Revolution Flashcards
Friedrich von Steuben
- Prussian military captain
- trained Continentals to be regular soldier
Marquis de Lafayette
- French aristocrat
- used influence to get French soldiers for reinforcement
What was Britain’s new strategy in 1778?
shift operations South and gain Loyalist support and move North
General Cornwallis
- British
- captured Savannah and Charlestown
- took 5,500 soldiers as P.O.W.s
General Nathanael Greene
- American
- weakens British using retreat methods
- battles in Carolines to take 25% of British troops
- pleads with Lafayette to move to VA
The Battle of Yorktown
American attacked at the Chesapeake Bay in 1781 (where Lafayette was waiting for them because they had a spy on the inside, Hercules Mulligan). They shot continuously for days until the British surrendered on Oct 19, 1781
Treaty of Paris 1783
- Britain recognizes America’s independence
- American take land from Atlantic to Mississippi
- did not specify when British would evacuate
Egalitarianism
- war brings different social classes together
- belief in equality of all people
- effort and virtue matter more than money and family connections
- only applied to white males
Colonial Rights as an Englishmen
- due process of law
- freedom of the press
- trial by jury
- protection from foreign attack
British democracy
- wealth and birth determined by power and status
- there was no formal charter outlining citizen rights
- only 1/4 of British males could vote
- Parliament claimed virtual representation allowing it to make laws for all British subjects
Colonial Democracy
- most colonies had elected assemblies
- these charters outlined individual rights
- colonial assemblies controlled royal governor by withholding their salaries if displeased
- most males could vote for members of Parliament
What are a few of the things that happened after the French and Indian war?
- the war raised Britain’s debt. Defending the colonies was expensive
- people in Britain already paid higher taxes
- by collecting taxes and paying royal governors directly, Parliament could take control away from the colonial assemblies
Parliament reasoning
- parliament represented, and could tax and subject
- Other citizens could not vote but still paid taxes
- the revenue was necessary
- the colonist could afford to pay their share
- the colonist were selfish and narrow-minded
Sugar Act
- 1764
- assigned customs officers and special courts to collect taxes and prosecute smugglers
Quartering Act
- 1765
- required colonist to provided housing and supplies for British soldiers
Stamp Act
- 1765
- taxed printed materials, such as newspapers, books, and contracts
How did the colonist protest intellectually?
- argued that government was a social contract
- advocate natural rights (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)
- wrote articles and essays
How did the colonist protest economically?
- DARs wore only homespun clothing
- nonimportation agreements called for boycott of goods from Britain
How did colonist protest violently?
- rebels tarred and feathered tax collectors
- mobs destroyed the governor’s home and assaulted royal officers
Who did the Quakers support?
the Patriots but did not fight
Who did the African Americans support and why?
They sided with the British because they promised them freedom if they won
Who did the Natives support and why?
the British because they felt as if the British were a smaller threat to their land and could protect them
Who embraced the patriot cause?
farmers, artisans, merchants, landowners and elected officials
Pro War View
John Adams argued:
- colonies should establish a gov and declare independence from Britain
- colonies adopt MA militia as the Continental Army
- appoint general to lead Continental army
- Peace
Peace and Reconiliation
John Dickinson argued:
- opposed MA aggressiveness
- believed reconciliation with Britain was the only way to end the conflict peacefully
June 1775
- Violence in MA continues
- IN Philadelphia, the 2nd Continental Congress:
- adopts the MA militia as the Continental Army
- Colonel George Washington is appointed general of the Continental Army
The Battle of Bunker Hill
- 2400 British soldiers were ordered to strike at militiamen who had taken Bunker Hill
- MA militiamen were ordered to hold their fire until they could see the white in their eyes
- British forces advanced three times before finally taking the hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
- general Gage decided to attack colonial militia on a hill near Bunker Hill
- nearly 2,300 British soldiers
- British attack up hill
- colonist held their fire until the last minute
- they ran low of ammunition after 3 attacks
- British are successful
Ds colonist lost 450 men, British lost over 1,000 - deadliest battle of the war
Colonist Strengths
- familiar with land
- good, strong, military leadership
- inspired cause
Colonist weakness
- untrained soldiers
- shortage of supplies
- poor navy
- no strong, central government to enforce wartime policies
British strengths
- strong and trained army
- strong gov with money
- support of loyalist Colonist and Native Americans
British weaknesses
- not familiar with land
- weak military leaders
The war moves
- British wanted to isolate New England
- they seized NYC
- General William Howe, Admiral Richard Howe had 32,000 soldiers, German mercenaries
- Washington rallied 23,000 militia and most had poor equipment and little training. They had to retreat after sever losses
- British pushed Washington and his 8,000 men across the Delaware River to Pennsylvania
Battle of Trenton
- Washington and 2,400 soldiers marched 9 miles to NJ
- Hessians occupied this area
- Americans killed 30 and took 918 captive and stole 6 canons
- brought American moral up
Valley Forge
- 1777-1778
- continental army and Washington were in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania for the winter
- barely any food, clothes, supplies, freezing cold, huts, woods, 2,000 out of 10,000 died
- British were in Pennsylvania, stayed in Loyalist homes
A turning point
- French secretly sending Patriots weapons as early as 1776
- Saratoga victory trust in American army
- French recognized American independence
- 1778, hey signed an alliance that said France couldn’t make peace with Britain until they recognized American independence
How did the Coercive Act Punish Boston?
- closed the port of Boston
- quartered soldiers in Boston homes
- increased the governor’s power at the expense of legislature
- allowed British officials to be tried in Britain
First Continental Congress
- met in Philadelphia
- most still hoped the king would side with them against Parliament
Victory at Saratoga
- major loss for British
- led to British changing tactic to coast and South
The Olive Branch Petition
- sent to King George
- stressed that the congress wanted to return to the ‘former harmony’ between colonies and Britain
- rejected by King George
- labels the 1st Continental congress as ‘rebels’
- orders a naval blockade of the American coast
Common Sense
- 50 pages anonymous pamphlet written by Thomas Paine
- claimed the time had come for the colonist to fulfill their destiny
- wanted an opportunity to create a better society
- equal social and economic opportunities
- free from tyranny
- 500,000 copies sold
- helped overcome many doubts about separating from Britain
Loyalist
- many changed sides depending on the outcome
- many remained loyal because they thought Britain would win
- most who worked for the crown stayed loyal
