Untitled Prezi

FONTS

ASSISTANCE

OF

FRANCE

• France hoped to regain its power in North America and Europe

– Remember the bad defeat in the 7 Years War

• Other reasons for France to support the colonists:

– End of British mercantile policies means free to trade

with colonies

– Caught up in the idealism and Enlightenment ideas

• Benjamin Franklin helped negotiate the treaty

• Formal alliance (1778) followed the Battle of Saratoga

– Colonists receive money, weapons, naval support, and

• Lexington & Concord (April 1775)

• Bunker Hill (June 1775)

• Trenton (Dec. 26 1777)

Washington crossed Delaware river and captured 1,000 Hessian

soldiers

• Battle of Saratoga (Oct. 1777) British surrender

– France joins the war on the side of the Americans

• Later in war England focused war effort on the South (loyalist

and high slave population)

• Battle of Yorktown (Oct. 1781) General Cornwallis surrenders to

American, French troops

– French blockaded the sea

DEEP ROOTS OF REVOLUTION

Enlightenment ideas of John Locke and Rousseau strongly influenced the colonists

– Locke said everyone hasnatural rights and the power of government is derived from popular consent

• Thomas Paine’s pamphlet “Common Sense” (Jan 1776) argued for independence

– Radical idea at the time

– Called for the creation of a republic (representative govt.) based on natural rights of the people

– Strongly influenced by the Enlightenment

COLONIAL UNITY?

Patriots

• Colonists who fought against the British

Loyalists

• Colonists loyal to the British

– Treated as traitors

- Property seized, harassed

• About 80,000 emigrated from the USA

Most colonists were neutral or

apathetic

SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS • 2nd Continental Congress (May

1775) get together in Philly

– Division amongst colonists as to whether or not to declare independence

– Organized the Continental Army with Washington as commander in chief

• Bunker Hill (June 1775) British take hill, but colonists hold their own---Builds confidence!

• At the same time sought peace by sending Olive Branch Petition to King George III (July 1775)

– King dismissed the OBP and declared colonies in rebellion Following Lexington & Concord….

** Important: 1775 still no clear consensus for independence

Colonial

British

Declaration of Independence

• Thomas Jefferson drafted the formal Declaration of Independence

• Goals: Justify independence by listing grievances against King George III

– Took out the one Jefferson wrote against slavery

• To rally support amongst the colonists

• To get the assistance from foreign nations

• Broad appeal by declaring “unalienable rights” (natural rights) and the

power of government rest with the people (popular sovereignty)

* Economically Weak

* No organized and supplied military

* no central government to direct actions

* no revenue (taxes)

* Better Military and Navy

* larger population

* Access to Money

* Help from German Hessians

* Indian Coalitions

+ more familiar with the land

+ used guerilla warfare

+ resilient military

+ ideological commitment