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Chapter 8 Outline: America Secedes from the Empire 1775 Second Continental Congress Meets in Philly -all 13 colonies were represented -hoped that the king and Parliament would consent to a redress of grievances -adapted measures to raise money and create an army and navy

1) Congress Drafts George Washington George Washington selected by congress to lead army -had never risen above the rank of a colonel in the militia -would actually lose more pitched battles than he won -had leadership and immense strength of character -was a great moral force rather than a great military mind His selection was largely political -Americans in other sections were beginning to distrust the large New England army -to appease the colonists, it was suggested that the Continental Congress choose a commander from Virginia, the largest and most populous of the colonies -as a man of wealth, Washington could not be accused as a fortune-seeker 2) Bunker Hill and the Hessian Hirelings Clash of arms on a strangely contradictory basis: -Americans affirming their loyalty to the king and wanted to patch up difficulties -still raising armies and shooting down kings soldiers In May 1775 a tiny American force led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold captured the British troops at Ticonderoga and Crown Point in upper New York -a priceless store of gunpowder and artillery for the siege of Boston were secured June 1775, colonists seized Bunker Hill (Breeds Hill) -instead of retreating, the British launched a full-frontal attack -Americans slaughtered the redcoats June 1775, Continental Congress adopts Olive Branch Petition -professed American loyalty to the crown and begged the king to further prevent hostilities -following British loss in Bunker Hill, King George III slammed the door on all hopes of reconciliation August 1775, King George III formally proclaims the colonies in rebellion King George III hires thousands of German troops to help crush his rebellious subjects -German troops came from Hesse, called Hessians -Hessian deal shocked the colonists; felt the quarrel was within the family 3) The Abortive Conquest of Canada

Weinstein 2 Oct. 1775, British burn Falmouth (Portland), Maine successful assault on Canada would add a fourteenth colony, while depriving Britain of a valuable base for striking at the colonies in revolt this invasion contradicted the claim of the colonists that they were merely fighting defensively for a redress of grievances Two-pronged invasion of Canada: -General Richard Montgomery captured Montreal. -joined at Quebec by General Benedict Arnolds army -Americans lost assault on Quebec, launched on last day of 1775. Montgomery killed. French-Canadian leaders who had been generously treated by the British in the Quebec Act of 1774 showed no desire to welcome the plundering anti-Catholic invaders Americans still disclaimed a desire for independence Jan. 1776, British set fire to Norfolk, VA In March British forced to evacuate Boston During the same time colonies win two victories in the South

4) Thomas Paine Preaches Common Sense Loyalty to Britain still deeply ingrained -5 months before independence was declared Washingtons officers still toasted to God save the King Gradually, Americans realized the necessity of separating from the crown 1176, publication of Common Sense -one of the most influential pamphlets ever written -authored by the radical Thomas Paine -branded the shilly-shallying of colonists as contrary to common sense ~why should the tiny island of Britain control the vast continent of America? 5) Paine and the Idea of Republicanism Paines idea called not simply for independence, but for the creation of a new kind of political society, a republic -power would flow from the people themselves, not a corrupt and despotic monarch -argued that all government officials, not just representatives in a house of commons, should derive their authority from popular consent Americans were very receptive to this new idea -interpreted the vengeful royal acts of the previous decade as part of a monarchial conspiracy to strip them of their liberties as British subjects More about what a republic is -individuals in a republic need to sacrifice their personal self-interest to the public good -the collective good of the people matters more than the private rights and interests of individuals

Weinstein 3 Not all patriots agreed with Paines ultra-democratic approach to republicanism -more conservative republicans feared that the fervor for liberty would overwhelm the stability of the social order

6) Jeffersons Explanation of Independence Members of the Philadelphia congress, instructed by their respective colonies, edged toward a clean break -Richard Henry Lee moved that United colonies should be free and independent states -Lees motion was passed. Formal declaration of independence by American colonies was all that was needed to cut the British tie July 4, 1776, Declaration of Independence formally approved by Congress -committee to prepare this more formal statement of separation had been appointed by congress -task of drafting fell to Thomas Jefferson Jefferson also set forth a long list of George IIIs misdeeds including: ~imposing taxes w/o consent ~cutting off trade ~dispensing with trial by jury ~burning towns ~abolished valued laws ~inciting hostility among the Indians ~establishing a military dictatorship ~hiring mercenaries ~maintaining standing armies in peacetime With formal Declaration of Independence, foreign aid could be solicited with greater hope of success 7) Patriots and Loyalists War of Independence was a war within a war -Colonists loyal to the King (Loyalists) fought the American rebels (Patriots), while the rebels also fought the British redcoats -loyalists called Tories -Patriots called Whigs American Revolution was a minority movement -Many colonists were apathetic or neutral -militia units served as effective agents of Revolutionary ideas. They convinced many colonists, even those indifferent to independence, that the British army was an unreliable friend and that they better throw their lot with the Patriot cause - loyalists included: a. people of education and wealth, and of culture and caution. These people were satisfied with their lot and believed that any violent change would only be for the worse. b. the older generation

Weinstein 4 c. the kings officers and other beneficiaries of the crown. Their pay was coming from Britain! d. Anglican clergy and congregants, all of whom had been long taught submission to the king. Usually loyalists were most numerous where the Anglican Church was the strongest -loyalists were lest numerous in New England where self-government was especially strong and mercantilism was especially weak. Rebels were the most numerous where Presbyterianism and Congregationalism flourished, notably in New England Patrick Henry: Give me liberty, or give me death!

8) The Loyalist Exodus After Declaration of Independence, which strongly separated Loyalists from Patriots, Loyalists were persecuted -roughly handled, imprisoned, hanged -estates of many fugitives were confiscated and sold, this helped to finance the war Because Loyalists had their hearts in the cause, it was a major blunder of the British to not make full use of them in the fighting 9) George Washington at Bay After Boston evacuated in March 1776, British concentrated on NY as base of operations -in July 1776, British fleet with hundreds of ships and thousands of men appeared off NY -General Washington dangerously outnumbered -Washingtons troops lose at Battle of Long Island -Washingtons troops escape to Manhattan island, cross the Hudson river to NJ, and reach Delaware river w/ British troops at their heels -Washington recrosses Delaware River and Dec. 1776 at Trenton, he captured a thousand Hessians -Washington inflicted another sharp defeat on a smaller British detachment at Princeton 10) Burgoynes Blundering Invasion London officials adapt scheme to capture Hudson River Valley. If successful, the British would sever New England from the rest of the states and paralyze the American cause -the plan had three steps: 1. General Burgoyne would push down the Lake Champlain route from Canada 2. General Howes troops in NY, if needed, could advance up the Hudson River to meet Burgoyne near Albany 3. a much smaller British force commanded by Colonel St. Leger would come in from the west by way of Lake Ontario and the Mohawk Valley

Weinstein 5 -British persued Benedict Arnolds force to Lake Champlain, but could not move further south until they had won control of the lake, which in the absence of roads, was crucial for carrying their supplies -while the British stopped to construct a sizable fleet, Arnold made a tiny flotilla -Arnolds flotilla was destroyed, but time, if not the battle, had been won Washington defeated in two battles in PA: -Brandywine Creek -Germantown Burgoyne went north of Albany, host of American militiamen swarmed around him. -meanwhile, the Americans had been driven back by St. Legers force at Oriskany -unable to advance or retreat, Burgoyne was forced to surrender his entire command at Saratoga on October, 1777, to American General Horatio Gates Victory in Saratoga made possible urgently needed foreign aid from France and immensely revived the faltering colonial cause.

11) Revolution in Diplomacy ? France thirsting for revenge against Britain -stripped of its North American colonies, Britain would no longer be a front-rank power. France might then regain its former position and prestige Just as they stood for revolutionary political ideas at home, the rebellious Americans also harbored revolutionary ideas about international affairs: -wanted an end to colonialism and mercantilism -strongly supported free trade and freedom of the seas -hoped to substitute the rule of law for the ancient reliance on raw power to decide the affairs of nations The Continental Congress during summer of 1776 drafted a model treaty to guide the American commissioners it was about to dispatch to the French court. John Adams described its basic principles: 1. No political connection 2. No military connection 3. Only a commercial connection After British humiliation in 1777 at Saratoga, Parliament belatedly passed a measure that offered the Americans home rule within the empire. This was essentially all colonists had ever asked for except independence France feared Anglo-American reconciliation Feb. 1778 France offered the Americans a treaty of alliance. -did not conform exactly to the terms of the Model Treaty Franklin had brought with him -treaty also constituted an official recognition of Americas independence -both allies bound themselves to wage war until the United States had fully secured its freedom and until both agreed to terms with the common enemy.

Weinstein 6 -Revolutionary War now became a world war 12) The Colonial War Becomes a Wider War In 1779 Spain and Holland enter the fray against Britain Combined Spanish and French fleets outnumbered those of Britain Catherine the Great of Russia took the lead in organizing the Armed Neutrality -it lined up almost all of the remaining European neutrals in an attitude of passive hostility toward Britain War was now being fought not only in Europe and North America, but also in South America, the Caribbean, and Asia America did not achieve their independence until the conflict erupted in a multipower world war that was too big for Britain to handle From 1778-1783, France provided the rebels with guns, money, equipment, about of Americas armed forces, and practically all of the new nations naval strength June 1778, withdrawing redcoats attacked by General Washington in Monmouth, NJ. -battle was indecisive but many Hessians deserted 13) Blow and Counterblow General Benedict Arnold turned traitor -plotted with the British to sell out on the key stronghold of West Point, which commanded the Hudson River, for 6,300 and an officers commission 1778-1780, British overrun the colony of Georgia, and Charleston, SC Quaker-reared General Nathanial Greene distinguished himself by his strategy of delay. Standing and then retreating, he exhausted his foe, General Charles Cornwallis, in vain pursuit. By losing battles but winning campaigns, the Fighting Quaker succeeded in clearing most of Georgia and South Carolina of British troops 14) The Land Frontier and the Sea Frontier Two Indian nations of Iroquois confederacy divided: -Oneidas and Tuscaroras sided with the Americans -Senecas, Mohawks, Cayugas, and Onondagas joined the British -urged by Mohawk chief Joseph Brant that a victorious Britain would restrain American expansion into the West In 1784 the pro-British Iroquois were forced to sign the Treaty of Fort Stanwix -first treaty between the United States and an Indian nation -under its terms Indians ceded most of their land In 1778-1779 George Rogers Clark floated down Ohio River in wild Illinois country and captured British forts -British were especially vulnerable to attack because they only held scattered posts that they had captured from the French

Weinstein 7 Americas water defense: -America had small, extremely young Navy -most famous American Naval officer was John Paul Jones -more numerous and damaging than ships of the regular American Navy were swift privateers. -privateers were privately owned ships specifically authorized by Congress to prey on enemy shipping -privateers brought in urgently needed gold, harassed the enemy, and raised American morale by providing victories at a time when victories were few

15) Yorktown and the Final Curtain Financial issues: -Americas inflation of currency continued -the government, virtually bankrupt, declared that it would repay many of its debts at the rate of only 2.5 cents on the dollar Battle of Yorktown: -General Washington makes a swift march to the Chesapeake -accompanied by Rochambeaus French army, Washington beset the British by land while French Admiral de Grasse blockaded them by sea after beating off the British fleet -Oct. 1781, completely cornered, Cornwallis surrendered his entire force Britain still far from being crushed 16) Peace at Paris ? After Yorktown many Brits were weary of war and increasingly ready to come to terms March 1782 Lord Norths ministry collapsed, temporarily ending the rule of King George III -a Whig ministry, rather favorable to the Americans, replaced the Tory regime of Lord North France, ever eager to smash Britains empire, desired an independent but weak United States -a weak America like a horse sturdy enough to plow but not vigorous enough to kick would be easier to manage in promoting French interests and policy. France was paying a heavy price in men and treasure to win Americas independence, and it wanted to get its moneys worth 1783 Treaty of Paris -British formally recognized the independence of the United States -Britain also granted generous boundaries, stretching to the Mississippi on the west, to the Great Lakes on the north, to Florida on the south. -Americans has a share in the priceless fisheries of Newfoundland. Canadians profoundly displeased

Weinstein 8 -loyalists were not to be further persecuted and Congress was to recommend to the state legislatures that confiscated Loyalist property be restored 17) A New Nation Legitimized Britains terms were liberal almost beyond belief -Britain was trying to seduce America from its French alliance, so it made the terms as alluring as possible -the enormous trans-Appalachian was thrown in as a virtual gift, as George Rogers Clark had only captured a small segment of it -the shaky Whig ministry was friendlier to the Americans than the Tories were -Britain determined to re-open old trade channels, and prevent future wars over the coveted trans-Appalachian region -this far-sighted policy was regrettably not followed by the successors of the Whigs America alone gained from the world-girdling war -British battered and beaten -French savored sweet revenge but plunged down the slippery slope to bankruptcy and revolution