The document summarizes key events in the American War of Independence from 1775 to 1783, including: 1) By 1775, the colonies were divided in loyalty to Britain, with Boston under siege by the Royal Navy. George Washington was named Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. 2) Major battles included the British defeat at Bunker Hill in 1775, their evacuation of Boston in 1776 after Patriots placed cannon, and Washington's victories against the Hessians at Trenton and Princeton. 3) On July 4th, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was adopted, declaring the colonies independent states no longer under British rule.

1. The Warof AmericanThe Warof American
IndependenceIndependence

2. By May of 1775 ...By May of 1775 ...
• A state of war exists between England andA state of war exists between England and
her American Coloniesher American Colonies
• colonists loyalties are divided:colonists loyalties are divided:
• 1/3 are ready to break with England1/3 are ready to break with England
completelycompletely
• 1/3 despite misgivings, want to remain loyal1/3 despite misgivings, want to remain loyal
• 1/3 are not sure what to do1/3 are not sure what to do
• Boston is under siegeBoston is under siege

3. • the Mecklenburg Declaration declares the Provincial
Congress as the only lawful government in NC
• The 2nd Congress convenes in Philadelphia, PA
• functions as de facto government of the colonies
• mints Continental currency and borrows to fund the
war
• names militia in and around Boston as the Continental
Army and names George Washington Commanding
General
• sends delegates to France and other European nations
to enlist help
• debates independence - not easy to decide to commit
treason

4. • ““ Gentlemen, wemust hangGentlemen, wemust hang
together, or wewill mosttogether, or wewill most
assuredly hang separately.”assuredly hang separately.”
--Benjamin Franklin--Benjamin Franklin
• ““ I know not what courseothersI know not what courseothers
may take, but asfor me, givemay take, but asfor me, give
meliberty, or givemedeath!”meliberty, or givemedeath!”
-- Patrick Henry-- Patrick Henry
Patriot VoicesPatriot Voices

5. Battles for BostonBattles for Boston
• City is blockaded byCity is blockaded by
the Royal Navythe Royal Navy
• conditions in the cityconditions in the city
are getting worseare getting worse
• British attack militiaBritish attack militia
positions for keypositions for key
high groundhigh ground

6. Bunker Hill [first real test]Bunker Hill [first real test]
• British charge Patriot positions on Breed’s Hill
• running low on ammo, rebel commander tells his
troops, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their
eyes!”

7. • British regularsBritish regulars
charge the hill 3Xcharge the hill 3X
before taking it.before taking it.
• Patriots fall back toPatriots fall back to
Bunker HillBunker Hill
• High ground stillHigh ground still
held by Patriotsheld by Patriots
• but they need morebut they need more
ammo andammo and
ARTILLERYARTILLERY

8. • Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold
capture Ft. Ticonderoga …
• and it’s cannon!
• Gen. Knox gets them 300 miles to Boston
- over hills and mountains in the winter.

9. • With cannon in place, Boston becomes
untenable - British evacuate the city

11. The War expands
• Washington chased
out of New York and
New Jersey
• Enlistments will be
up by year’s end, and
it’s nearly Christmas
• Thomas Paine’s
Common Sense
convinces many to
stay
• what’s needed is a W

12. Washington’s GeniusWashington’s Genius
• Christmas Eve -
Washington sets up the
Hessians across the river
• crosses at night, bursts
into town unexpected
• troops a bit groggy from
celebrating night before
• quickly routed, Gen. Rahl
is mortally wounded and
surrenders
• more magic at Princeton a
few days later
• fire and maneuver
• army decides to stay

13. Meanwhile, back in Philadelphia. . .Meanwhile, back in Philadelphia. . .
• The 2nd
Continental Congress tries to manage both
a war and a de facto country.
• Pattern of borrowing money and printing more
leads to dangerous inflation and devaluation.
• Supplies and logistics a continual problem
• In France, Benjamin Franklin’s attempts to enlist
French help are without result
• And still not all the delegates are in favor of
independence, but time for reconciliation is fast
running out…
• One last attempt – the Olive Branch Petition
• In NC, April 12 1776, the Halifax Resolves call
for complete independence from Britain [first in
Freedom]

14. The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence
• Still intense debate over the final stepStill intense debate over the final step
• Thomas Jefferson appointed to write theThomas Jefferson appointed to write the
DeclarationDeclaration
• borrows heavily from Enlightenmentborrows heavily from Enlightenment
thinkers, esp. John Locke’s ideas of Socialthinkers, esp. John Locke’s ideas of Social
Contract and Natural RightsContract and Natural Rights
• Part One: Declaration of Natural RightsPart One: Declaration of Natural Rights
[political ideas] Note key phrases[political ideas] Note key phrases
• Part Two: list of grievances [why isn’tPart Two: list of grievances [why isn’t
Parliament mentioned?]Parliament mentioned?]
• Part Three: Statement of independencePart Three: Statement of independence
pledge and signatures of delegatespledge and signatures of delegates
• Proclaimed July 4, 1776 [the point is moot,Proclaimed July 4, 1776 [the point is moot,
if. . .]if. . .]
• Heritage of other revolutionsHeritage of other revolutions

15. • John Hancock – President of the Congress – signs first,
and signs large [“put your John Hancock here”]
• Dilemma for the Loyalists [“Tories”]
• There is now no going back
• King George III’s diary entry for July 4, 1776 . . .
• “Nothing of importance happened today.”

16. Turning point in upstate New York:
Battles of Saratoga
• Howe’s strategy to end the war
• Howe captures Philadelphia;
Philadelphia captures Howe
• Burgoyne’s slow advance down the
Hudson
• Met at Saratoga by Gates and
Arnold
• Defeat means:
– New England not cut off
– Aid from France

18. British take the war SouthBritish take the war South
• Hoping for help from Loyalists in SavannahHoping for help from Loyalists in Savannah
and Charleston - 1780and Charleston - 1780
• Difficulties moving inlandDifficulties moving inland
• Defeats at Cowpens and Kings Mt.Defeats at Cowpens and Kings Mt.
• Greene and Morgan chase Cornwallis out ofGreene and Morgan chase Cornwallis out of
the Carolinasthe Carolinas
• Cornwallis at YorktownCornwallis at Yorktown
• BesiegedBesieged
• French Fleet to the rescueFrench Fleet to the rescue
• Surrender – Oct. 1781Surrender – Oct. 1781

19. Battle of Yorktown

20. End GameEnd Game
• “It’s over!” – Lord North in Parliament
• 2 years of negotiation finally result in the
Peace of Paris, 1783.
• England recognizes U.S. independence
• Franklin, Adams and Jay avoid French
control
• Now what?
• Many dead, families and businesses ruined
• Worthless currency
• Massive debt
• 2nd
Continental Congress drafts the nation’s
first true government – The Articles of
Confederation