AMERICA SECEDES FROM THE EMPIRE Pageant Chapter 8

AMERICA SECEDES FROM THE EMPIRE Pageant Chapter 8

Second Continental Congress • Lexington & Concord “minute men” Second Continental Congress puts George Washington in charge of colonial army – Washington: chosen because of sectional tension/politics, powers of leadership

Battle Bunker (Breed) Hill • 1775 Colonists seize hill from which they menaced the British troops in Boston – Am. victory due to GB losing a ton of troops • Olive Branch Petition professing American loyalty to the crown & begging King George III to prevent further hostilities rejected • King George III hires European mercenaries (Hessians) as soldiers outraged colonists

Failed Am. invasion of Canada • Am. hope French in Canada will join them against British • bad plan – French colonists pleased with Quebec Act & now Am. not fighting “defensive” war

Thomas Paine & Common Sense • Many Am. colonists still loyal to GB – loyalty deeply ingrained, colonial unity was poor, open rebellion was dangerous, liked being part of Atlantic World • Thomas Paine’s Common Sense (1776) argument for independence helps sway colonists – Why should tiny island Britain control vast American continent? – King was royal brute – selfish, not beneficial to Americans – Should be a republic with gov. based on popular consent • New. Eng. Democratic town meetings, popularly elected committees of correspondence, absence of hereditary aristocracy

Jefferson’s Explanation of Independence • Lee’s Resolution: declaration of Independence from GB • Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776): Explanation to the world of why independence necessary – Influenced by Enlightenment thinkers John Locke (natural rights & rebellion) & Rousseau (social contract) – Universal human rights appeal – List of grievances against King George III • Declaration of Independence forces colonies to now join together against GB & would influenced other revolutions (French Rev. )

Patriots vs. Loyalists • Loyalists/Tories = colonials loyal to the king, fought Am. Patriots/rebels/Whigs • Loyalists: educated, wealth, caution (older generations), king’s officers/beneficiaries of the crown, Anglican clergy/congregations (except VA), NY, Charleston, Penn. , NJ • Loyalists serve as spies, bore arms for GB, incited Indians, kept Patriots at home protecting families • New England Patriots • Many colonists apathetic/neutral about fighting for independence, minority were Patriots – Militia worked on “political education” of colonists against British

Fighting in the North • Boston evacuated 1776 GB focus on NY as base of operations (seaport, centrally located, loyalists) • GB Howe defeats Washington who is outnumbered, but doesn’t pursue colonial army & crush them (winter, distracted) Washington escapes across Delaware River • New Jersey Campaign: Washington attacks Trenton & surprises Hessians after Christmas celebration & then defeats GB at Princeton • GB fails to capture vital Hudson River Valley 1777

Colonists get Foreign Help • Germans like Baron von Steuben training colonial militiamen • Battle of Saratoga victory for colonists 1777 = turning point revived colonial cause, got needed foreign aid from France • France helping colonists because wants revenge against GB after Seven Yrs’ War, wants to reestablish itself as European superpower, doesn’t want colonists & GB to patch things up • France supplies colonists & sends navy/forces

Am. Rev. World War • England & France fighting 1778 • Spain & Holland against GB 1779 • Weak maritime neutrals of Eur. suffering from GB dominance of the seas begin demanding more rights/respect • 1780 Catherine the Great of Russia organizes “Armed Neutrality” where rest of Eur. against GB because GB dominant power • War being fought in Eur. , N. Am. , S. Am. , Caribbean, & Asia

GB Loses • The multi-power world war became too big for GB to handle • Fr provides rebels with guns, $, equipment, ½ armed forces, almost all naval strength • Fr entrance into war forces GB to change strategy • Privateers (privately owned armed ships) help Am. victory by preying on GB shipping, bringing in gold & boosting morale increasing pressure from British merchants to end war • Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown when Fr. Admiral de Grasse’s fleet from West Indies joins Washington’s army to attack British (fighting continues)

Treaty of Paris 1783 • Adams, Franklin, Jay sent to negotiate with Britain (but NOT make separate peace from France) • France stuck trying to also please Spanish, not just colonists • John Jay negotiates separate peace treaty (but France agrees to it) to end war • Terms of treaty: GB formally recognizes U. S. independence, U. S. gains large territory (Mississippi on West, Great Lakes on North, FL south) • Americans agree to not persecute Loyalists & restore their confiscated property

North Am. After Treaty of Paris 1783