American Revolution

I. What is a revolution?A. A sudden social or political CHANGE

within a nation

B. Can you have a revolution without fighting?

II. Patrick Henry/Colonial “Fight Song”

A. “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

B. Explain fight song:

III. Declaration of Independence

A. 1776

B. Issues of Second Continental Congress

1. Slavery

2. Abandoning the King:

3. Bravery of the signers:

IV. War on the Home Front( )

A. Loyalists v. Patriots

1. 1/3 of colonists were Patriots, 1/3 were Loyalists, 1/3 were neutral

B. Physical devastation of property

1. Lewis Morris from NY:

2. The Crossing

C. Impact on Social Groups

1. Blacks: helped win the war but gained none of the freedoms

2. Native Americans: lose British support and will lose most of their land

3. Women: Molly Pitcher, p. 164a. Enormous boost to war effort

b. Some disguised as men and fought in the war

c. Slowly elevated status in society

d. Women gained NO RIGHTS

V. “G. Washington”

A. Commander-In-Chief of the Continental Army

B. Overcame unbelievable odds

1. 5,000 soldiers in Continental Army v. 25,000 Redcoats

2. Most of Washington’s soldiers were 15 to 20 years old or too old to be truly considered soldiers

3. Fighting greatest military power in the world

C. Washington always worried about loss of lives

D. If not for GW, we would not have United States today

E. Battle of Trenton: The Crossing

VI. Spies in the American Revolution

A. From the beginning, Washington knew the importance of military intelligence

B. Spies were used by both sides

C. Various methods were used to provide secret intelligence safely

Quill Letters

Mask Letters

D. Nathan Hale

1. Connecticut schoolteacher who joined the army

2. Captured by the British as a spy and hanged for treason

3. Last words: “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country”

The War Outside New England

Continental Army British Army • General George Washington

• Untrained civilian army

• Lacked food, clothing, shoes, and blankets

• Lived in small huts at Valley Forge

• General William Howe

• Professional army• Well Supplied

• Lived in comfort in captured Philadelphia

I. Comparing Armies

II. The Winter at Valley Forge

A.Location chosen by Washington because of its strategic position close to Philadelphia

B.Troops suffered through harsh winter conditions without supplies

C.Disease spread through the army

1.Typhoid fever

2.Dysentery

3.Pneumonia

D.Provided an opportunity to retrain troops

1.Friedrich Von Steuben

E. Winter at Valley Forge(p. 162-163)

III. The British Attempt to Make Peace

A. Battle of Saratoga

1. American victory that convinced the French to help the Americans!

B. UK was concerned by the alliance between France and America

C. Proposed to repeal the Tea Act and Coercive Acts

IV. The War Continues…

A. John Paul Jones

1. The Father of the American Navy

2. Raided the British coast

3. “I have not yet begun to fight”

B. Charles Cornwallis takes over as commander of the British army

1. Takes control of Charleston, SC

2. Washington learned that Cornwallis and the British forces were encamped in Yorktown, VA

Ending the War

CornwallisCornwallis’’ Surrender at Yorktown: Surrender at Yorktown:

““The World Turned Upside The World Turned Upside Down! Down!””

I. The War EndsA. Victory at Yorktown

1.Washington’s troops were now well fed and well armed2. Washington and the French worked together, hoping to end the war3. The combined armies of the US and France cornered Cornwallis (British) and French ships stopped the British rescue attempt

B. George Washington1.One of America’s greatest military leaders and heroes

2. Could not have won war without hisleadership

II.Treaty of ParisA. Officially ended the American RevolutionB. ended the British control over the coloniesC. established the United States’ western boundary at the Mississippi River and the northern boundary where it still exists today

III. How did the U.S. win?A. Captured ground was meaningless!

1. The British occupied Boston, NY, and Philadelphia2. Washington lost more battles than he won

B. Key to victory was the Continental Army - Why?1. Space and time were on Washington’s side. Explain:

a. Washington was able to keep the army united until the British spirit to fight and resources collapsed

C. Americans fought on their own land1.Fighting for their families and home2.Examples from The Crossing:

D. French support1. Yorktown

E. Distance across the AtlanticF. Spirit of Americans

1. “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country”2. “Give me liberty or give me death!”

IV. Colonies form new governmentsA. Appears as if colonies may split into tiny nationsB. Most colonists see themselves as Virginians, New Yorkers, etc. instead of as Americans