War of Independence

Colonial Strengths

Greater Reason to Fight, More Qualified Leadership, French Support because of French vs. British Rivalry

Colonial Weaknesses

Short on Men; Supplies; and $, Untrained Army, Enlistments

British Strengths

Professional Army, Numbers + Navy Fleet, Supplies

British Weaknesses

Lack of Support from Home, Lack of Purpose for British Soldiers, Traveling

First Continental Congress

In Philadelphia: All colonies agreed to ban all trade with Britain until Intolerable Acts were repealed, Congress sent List of Grievances to the British, Colonies began to train troops

Who represented Virginia in the First Continental Congress

George Washington

Minutemen

Militias (Non-professional troops) began training

Lexington Spy

Paul Revere lets Sam Adams and John Hancock escape since they are Most Wanted

Why is Samuel Adams Most Wanted

Heart of the Revolution

Why is John Hancock Most Wanted

Money of the Operation

What can the Battle of Lexington be referred to as?

The diversion for Samuel Adams and John Hancock to escape

Concord Spy

William Dawes rides to a farm to let Colonists know to hide the guns and powders since the British are coming for it

Battle of Lexington

700 Redcoats find 70 Minutemen who allow Adams and Hancock escape, Strategic Win for Colonists since Adams and Hancock Escaped

Battle of Concord

British attempt to seize/destroy weapons bought by Hancock and stolen gunpowder, Fought at the town bridge and Barrett Farm, 4k minutemen lined the road between Concord and Lexington and attacked retreating British

Second Meeting of Continental Congress

Representatives from all colonies join, form continental army with George Washington as commander, need to get Southern Colonies on board since they are mostly loyalists

Example of a New England Representative at the Second Continental Congress

John Adams - Massachusetts

What did John Adams want the Colonies to do

1.) Form their own government
2.) Declare independence
3.) Recognize Minutemen as the Continental Army
4.) Pick a general to lead army against British

Example of another Colonial Representative at the Second Continental Congress

John Dickinson - PA (Along with Ben Franklin)

Ben Franklin's Role in Revolutionary War

The glue of the Colonies and Europe (Britain and France), represents colonies in England

What did other Colonial Representatives want the Colonies to do

Hold hope with the British

Why were the New England Representatives more radical than the others?

New England had all the battles and were treated less than compared to the other colonies who were treated well

Presiding Officer of the Second Continental Congress

John Hancock

Why was John Hancock picked as Presiding Officer

Lived in Massachusetts - Sees conflict between Colonies and Britain, has connection in Britain, old money habits + Family

Other Participants of Second Continental Congress

Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams, Samuel Adams, John Dickinson

British Version of Congress

Parliament

Decisions made in Second Continental Congress

Military Created, Printing of Colonial Money (need French to back it), Sending of representatives to Europe to gain allies, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation as 1st government

Battle of Bunker Hill: Who has the advntange

Colonists have high ground, British have more troops + navy

Colonial William Prescott and Colonial Militias

Prescott "Don't shoot until you see the white of their eyes" because they are low in ammunition

British Result of Bunker Hill

British Victory, 1k Patriots forfeit, digging trenches and using bales as protection

Colonies Result of Bunker Hill

Boosted Morale since they prove British aren't invisible since they had more deaths, opens the French eyes that the colonies might win

Bunker Hill Flag

Join or Die Flag flies over Bunker Hill, literally no choice since war has started

Famous Figure who died at Bunker Hill

Joseph Warren

Where did Thomas Jefferson serve?

Virginia House of Burgesses

Traits of Thomas Jefferson that made him perfect for Declaration of Independence

Well Educated, Good writer (not speaker), Silent member of congress, Southern, and young with everything to lose

Thomas Jefferson 2 Core Beliefs

Separation of Church and State, Colonies had the right to overthrow tyrannical government

Audience of Declaration of Independence

British Gov., Colonial Leaders + Citizens, International Audience

Endowed

God Given

Unalienable

Cannot be given away

Why was George Washington concerned about being president?

Make him seem as a hypocrite after defeating one tyrant to become another

Marquis de Lafayette

Young French who joined Continental Army, Middle man between Americans and French, Hates British

Lord Charles Cornwallis

British General and Colonial Governor (represents the crown in military) and Captured Philly 1777

Battle of Trenton

Christmas Day, Washington in desperation to attack so he crosses icy Delaware with 2.4k men for the assault on Trenton

Hessians

German Mercenaries

Battle of Saratoga

Guerrilla Warfare used in NY, Colonies win with General Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold, Convinces France to join the War

Benedict Arnold

Lots of success but feels he needs a promotion and more money, British offer this and Arnold in return gives West Point's Battle Plans

Battle of Yorktown

Americans and French corner British in peninsula, British cannot escape because French Navy, British force to surrender and end the war

Cornwalis in Yorktown

Doesn't personally surrender but makes someone else give Washington his sword to surrender

Treaty of Paris

"Free, Sovereign, and Independent States", British need to remove troops from forts (not done immediately), Boundary for USA is Mississippi, Loyalist rights and property is protected