This booklet provides an overview of the War of Independence, about Lexington and Concord Massachusetts, the Causes of the separation of America from the British, and various major causes.
1. Written by: Greg Clevenger
2. The Story Thus Far • European nations were competing with each other for: – World resources – Military strength – Political superiority • Some nations were upsetting the balance of power
3. • Also called War for Independence • Started in 1775 in Lexington and Concord Massachusetts • Caused America to separate from Great Britain • Ended in 1783
4. Major Causes • The French and Indian War • The Sugar Act • The Stamp Act
5. The French and Indian War—1754 • Rivalry between the French and British • Who will control North America? • British, colonists, and Native American allies fought French and Native American allies
6. The French and Indian War—1754 • Great Britain’s national debt nearly doubled during the war • British expected Americans to help pay for protection • The war lasted nine years
7. The Sugar Act - 1764 • First attempt to raise income from the Colonies • Duty on sugar and molasses not obtained from Britain • Smuggling cases tried in Great Britain
8. The Stamp Act—1765 • Official government stamp required • First internal tax paying for British protection
9. More Major Causes • The Townshend Acts • Boston Massacre • Boston Tea Party • The Intolerable Acts
10. The Townshend Acts—1767 • Import duties on tea, lead, glass, and paint colors • Money used to pay royal governors • “No taxation without representation” Townshend
11. Boston Diary “Dined with three hundred and fifty Sons of Liberty, at Robinson’s, the Sign of Liberty Tree in Dorchester…. To the Honour of the Sons, I did not see one Person intoxicated, or near it.” —John Adams (1769) Single click the speaker icon to hear the clip >>>>
12. Boston Massacre—1770 • Crowd of colonists threaten British soldiers • British open fire killing five Americans • Parliament canceled the Townshend duties
13. Boston Tea Party—1773 • British sold tea even more cheaply than smuggled tea • Colonists dressed up as Mohawks • Colonists boarded tea ships • Tea was dumped overboard
14. Tea Party Diary “Last Night 3 Cargoes of Bohea Tea were emptied into the sea. This Morning, a Man of War sails. This is the most magnificent Movement of all.” —John Adams (1773)
15. The Intolerable Acts—1774 • Closed the Port of Boston • American town meetings banned • British officials in trouble sent to Great Britain for trial
16. First Continental Congress • 56 Delegates • Included George Washington, Patrick Henry and Sam Adams • Direct response to Intolerable Acts • Met in Philadelphia – 1774
17. Colonists Agreed To: • Boycott British goods • Arm themselves and form militias • Appeal to the king
18. King George III Refused To: • Allow American colonist representation in Parliament • No respond to colonists’ complaints and official grievances King George III
19. “The Shot Heard Round the World” • American colonists stockpiled weapons in Concord, Massachusetts • 800 British troops marched through Lexington on the way to Concord • Paul Revere: “The British are coming!”
20. The Armed Militia • Known as “Minutemen” • 70 Minutemen on the Village Green • Known as the Battle of Lexington and Concord • Uncertain which side fired first • 50 Americans killed and 45 wounded or missing • 65 British killed and 208 wounded or missing
21. Lexington and Concord
22. Lexington Diary “At 10 of the clock last night, the King’s troops marched out from the bottom of the common, crossed over to Phips Farm, marched on ’till they came to Lexington.” —Timothy Newell (1775)
23. Lexington Famous Quote “Stand your ground, don’t fire unless fired upon. But if they mean to have a war, let it begin here!” —Captain Parker Single click the speaker icon to hear the clip >>>>
24. Second Continental Congress • Decided to officially separate from Britain • Committee selected to draft the reasons for separation • Thomas Jefferson selected to write document • Met in Philadelphia
25. The Declaration of Independence • Written by Thomas Jefferson • It is the “Birth Certificate of the United States” • Document listed rights and grievances against King George III • 4 parts 1. Preamble 2. Declaration of rights 3. List of Grievances 4. Resolution
26. Key Quotes in the Declaration • “We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal” • “That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights” • “That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” Locke
27. The Declaration of Independence • John Hancock first to sign in large print • Anyone who signed it and was caught would be hanged • “We must all now hang together, or most assuredly we will all hang separately." Hancock —Benjamin Franklin
28. Independence Diary “There were bonfires, ringing bells, with other great demonstrations of joy upon the unanimity and agreement of the Declaration.” —Christopher Marshall (1776)
29. Choosing Sides • Patriots – Supported the Revolution • Loyalists – Americans who supported the King • Red Coats/ Lobsterbacks – British Army
30. What Happened to those who Signed? • Five were captured by the British, though eventually released • Approximately 12 had their homes ransacked and burned • One lost his son in the Continental Army • Several suffered wounds in various battles
31. Revolutionary Armies – The British • British Army most powerful in world • Also well-equipped with weapons • Highly trained and disciplined for war on land or high seas
32. Revolutionary Armies • Americans shot more accurately • British carried three days provisions • British gear weighed about 100 pounds
33. Revolutionary Armies – The Americans • Revolutionary Army knew lay of the land • Used weapons appropriate for landscape • Wore pieces of different uniforms • Brown army clothing
34. British Advantages • Well-equipped • Disciplined • Strongest navy
35. American Advantages • Accuracy of the rifle • Knowledge of the land • Guerilla warfare tactics • Superb command
36. Patriot Video Single click screen to view video:
37. British Soldier Quotes • British soldiers faced new challenges • “Damn those Americans. They will not stand and fight.” • “Settle your affairs at home before leaving for The Colonies; you probably won’t be coming back again.” Single click the speaker icon to hear the clip >>>>
38. Military Leaders—American • George Washington: Commander of Americans Forces • Nathanael Greene: Top Strategist • Henry Knox: Artillery Expert • Benedict Arnold: Commander under Washington
39. British Leaders • General Charles Cornwallis • General John Burgoyne • Benedict Arnold • William Howe • All considered America one of the worst places to serve
40. Other Key Players • France, Spain, Germany and Poland • Hessian mercenaries from Germany • The Marquis de Lafayette: Frenchman who supported American cause • Huge percentage of American gunpowder came from France Marquis de Lafayette
41. • Bernardo De Other Key Players Galvez: Spanish lord in Mexico • Baron Friedrich von Steuben: German military commander who helped train American troops • Nathan Hale: American Spy “ I regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”
42. The War at Sea • Approximately 3,000 men enlisted—America made 13 Frigates • Most, if not all, were destroyed or captured • Colonial Navy authorized by Continental Congress October 13, 1775
43. Major Battles • Fort Ticonderoga • Bunker Hill • Trenton
44. Fort Ticonderoga—1775 • Key strategic location in New York • Ethan Allen and about 125 Green Mountain boys attacked fort
45. Ticonderoga • The Fort was taken without firing a shot • British officers and women and children were captured • Cannons were taken from Ticonderoga to Boston • Henry Knox: American Army top artillery commander • Major hero of American Revolution
46. Battle of Bunker Hill - 1775 • Bunker Hill located near Boston • Red Coats victorious in third charge • Americans ran out of ammunition • Moral victory for American Army
47. Bunker Hill • Costliest battle for British during whole war • British casualties 1,054 • American casualties 441 • British began to get nervous • Washington took command of the army two weeks after this battle
48. Bunker Hill Famous Quote “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” —Israel Putnam
49. Battle of Trenton—1776 • Surprise attack the day after Christmas • Washington crossed the Delaware • Approximately 1000 German soldiers fighting for the British captured
50. Trenton & Princeton • American casualties were four • German leader, Colonel Rall mortally wounded • Washington cleared British from central New Jersey
51. More Significant Battles • Saratoga • Winter at Valley Forge • Yorktown • Were blend of successes and failures for American Army
52. Battle of Saratoga – 1777 • The turning point of the war • The biggest American victory at the time • Approximately 5,000 British surrender to Washington
53. • After the American Battle of Saratoga – 1777 victory France changed its policies. • Feb. 1778 France and American formed an alliance • France declared war on Britain the next month • Spain declared war in 1779 • Bernardo de Galvez chased British troops out of Louisiana and Florida.
54. Burgoyne Diary “From the 20th of September to the 7th of October, the armies were so near, that not a night passed without firing…I do not believe that either officer or soldier ever slept…without his clothes…” —Burgoyne Diary Single click the speaker icon to hear the clip >>>>
55. Valley Forge – 1777-1778 • American Army out of food and clothing • Valley Forge briefly a refuge • Supplies ran out and many died • Washington appeals to Congress for help • Low point for American Army • Any deserters are shot
56. Valley Forge – 1777-1778 • Marquis de Lafayette joined Washington as an aide • Friedrich von Steuben drilled the troops teaching them military discipline
57. Albigence Waldo “The army which has been surprisingly healthy hitherto, now begins to grow sickly…I am sick—discontented—and out of humor.” —Albigence Waldo (1777) Single click the speaker icon to hear the clip >>>>
58. Battle of Yorktown—1781 • French blockade aided this final battle • Escape for the British was impossible • British General Cornwallis faced American forces approximately twice his size John Paul Jones
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60. Yorktown • Approximately 8,700 British troops surrendered • Pinned in by American and French Naval fleets • General Benjamin Lincoln accepted the surrender sword • British bands played “The World has Turned Upside Down”
61. The Treaty of Paris • 1783: The Treaty of Paris officially ends the Revolutionary War
62. The Treaty of Paris—1783 • Officially ended the American Revolution • Set many geographic borders, including U.S. and Canada • Florida was returned to Spain • British merchants must be paid for lost items • Loyalists must be paid for lost property
63. The Aftermath: • Penalties inflicted on Loyalists • Some Loyalists were “tarred and feathered” and put on ships bound for Canada or Great Britain
64. The Articles of Confederation • Written by John Dickson in 1777 • Ratified in 1781 • Governed Americans in 1781-1787 • Paved way for new Constitution
65. Articles of Confederation Video Single click screen to view video:
66. Strengths • Wage war • Issue money • Sign treaties (make peace) • Set up post offices • Appoint ambassadors • Settle conflicts between states
67. Weaknesses • NO President (Executive) • NO Army • NO Courts (Judicial) • NO Taxing Power (monetary problems) • No power to enforce laws (regulate trade) • States were sovereign • One vote per state regardless of population • 9/13 states to pass a law • 13/13 states to amend (make changes)
68. Effects/Results/Outcomes Northwest Ordinance of 1787 – Set up rules for statehood once 60,000 people – Outlawed slavery in new states (Northwest territories) – Free education in new states
69. Effects/Results/Outcomes Shays Rebellion • Led by former Continental army captain Daniel Shay • Farmers wanted government to stop taking their land • Formed an army that attacked local militias • Made Americans frightened of more uprisings. • Showed that the Articles could not protect them.
70. Concluding Thoughts • Eight years • Timeless impact • Subject of countless plays and films • Maker of heroes • Birth of a nation
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