The American Revolution - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

The American RevolutionUnit TwoSlide2

At the end of this unit you should be able to answer the following……..

How did the French and Indian War change the relationship between the British and their American colonies?

How did the taxes and acts that were passed by the British and enforced in the colonies contribute to the American Revolution? Be specific in your answer and describe other factors that contributed to the desire for the colonies to break from England.

Compare

and contrast the background of Loyalists and Patriots and

did

these

differences

make the American Revolution a “civil war”?Slide3

The Duel for North America1608-1773Slide4

I. France Finds a Foothold in Canada

First successful colony Quebec 1609French colonies autocratic, no representative assemblies, no right to fair trail

Favored Caribbean colonies because of sugar trade

Most valuable resource in New France- beaver fur

Fur trappers (voyageurs) trapped beaver, recruited Indians into fur business

Traveled deep into wilderness, created ecological disaster by eliminating most of beaver populationSlide5

II. New France Fans OutFrench try to block British and Spanish expansion

Detroit (1701), keep out British

LaSalle claims Mississippi River Valley for France (Louisiana)

French fortify posts along river to keep out Spanish, protect beaver trade

Establish New Orleans (1718) to keep fur and grain flowing to mother country, keep MS River from SpanishSlide6

French, Spanish and English Settlers

Each country had different motives and settlement patterns

French

- friendly relations with Indians (comparatively), tried to convert Natives to Christianity, came in small numbers, economic activity -fur trade, explored continent, Catholic, mainly economic motives

Spanish

- came to conquer (conquistador), great wealth in gold and silver, tried to convert Indians, blended their culture with Native culture, explored continent to look for wealth, Catholic

English

- came in larger groups (especially NE), settled and “improved” land, more religiously tolerant, wiped out Indian culture, established their own “footprint”, did not explore deep into continent, mostly Protestant Slide7

George Washington Inaugurates War with France

Ohio River Valley becomes source of problems between British, French

Key to continent for French, linked colonial holdings

Region key to economic security for French

Land hungry British colonists attempt to secure “rights” to region

French building forts to secure regionSlide8

George Washington Inaugurates War with France

1754

Governor of VA sends group of militia to secure claims, led by George Washington

Encounter small group of French soldiers near Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh)

French initially defeated, return with reinforcements

Washington forced to surrender

1755

British authorities uproot 4,000 French from Nova Scotia, deportees end up in LA (Cajuns)

Beginning of French and Indian WarSlide9

Global War and Colonial Disunity

1754 Colonists meet Albany, NY

Plan to keep Indians in check, achieve colonial unity, common defense against French

7 of 13 colonies show up

Ben Franklin “Join or Die” slogan, presents

Albany Plan

for colonial home rule (rejected by British), colonists could not agree on details

First sign of colonial unitySlide10

Braddock’s Blundering and Its Aftermath

Indians allied with French, worried about British settlement

First part of war went badly for British

Slow moving, heavy artillery

Poorly supplied, poorly disciplined colonial militia

Smaller French force defeated them at Ft. Duquesne (Pittsburg)

Opened up frontier from NC to PA to Indian attack

Losses began to pile up for BritishSlide11

Pitt’s Palms of Victory

1757

- The British….

Stopped concentrating on West Indies, focused on Canada

Understood colonial concerns

Offered colonists a compromise:

colonial loyalty & mil. cooperation-->Br.

would reimburse col. assemblies for

their costs.

Remove oppressive

gov’t

. officials

Result was improved colonial morale by 1758

1763

Treaty of Paris

French give up all claims in NA

Spain received all land west of MS River and New Orleans

British emerged as dominant regional power, worlds most powerful navySlide12

VIII. Restless Colonials

Effects of the war on the colonies

Colonists

came out of war confident, shattered myth of British invincibility

began to feel part of British Empire

found unity in language, tradition, ideals

felt they deserved credit for war effort

British said they did not support cause

Smuggling by colonists helped FR and SP

British position – colonists demand rights, without paying dues, war increased British debtSlide13

War’s Fateful AftermathWith French gone colonists could roam freely across Appalachian Mts.

Spanish, Indian threat reducedIndians could not play British and French against each other

1763

Ottawa chief Pontiac led attacks on settlers

British retaliated (gave Indians smallpox infected blankets)

British saw need to stabilize frontier now that it was open to settlementSlide14

War’s Fateful Aftermath

Proclamation of 1763Prohibited settlement west of Appalachian Mts.Designed

not

to oppress colonists but to solve Indian problem

Colonists viewed it as form of oppression

Settlers went west anyway in defiance of royal authority Slide15

The Road to Revolution

1763-1775Slide16

I. Deep Roots of Revolution

Victory in Seven Years War costlyAfter 1763 British placed higher taxes on the colonists

Began to exercise more authority (end of salutary neglect)

Change in policy reinforced sense of American identity

American experience caused colonists to question ways of the Old World, colonists felt fundamentally different from British

Americans had grown accustomed to running own affairs, shocked when British try to crack downSlide17

Merits and Menace of Mercantilism

Merits of Mercantilism

Before 1763 Navigation Laws (with some exceptions) not a burden, lack of enforcement called “salutary neglect”

British mightiest army and navy in the world, colonists didn’t have to pay for

it

and it protected their trade

Tobacco planters had a monopoly in Britain

Americans had some form self-government.

Average American paid much lower taxes than the average Englishman. Slide18

Merits and Menace of Mercantilism

Menace of MercantilismAfter enforcement of mercantilist policies fuse of revolution was lit

Stifled economic initiative

Dependent on British agents and creditors

The South, which produced crops that weren’t grown in England, was preferred over the North

Colonists felt British were taking advantage of themSlide19

The Stamp Tax UproarHalf of British debt came from Seven Years War, wanted colonists to pay for own defense

Britain began to redefine relationship with colonies1763

- Prime Minister George Greenville began to enforce Navigation Acts

1764

- Parliament passed

Sugar Act

- duty on imported sugar

1765

- Quartering Act, required certain colonies to provide food and lodging troopsSlide20

The Stamp Tax Uproar1765

worst of all the Stamp ActMandated the use of stamps, certifying payment of tax.

Required on bills of sale for about 50 trade items and on certain types of commercial and legal documents.

Both the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act offenders tried in the

admiralty courts

, where defenders were guilty until proven innocent

Again…..British paid much heavier taxesSlide21

Repeal of the Stamp Act

Colonists angry

Colonial assemblies refused to provide supplies for troops

Felt unfairly taxed for unnecessary

army, lashed out against the stamp tax.

Americans formed the battle cry, “No taxation without representation!”

1765

- Stamp Act Congress

drew up statement of rights and grievances, asked king and Parliament to repeal tax

Congress made colonies feel unified against common cause

Colonists began to boycott imported British goods, more effective than congressSlide22

Forced Repeal of the Stamp Act

Sons and Daughters of Liberty

Punished people who purchased British goods, stormed the houses of important officials

Machinery to collect tax broke down, no officials to collect taxes

Hit England hard (25% of exports purchased by colonies)

Parliament confused, Britons had to pay much heavier taxes

1766

, Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, passed the

Declaratory Act

, said British had unqualified rule over the colonies Slide23

The Townshend Tea Tax and the Boston Massacre

Americans in rebellious mood after victory over Stamp Act1767 Parliament pass the Townshend Acts

Taxes on lead, paper, paint, and tea, later repealed, except tea.

Revenue to pay salaries of royal officials in America

1767

- New York’s legislature suspended for failure to comply with the

Quartering Act

.

Tea became smuggled, to enforce the law, Brits had to send troops to America

Slide24

The Townshend Tea Tax and the Boston Massacre

March 5, 1770, a crowd of about 60 townspeople in Boston were harassing some ten Redcoats.

One fellow got hit in the head, another got hit by a club.

Without orders but heavily provoked, the troops opened fire, wounding or killing eleven “innocent” citizens, including

Crispus

Attucks

, a black former-slave and the “leader” of the mob in the

Boston Massacre

. Attucks became a symbol of freedom (from slave, to freeman, to martyr who stood up to Britain for liberty).

Only two Redcoats were prosecuted, represented by John AdamsSlide25

Committees of Correspondence

1770- Townshend

Taxes repealed, except for the tea tax, kept alive idea of parliamentary taxation

1772

- Resistance kept alive through

Committees of Correspondence

, organized by Samuel Adams

Inter-colonial committees established

,

exchanged letters, ideas and information, kept alive opposition across all coloniesSlide26

Tea Brewing in Boston1773

- British East India Company, overburdened with unsold tea, was facing bankruptcy. The British decided to sell it to the Americans,

Seen as an attempt to trick the Americans with the bait of cheaper tea to pay tax.

December 16, 1773

, some whites, led by patriot Samuel Adams, disguised themselves as Indians, opened 342 chests and dumped the tea

into the ocean in this “

Boston Tea Party

.”

People in Annapolis did the same and burnt the ships to water level.

Reaction was varied, from approval to outrage to disapproval.

British felt they had no alternative but to whip colonists into shapeSlide27

Bloodshed

Philadelphia 1774- First Continental Congress

met to discuss problems.

Not wanting independence yet, came up with a list of grievances, ignored in Parliament.

12 of 13 colonies met, only Georgia didn’t have a representative there.

Came up with a

Declaration of Rights

.

Boycott of British goods

Began to arm colonists Slide28

BloodshedThe “Shot Heard ‘Round the World”

April 1775, the British commander in Boston sent troops to nearby Lexington and Concord, seize supplies, capture Sam Adams and John Hancock.

Minutemen, after having eight of their own killed at Lexington,

fought back at Concord, British retreat to Boston

Beginning of American RevolutionSlide29

Imperial Strength and Weakness

Britain had the heavy advantage:

7.5 million people to America’s 2 million

superior naval power

great wealth, could hire mercenaries (German Hessians)

Little popular support in Britain

Some in Britain wanted

American victory, feared George III arbitrary rule

Generals poor, soldiers well trained

Fighting

far from

homeSlide30

American Pluses and Minuses

American advantages

Great leaders -George Washington (giant general), and Ben Franklin (smooth diplomat).

French aid (indirect and secretly), provided the Americans with guns, supplies, gunpowder, etc…

Marquis de Lafayette a great asset.

Fighting in a defensive manner, and they were self-sustaining.

They were better marksmen. A competent American rifleman could hit a man’s head at 200 yards.

Americans enjoyed the moral advantage in fighting for a just

cause

American geography, lack of population centers gave Americans time, British fits

Slide31

American Pluses and Minuses

Disadvantages

Lacking in unity

Colonies resented the Continental Congress’ attempt at exercising power

jealousy over the appointment of military leaders

Americans had little money.

Americans

had no navy. Slide32

America Secedes from the Empire

1775-1783Slide33

Congress Drafts George Washington

May 1775 all colonies meet 2nd

Continental Congress

No sentiment for independence

Adopted measures to raise money for army and navy, sent list of grievances to George III

Most important action was selecting George Washington as military commander (moral force, great military mind)Slide34

Military Strategies

The Americans

Attrition [the Brits had a long supply line].

Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war

 you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down]

Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies.

The British

Break the colonies in half by getting between the No. & the So.

Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally.

“Divide and Conquer”

 use the Loyalists.Slide35

Early years of the Revolution

Americans fighting war, but did not declare independence for a 15 month period ( April 1775- July 1776)

1775

Americans capture Ft. Ticonderoga, get gunpowder and cannons

June 1775

Bunker Hill American hold off British attack until gunpowder runs out

August 1775

King George formally proclaims colonies were in rebellion, begins to hire German (Hessian) troops, Americans were guilty of treason

Fall 1775

British capture Falmouth, Maine, Americans plan attack on Canada, they are not successfulSlide36

Declaration of Independence2nd Continental Congress

gradually moved toward a clean break with Britain. June 7, 1776

, Richard Henry Lee urged for complete independence, adopted on July 2, 1776.

Congress appointed Thomas Jefferson to write Declaration of Independence.

Contained a list of grievances against King George III explaining why the colonies had the right to revolt.

His “explanation” of independence also upheld the “natural rights” of humankind (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness).

Congress approved it on July 2nd, but because of editing and final approval, it was not completely approved until July 4th, 1776. Slide37

Patriots and Loyalists

War within a war, not all colonials were united.

Patriots

, who supported rebellion and were called “Whigs.”

Loyalists

, who supported the king and who often went to battle against fellow Americans, also called “Tories.”

Moderates

in the middle and those who didn’t care either way. These people were constantly being asked to join one side or another.

British proved that they could only control Tory areas, because when Redcoats packed up and left other areas, the rebels would regain control

Patriots good at political reeducation, agents of revolutionary ideasSlide38

Patriots and Loyalists

Typical Loyalist (Tory) Generally conservatives, educated, older, war divided families

Loyalists were most numerous where the Anglican Church was strongest (the South). Slide39

Patriots and Loyalists

Typical Patriot

The Patriots were generally the younger generation (Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry)

From places where self-government was strong and mercantilism weak or contested

Patriots typically didn’t belong to the Anglican Church (Church of England) but were Congregational, Presbyterian, Baptist, or Methodist. Slide40

Phase I

:

The Northern Campaign [1775-1776]Slide41

Bunker Hill (June, 1775)

The British suffered over 40% casualties.Slide42

Phase II

:

NY & PA

[1777-1778]Slide43

Washington Crossing the DelawareSlide44

Saratoga:

“Turning Point”

of the War?Slide45

France enters war

After the Battle of Saratoga (1777), France enters war against Britain. If Britain regained control, might then try to capture the French West Indies for compensation

Did not want to risk a stronger Britain with its reunited colonies.

France, 1778, offered a treaty of alliance, offering America everything that Britain had offered,

plus

recognition of independence.

Official recognition of American independence by European powerSlide46

Britain’s Southern Strategy

Britain thought that there were more Loyalists in the South.

Southerners not as vocal in support of Revolution, thought it might inspire slave revolt

Southern resources more valuable/worth preserving.

British win small victories, but cannot pacify the countryside [similar to U. S. failures in Vietnam!]

Carolinas, Patriots bitterly fought their Loyalist neighbors.

1781

, rebel victories King’s Mountain, Cowpens in NC

Quaker- reared Gen. Nathanael Greene strategy of delay.

Retreating and losing battles but winning campaigns, clear the British out of most of Georgia and South Carolina. Slide47

Yorktown

1780-1781 inflation continued to soar, government was virtually bankrupt, could not repay debts

In the Chesapeake the British were blundering into a trap

Retreating to Chesapeake Bay Cornwallis instead was trapped by Washington’s army, Rochambeau’s French army, and the French

navy

Final official British defeat was the Battle of Yorktown

Slide48

Peace at Paris

Brits were weary of the war, suffered heavily

Ben Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay met in Paris for a peace deal.

Jay suspected France would try to keep the U.S. cooped up east of the Alleghenies and keep America weak.

Jay, thinking that France would betray American ambition to Spain, secretly made separate overtures to London (against instructions from Congress)

The

Treaty of Paris of 1783

Britain formally recognized U.S. granted generous boundaries, Mississippi River to the

west, Great Lakes on the north, Spanish Florida on the South.

Yankees retained a share in fisheries off Newfoundland.

Americans couldn’t persecute Loyalists, though, and Congress could only recommend legislature that would return or pay for confiscated Loyalist land.

Did not keep obligation to LoyalistsSlide49

A New Nation Legitimized

Britain ceded so much land because it was trying to entice America from its French alliance.

American-friendly Whigs were in control of the Parliament

France approved the treaty, though with cautious eyes.

America came out the big winner