Week 8 Discussion

The Revolutionary War

Second Continental Congress

• May 1775 • George Washington

chosen to lead the “continental forces” – He was well respected – By being from the South, it brought in the concerns of the southern colonies to the conflict

– Closed radical ideas due to him being a slave owner

African Americans in the war • By selecting a slave owner to head the forces, the Congressional Congress sent a message that slavery was going to be maintained.

• British seize on this and promise slaves freedom if they fought for them. – Ethiopian Regiment

• That notwithstanding, about 5,000 African Americans fought in the revolutionary army. – Inspired by the rhetoric of liberty and equality.

Key Battles • Siege of Boston (1775-76)

– Washington pushes British into Boston and bombards city.

• British take New York (August 1776) – Washington almost looses entire

force. British commanders call off a direct attack.

• Saratoga (September 1777) – Devastating lose for British, a major

point of the war. • British take Charleston, South Carolina

(1780) • Yorktown (1781)

– Last major battle

During the War…

• Declaration of Independence (1776) – Second Continental Congress urged

by citizens to declare independence in part due to Thomas Paine’s Common Sense pamphlet.

– Jefferson was influenced by John Locke’s contract theory. • Power resided in people, not government, who chose to voluntarily submit to civil law to protect property and basic rights.

– Numerous changes made and all references to slavery in Jefferson’s version were omitted.

During the War…

• Attempts at securing foreign support – France

• Benjamin Franklin negotiates support and secures troop and financial support

– Spain joins in on France’s side

– Holland follows later with monetary backing

Native people and the War

• Many Native peoples sided with the British and fought on their side – They had long standing grievances with the ever expanding settlers and white colonists.

– Example: Joseph Brant’s Volunteers (Loyalist Mohawks and NY farmers)

– Urged and actively recruited by British.

End of War

• War ends on 1783 with a treaty signed in Versailles. – Congress would recognize Loyalist

claims to property destroyed during war.

– British troops withdrew – US gets fishing rights in Nova

Scotia – Britain gives up Quebec Province

land along the Mississippi and Ohio Valley.

– Florida goes back to Spain. – Natives were left out completely

from the treaty provisions