Revolutionary War Notes

Second Continental Congress

  • Independence?: Not initially.
    • Most delegates hoped King George would accept the Olive Branch Petition.
  • Preparations: Simultaneously preparing for battle.
    • Establishing a military.
    • George Washington in command.
  • Battles Before Declaration: Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill.

Bunker Hill

  • Description: American colonists set up defensive ramparts.
  • British Response: British attacked and eventually took the hill, but with heavy losses.
  • Impact: Motivated colonists and showed them that resistance was possible.

Republicanism

  • Shift: Focus on the good of the whole rather than individual interests.
  • Point of No Return: Bunker Hill, Concord signify that there's no turning back.
  • Economic Independence: Desire for own industry and trade.

Common Sense

  • Author: Thomas Paine.
  • Impact: Widely read piece of literature (120,000 in a week).

Declaration of Independence

  • Author: Thomas Jefferson.
  • Helpers: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams.
  • Blame: Blamed King George for colonial grievances.
  • Republican Government: Asserted the right of the people to alter or abolish a government that does not represent them.

Loyalists

  • Location: More common in the South and wealthy areas like New York City.
  • Wealthy Elites: Benefited from the existing system, so they didn't want to get rid of it.

Patriots

  • Movement Size: Minority movement.

Saratoga

  • Significance: After the Battle of Saratoga, the French agreed to help the Americans.

General Burgoyne

  • Fate: Trapped because General Howe didn't support him.
  • General Howe: Too busy partying in Philadelphia.

Benedict Arnold

  • Initial Role: American general.
  • Later Actions: Became a traitor, believing the British would win.

Key Figures

  • American Side: Nathaniel Greene, Horatio Gates, Henry Knox.
  • British Side: Cornwallis (surrendered), Howe (partying).

Treaty of Fort Stanwix

  • Significance: First treaty between the United States and a Native American nation.
  • Impact: Mostly resulted in Native Americans losing land; British alliance with the Iroquois didn't work out.

Privateers

  • Definition: Legalized pirates.
  • Role: Armed merchant ships used in place of a strong navy.

Yorktown

  • Description: Cornwallis was sandwiched between Washington's army and the French navy.
  • Key Figures: Washington and Rochambeau (American/French armies), Admiral De Grasse (French navy).

Treaty of Paris

  • Outcome: On paper, the Americans were free, but their sovereignty was not fully respected.
  • Alliance: Alliance between the U.S. and France (to be regretted later).

Negotiators

  • Losses: Loyalists were never compensated for their losses.
    *Note: The XYZ Affair is coming up.