The American The American RevolutionRevolution
Chapter 6, pg. 150 - 183
Section 1: The Revolution Begins
• Pg. 152 - 156
• Objectives• Determine how colonists tried to find a
peaceful solution with England• Evaluate how the fighting at Lexington and
Concord affected the colonies’ conflict with England
First Continental Congress
• Meeting of American leaders• John Dickinson - we should
make peace
• Patrick Henry - there’s no way to avoid a fight
• A compromise• Continue boycott of
English goods
• Tell militia to get ready to fight
• Send list of grievances to King
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
The “shot heard round the world”
• American “minutemen” gather weapons• English General Thomas
Gage sends out troops to capture weapons
• Paul Revere warns Americans
• English met at Lexington by 75 Americans• Shot rings out, both sides
open fire• English move on to
Concord
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
American victory at Concord
• English move on to Concord• Americans pour into
Concord from all directions
• English retreat, Americans pursue
• 250 English soldiers killed
• News of victory gets more American support for war
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Second Continental Congress
• American leaders have to respond to fighting• Don’t break away from
England yet• Appoint Washington
commander of army• Send out Olive Branch
Petition - last chance for peace
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Americans gather strength
• Americans have manpower, but few good weapons• Ethan Allen and
Benedict Arnold seize Fort Ticonderoga
• Henry Knox transports cannons down to Boston
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Meanwhile, in Boston
• A siege, almost• Americans have Boston
surrounded, but no cannons yet
• English attack American position at Bunker Hill
• 1,000 English dead, 400 Americans
• Washington and Knox arrive• English General Howe
evacuates Boston
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
The story so far …
• Americans• Have plenty of troops, but little experience or good
weaponry
• Excited after early victories
• English• Have more troops on the way from England
• Very experienced, very good weaponry and training
• Embarrassed and angry after early defeats
• Tough times ahead for Americans
Section 2: Declaring Independence
• Pg. 158 - 161
• Objectives• Evaluate the influence of Thomas Paine’s
Common Sense on the colonies• Identify the main ideas expressed in the
Declaration of Independence• Explain Americans’ reaction to the Delclaration
of Independence
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
• Pamphlet that argued for American independence• One of the best-selling
books in American history
• Convinced many Americans to support independence
• Paine’s arguments• Why should an island rule a
continent?
• Would we get dragged into European wars?
• If England is our “mother country,” why would she want to punish her “child”?
• How efficient is it for them to rule us?
• How are we an “English” nation?
Declaration of Independence
• Second Continental Congress votes for independence from England• Thomas Jefferson drafts the
declaration
• Ideas in declaration – most from the Enlightenment• We have inalienable rights
(life, liberty, pursuit of happiness)
• King George had violated those rights
• We have the right to break away from England
Declaration of Independence approved on July 4, 1776
The colonists choose sides
• Americans choose sides
• Patriots support independence• Include Patrick Henry, Ben
Franklin, and Washington
• Intimidated or beat Loyalists
• Loyalists support the king• Include Sam Curwen,
William Franklin, and Tom Fairfax
• Some fled to Canada or the Caribbean
An imperfect declaration?
• Some groups felt ignored by the declaration• Women
• “All men are created equal.” What about women?
• Slaves• How can we value liberty
and value slavery at the same time?
Dark Hours for the Revolution
• Pg. 166 – 269
• Objectives• This • Also that
Comparing strengths and weaknesses
American forces
• Had very little money and resources
• Had no navy at all
• Soldiers were mostly poorly-trained and equipped militia
• Had a cause to believe in
• Most of the civilians in the colonies supported the Patriots
English forces
• More money and resources
• Best army and navy in the world
• Soldiers were all well-trained professionals
• Included Hessian mercenaries (guns-for-hire)
A call to arms• Both sides gathered forces,
but had some problems• Americans - problems with
pay, problems with enlistments
• English – problems with supplies
• Problems with slaves• Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation
• Slaves who joined the English would get their freedom
• Washington’s about-face• First banned blacks, then allowed
them later
Other sources of help
• Both sides got help from unexpected places• English – alliance with Joseph
Brant got the Iroquois tribes on their side
• Many potential American soldiers stayed home to protect their homes form Indians
• Americans – women contributed by providing supplies and inspiration
• “Molly Pitcher”
The low point of the war for the Patriots
• Thomas Paine’s The Crisis• “These are the times that
try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he who stands by it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered.”
British victories• We show our inexperience
• Quebec in 1775• Our attempt to invade Canada
collapses entirely
• Long Island in 1776• Washington’s first major battle is a
disaster• English easily defeat us – a mistake
keeps us from losing the war in that battle
• Continental Congress looks to replace Washington
• Replacement is captured by English outside a bar
Top Related