overview of the highlights of the War for Independence

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