Chapter_8.docx

Chapter 8 Congress Drafts George Washington Post-Lex/Con- 20,000 minutemen outnumber GB in Boston 2nd Continental Congress-Philly; May 10, 1775 Goal: relieve grievances w/GB Decisions Drafts new grievance list (ignored) Raise $ for army and navy Washington commands army Not military genius BUT morale booster Patient, self-discliplined, fair, duty before $ Wanted leader from VA (distrust NE) Bunker Hill and Hessian Hirelings 1st yr contradiction: colonists claim loyal, but still shoot at GB troops Ticonderoga and Crown Point- Gen. Allen and Arnold win for colonies (may 75) Got gunpowder and cannons Bunker Hill- June 1775 GB frontal attack Colonists shoot out until run out of ammo---then retreat Olive Branch Petition- issue by Continental Congress Say loyal and want to end fighting King George III proclaim colonies act of treason (in rebellion) GB hire Hessian mercenaries- to enlarge army Mercenaries care more about $ than duty Abortive Conquest of Canada GB burn Falmouth, Maine- October 1775 Colonists invade Canada Goal: add 14th colony and deprive GB a valuable base General Montgomery capture Montreal Montgomery meet up w/Arnold at Quebec Montgomery killed and Arnold retreat up St. Lawrence River Fr-Canadians like Quebec Act and dislike anti-catholic colonists GB burn Norfolk, VA- January 1776 GB force evacuate Boston-March 1776 Southern colonist victories 1776: Moore?s Creek Bridge and Charleston harbor (both NC) Thomas Paine Preaches Common Sense 1776- Common Sense became best seller Colonists need to fight for independence NOT reconcile w/GB Unnatural for GB (smaller force) to control America (bigger force) Foundation of American independence and foreign policy Paine and Idea of Republicanism Republic: government run by consent of people Citizen virtue(goodwill)- essential for republic Reject monarchy Already practiced: NE town meeting and elections Some Patriots favor ?natural aristocracy?- don?t want change in social hierarchy Jefferson?s Explanation of Independence 2nd Continental Congress: break w/GB Richard Henry Lee- idea of independence (adopted month later) Need formal statement Jefferson write Declaration of Independence Grievances of King George (Ex: tax w/o consent) Goes against natural rights Why need to break away Natural rights will be upheld in independence Approved July 4, 1776 Influence Declaration of Rights of Man (fr) Patriots now rebels Patriots and Loyalists War w/in a war- colonists not united Patriots (Whigs)- support rebellion Loyalists (Tories)- loyal to GB Moderates (neutral)- constantly persuaded by both sides Rebels better at persuading neutral GB only control heavy Tory areas Typical Loyalists (16%) Split up families Strongest in South and Anglican areas (NY and Penn) ?NOT VA Wealthier, educated, older generation Weaker in NE- strong self-gov and weak mercantilism Typical Patriot Younger, rebellious Harass small British detachments Not belong to Anglican Church Loyalist Exodus Post Declaration=sharp division between Loyalist and Patriots Force Loyalists to flee and confiscate land 50,000 Loyalists help GB in some way Provide money and weapons Spies General Washington at Bay Post Boston evacuation- GB use NY as main base July 1776- largest British army arrive off coast (35,000) Battle of Long Island: Washington out # and out maneuvered Washington retreat to Delaware River General Howe (GB) ? wait for slow arrival of arms instead of speedy attack bc: don?t want to repeat Bunker Hill Dec. 26, 1776- Washington re-cross Del., capture 1,000 Hessians, and slip past GB Burgoyne?s Blundering Invasion GB plan: capture Hudson River- cut off NE w/ rest of colonies Gen Howe come down Lake Champlain from Canada Howe meet up w/ Burgoyne in Albany Col. St. Leger lead smaller force from West Benedict Arnold loses @ Quebec- retreats across Lake Champlain GB stop rebuild navy before crossing lake Arnold re-attack: lose but force GB to delay rebuilding until spring Prevented GB capturing Ticonderoga Burgoyne move slowly w/7,000 Gen Howe attack Philly instead heading up Hudson bc: Want to defeat Washington and leave path open for Burgoyne Overestimated time Stays in Philly Brandywine Creek and Germantown- Washington loses Retreat to Valley Forge for winter Baron von Steuben whip into shape Saratoga- Burgoyne surrounded and St. Ledger push back=surrender Turn of tides- colonists might have chance to win Revolution in Diplomacy FR secretly supply colonies throughout war- want revenge on GB Model Treaty- only commercial relationship between colonies and FR Franklin dress in outdoor, poor way to attract FR to help GB grant home rule after Saratoga FR enter war v. GB after Saratoga Treaty of Alliance 1778- FR offer Offer everything GB did plus independence Want to avoid GB and colonial alliance Colonies accept cautiously Colonial War Becomes Wider 1779 Holland and SP enter v. GB Russian Catherine the Great- Armed Neutrality All neutral European countries v. GB Until 1778 colonies help off by themselves (secret FR help) w/ other countries entering war---victory FR entering war cause GB change strategy Washington attack Monouth, NJ: GB escape to NY Block sea from GB Blow and Counterblow FR arrive Newport, RI- 1780: led by Rochembeau Colonies weary @ 1st- don?t quite trust Some flare-ups- eventually FR prove trustworthy Arnold switch sides- fails at trying sell out West Point (flees) GB plan: start in S. and round up all colonies GA 1778-79 Charleston, SC- 1780 Carolinas: Loyalist v. Patriots King?s Mountain and Cowpens- Patriots win 1780-81 Nathaniel Green- Quaker tactician- use delay stragegy Lost battles, won expeditions Force GB out of GA and SC Land and Sea Frontier 1777- bloody year: Indians scalping Most Iroquois League side w/GB b/c: don?t want colony expansion Mohawk Chief Joseph Branton Convert to Anglicanism Ravage NY and penn until 1779 Treaty of Fort Stanwix 1784- Indians cede most of their land (1st Indian colonial treaty) Colonists continue w.ward expansion throughout the war George Rogers Clark easily capture Illinois country (forts spread out) Privateers: prey on GB ships (more useful than navy) Force GB ships to convoy---pressure to end war Yorktown and Final Curtain Huge inflation in colonies Cornwallis @ Yorktown- thought navy would back up FR- de Grasse blockade and cut off sea Washington and Rochembeau surround Force surrender Oct 19, 1781 King George keep on fighting (S)b/c 54,000 troops America had won Peace @ Paris Last year- GB weary and want end war Losses in W. Indies, India, Minocra (med) Lord North collapse March 1782 John Jay, Franklin, Adams meet in Paris Jay suspect FR want keep colonies weak Makes alliance w/ GB 1782 Treaty of Paris- 1783- GB formally recognize independence Give US generous borders Cannot persecute Loyalists and return confiscated land New Nation Legitimized GB cede so much land so no FR alliance Whigs in control of Parliament- allow more liberality FR cautiously approve treaty