American History essay

Declaration’s universal human rights

· Bases case for independence on rights of all humans

· Insists government must be based on consent of people

· Inspires other people groups for next two centuries

Patriots are traitors to the British

· Patriot chance of success not great

Opposing Armies

· British army one of Europe’s finest

· Britain has 50,000 troops for battle

· Many are mercenaries

· America has hastily mobilized militia

· Continental Army

· Only enlisted for one year

· Fluctuates from 5,000–18,500

British navy best in Europe

· Patriot navy basically non-existent

· Patriots lost few ships they built

· Privateers did most damage to British

The Loyalists

· Approximately one-third of civilian population

· Northern Anglicans, rich merchants, planters, etc.

· Southern slaves, who hoped to gain freedom

· Indians divided

· Split the Iroquois Confederacy

Patriot advantages

· Defensive war on homeland

· Fight until British war weary

· Had friends in London

· Control countryside

· Arms from Spain and France

Franklin in Paris

· Sent to lobby for French alliance

· A social sensation

· French reluctant to commit troops

· French wanted to see major victory

Stalemate in Boston

· Citizens overwhelmingly anti-British

· Americans heavily fortify Dorchester Heights

· Washington allows British to evacuate without firing

· Howe relocates to New York

Humiliation in New York

· Howe has superior numbers in New York

· Howe invades Long Island

· Americans suffer losses

· Washington’s troops escape to New Jersey

Howe pursues Washington

· Washington retreats into Pennsylvania

· Many patriot soldiers swear allegiance to King

· Howe leaves minimum troops at front line for winter

Trenton

· Washington crosses on Christmas night into New Jersey

· Surprises Hessians at Trenton, wins battle

Princeton

· Jan. 1777

· Washington defeats British at Princeton

· Trenton and Princeton victories save patriot cause

British Strategy

· Burgoyne plans to take Hudson River Valley

· Success will isolate New England

· British fail to coordinate troop movements

· Howe instead moves to Philadelphia

Saratoga: Watershed Campaign

· Howe takes Philadelphia after Battle of Brandywine Creek

· Washington falls back to Valley Forge

· Burgoyne’s grand plan falls apart

· Americans wear down Burgoyne’s forces in New York

· Americans win big victory at Saratoga October 1777

· General Horatio Gates

· Burgoyne surrenders army

British try to negotiate

· British offer Americans control of internal affairs

· Americans turn down British offer

· French form military alliance February 1778

Foreign Intervention

· French provide money, men, fleet

· French contribution vital to war effort

· Spain invades British Florida

· France helps keep peace in Europe

Mercenaries for liberty

· European peace brings military professionals to US

· Marquis de Lafayette of France

· Casimir Pulaski, Thaddeus Kosciusko of Poland

· Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben of Prussia

War Drags On

· U.S. cannot risk a decisive battle

· British continue to win indecisive battles

· British try to strangle colonial economy and fight in south

· U.S. suffers inflation, mutinies, traitors

· American spirit low

Opportunity

· Cornwallis camps at Yorktown

· Cornwallis needs access to sea

· Yorktown is Washington’s “backyard”

· Washington traps Cornwallis by land

· French fleet traps Cornwallis by sea

· More French than Americans

Defeat at Yorktown

· Cornwallis asks for terms Oct. 17, 1781

· Cornwallis surrenders Oct. 19, 1781

· Final battle of war

Treaty of Paris

· Signed – Sept. 1783

· British choose not to continue fighting

· American independence

· Mississippi River western boundary

· Fishing rights off of Canadian eastern coast

· Protection for Loyalists & urge property be returned

George Washington

· Father of his country

· Lacked originality and boldness; no thinker

· Not very successful as field commander

· Contemporaries saw him as man of integrity and dignity

· Washington man of character