American Revolution

What is a revolution?
1. A sudden social or political CHANGE within a nation
2. Can you have a revolution without fighting?
  1. YES
    1. Music, clothing, Nelson Mandela, Gandhi…etc
Patrick Henry/Colonial “Fight Song”
1. “Give me liberty or give me death!”
2. Explain the fight song:
  1. Motivation/hype song and brings people together
Declaration of Independence
1. 1776
2. Issues of Second Continental Congress
  1. Slavery
  2. Abandoning the King
    1. Calling the king a tyrant
  3. Bravery of the singers
    1. The singers and patriots risked their lives, their fortune, sacred honor
War on the Home Front (the civilians back home not fighting)
1. Loyalists vs. Patriots
  1. 1/3 of colonists were Patriots, 1/3 were Loyalists, 1/3 were neutral
2. Physical devastation of property
  1. Louis Morris from NY-from movie 1776
3. Impact on Social Groups
  1. Blacks: helped with the war but gained none of the freedom
  2. Native Americans: lose British support and will lose most of their land
  3. Women: Molly Pitcher p. 164
    1. Enormous boost to war effect
    2. Some disguised as men and fought in the war
    3. Slowly elevated status in society
    4. Women gained NO RIGHTS
“G. Washington”
1. Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army
2. Overcome unbelievable odds
  1. 5,000 in Continental Army v. 25,00 redcoats
  2. Most of Washington’s soldiers were 15 to 20 years old or too old to be considered soldiers
  3. Fighting the strongest military power in the world
3. Washington always worried about the loss of lives
4. If not for GW, we would not have United States today
5. Battle of Trenton: The Crossing
Spies in the American Revolution
1. From the beginning, Washington knew the importance of military intelligence
2. Spies were used by both sides
3. Various methods were used to provide secret intelligence safely
4. Nathan Hale
  1. Connecticut teacher who joined the army
  2. Captured by the British as a spy and hanged for treason
  3. Last words: “I regret that I have but one life to lose for my country”

The War Outside New England

The Winter at Valley Forge
1. Location chosen by Washington because of it’s strategic position close to Philadelphia
2. Troops suffered through harsh winter conditions without supplies
  1. More soldiers died at Valley Forge than in any battle
3. Disease spread through the army
  1. Typhoid fever
  2. Dysentery
  3. Pneumonia
4. Provided an opportunity to retrain troops
  1. Friedrich Von Steuben
5. Winter at Valley Forge (p. 162-163)
The British attempt to make peace
1. Battle of Saratoga
  1. American victory that convinced the French to help the Americans!
2. British were concerned by the alliance between France and America
  1. Proposed to repeal the Tea Act and Coercive Acts
  2. “It is too late to apologize”
The War Continues
1. John Paul Jones
  1. The Father of the American Navy
  2. Raided the British coast
  3. “I have not yet begun to fight”
2. Charles Cornwallis takes over as commander of 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

The War Ends
1. Victory at Yorktown
  1. Washington’s troops were now well fed and armed
  2. Washington and the French worked together, hoping to end the war
  3. Combined armies of the US and France cornered Cornwallis (French ships stopped British rescue attempt)
  4. The world turned upside down
    1. Every thing has changed
    2. Something impossible has happened
    3. The colonies beat the patriots
2. George Washigton
  1. One of America’s greatest military leaders and heroes
  2. Could not have won war without his leadership
Treaty of Paris
1. Officially ended the American Revolution: September 3, 1783
2. Ended the British control over the colonies
3. Established the United States’ western boundary at the Mississippi River
How did the U.S. win?
1. Captured ground was meaningless!
  1. The British occupied Boston, NY, and Philadelphia
  2. Washington lost more battles then he won
2. Key to victory was the Continental Army - Why?
  1. Space and time were on Washington’s side
    1. Explain:
      1. Americans simply had to out last he British
      2. The Patriots had to keep moving and fighting
    2. Washington was able to keep the army united until the British spirit to fight and resources collapsed
      1. War is expensive
3. Americans fought their own land
  1. Patriots fighting for their families and home, while the British were fighting of their king
  2. Example from The Crossing:
    1. They knew where to find the boats
    2. We knew where the Hessian’s guard house was
4. French support
  1. Yorktown
5. Distance across the Atlantic
  1. An ocean away
6. 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”
  3. “ I have not yet begun to fight”
Colonies form new government
1. Appears as if colonies may split into tiny nations
2. Most colonists see themselves as Virginians, New Yorkers, etc. instead of as Americans
Story of Us
1. British Red Coats have 6x as much experience as Americans
2. British ships
  1. 3,000 POW
  2. Ships held a lot of soldiers and cannons
  3. 9 in 10 people died
3. Used American long rifle
  1. The accuracy was 250 yards away
  2. Sharp Shooters
  3. Tim Murphy
  4. Patriots cut down trees and called rebel roadblocks
  5. Only traveled a mile
4. Valley Forge
  1. 900 huts were made in freezing temps
  2. G. Washington has to hold the armies together
  3. No clothing
  4. Many grew sick
  5. Most soldiers have no shoes
  6. No water or meat
  7. 25 things of flour
  8. Washington inspired the men to stay in line
  9. Small pox
    1. Worst small pox breakout
    2. No cure
    3. Blisters and sores
    4. Spreads through the blood
    5. 4 in 10 people die
    6. Decided to use inoculation
      1. Dangerous
      2. 1 in 50 people inoculated die
      3. Pays off
  10. Washington took in Von Steuben
    1. Drills discipline into them
    2. Was shunned for his homosexuality
    3. Has to give a reason to way they should do it
    4. Brings order and hygiene
      1. Moved bathrooms from kitchen
    5. Wrote a manual
      1. Some tactics are used today
    6. Teaches them about the bayonets
    7. Gives them a new attitude
    8. Leave Valley Forge better
  11. Leave Valley Forge better
1. Spies
  1. Spies were busy in New York during Valley Forge
  2. Washington did not out-fight his enemy, he out-spied them
  3. 20% were still loyal to British
  4. Used invisible ink and a woman used her laundry
    1. British never figured t out
  5. Culper jr. was the name of the spy network