775 – 1783

AP Chapter 8

Let’s Review• Steps toward unity??

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Second Continental Congress

• Philadelphia - delegates (all colonies) - still opposed independence.

• Send “loyal message” - Olive Branch Petition

• But also agree to raise money, army/navy – “Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms”– George Washington – bring VA in to war

• Battle of Bunker Hill (pledged allegiance to GB)

• August 23, 1775 – colonies in state of

rebellion – after Battle of Bunker Hill– Ships now subject to seizure

Bunker Hill and Hessian Hirelings

• June 1775 – colonists seized a hill – Bunker Hill – could fire on Boston from here.

• Americans – ran out of ammunition, forced to abandon hill. Given credit for victory due to heavy losses of British.

• 1,154 British casualties (out of 2,200!). Only 311 Patriot casualties

• Hired thousands of German Hessians – shocked the colonists – very brutal.

Thomas Paine Preaches

Common Sense

•

• 120,000 copies

• “republic” - power comes from the

people, not a monarchy (dangerous to liberty and inappropriate to Americans)

Jan. 1776 – Thomas Paine - Common Sense

•America – no economic need for British connection

Small Steps Toward Independence

• Continental Congress taking small steps toward a final break– American ports open to all nations except GB

– Entered into communication with foreign nations

– Recommended to various colonies that they establish new governments independent of GB

– Appointed a committee to draft a formal declaration

Jefferson’s “Explanation” of Independence

• July 2, 1776 - Congress - United States of America after Richard Henry Lee’s resolution

• Thomas Jefferson (head of committee of 5)• 2 parts – 1st - John Locke’s ideas, 2nd - list of alleged

crimes of the king– July 4, 1776

• explains American independence, justify American separation from England

• Never mentioned Parliament by name…– Didn’t want to imply they had authority over America

• Purpose of gov’t -secure natural rights – authority - consent of the governed.

• 27 “injuries and usurpations” committed by King George III

• When gov’t doesn’t protect these rights, - withdraw

• BUT…– Left unanswered WHO among Americans was

considered EQUAL…

• Foreign aid could now be solicited.

Loyalists• Loyalists – “Tories” – 20%

• Opposed Parliament’s claim to tax colonies (usually switched sides b/c of this – “Dread a Victory by either side.”)

• Disagreed that only independence could preserve the colonists’ constitutional rights

- Separation is illegal

• Intense hatred for Patriots – unforgivable acts of betrayal

• Recent immigrants – loyal to homeland

• Conservative, educated, wealthy, older generation

• French Catholics in Canada (Quebec Act)

• non-whites (slaves – freedom)

• Natives – Ohio Country, Cherokees in South

General Washington at Bay/Burgoyne’s Blundering Invasion/Revolution in

Diplomacy?

• Things not going good for Americans – losing, no supplies, etc.

• Hessian troops at Trenton and British troops at Princeton – victories, increased morale

• 1777 – Battle of Saratoga - helped revive colonial cause, more importantly

made possible help from France.

France• Feb. 6, 1778 – France and U. S. signed treaty of

alliance (Ben Franklin).

• France recognizes our Independence.

• From the French we get: loans, French troops and navy, and Britain was now faced with having to defend itself in Europe.

• American’s reluctantly accepted the treaty – France a strong Catholic country, traditional British enemy.

Yorktown and the Final Curtain

• British -Captured Charles Town (4th largest) and Savannah - Lord Charles Cornwallis. General Horatio Gates was in charge of the Continental Army.

• Camden, SC - poorly trained militia. They ran and the Continental army was left to fight alone (gave British hold of SC)

• Gates was relieved of command, General Nathanael Greene to meet Cornwallis. He lost 3 battles against Cornwallis, but forced Cornwallis to retreat in to VA, where he established his base in Yorktown.

French fleet arrived off the coast of Yorktown. This prevented Cornwallis from getting needed supplies from Britain. At the same time, he is

being surrounded on land by the Continental Army. Cornwallis was trapped with no way to get supplies and no where to go. He eventually

surrendered!!

Peace at Paris1783

• John Adams, Ben Franklin, and John Jay were the American diplomats

Results:

• Britain recognized independence• Britain (supposed to) remove all troops from U.S.• Boundaries – to the Mississippi River in the West, to the

Great Lakes in the North, and to Spanish Florida in the South

• Britain gave FL back to Spain (boundary disputed)• Loyalists (supposed to) - compensated for their property

losses