-SHChapter+8

Congress Drafts George Washington- -George Washington was picked to head the hastily improvised army because of his leadership and immense strength and a sense of justice. He was a greater moral force rather than a great military mind. - His pick was also highly political. Americans were beginning to distrust the New England army and picking a commander from Virginia, the largest and most popular colonies, would satisfy the colonists. Washington could also not be accused of being a fortune-seeker since he was born into a wealthy name.

Bunker Hill and Hessian Hirelings- - The Americans were trying to affirm their loyalty to the king and voice their desire to patch up difficulties. On the other hand, they were raising arms and shooting at the king's soldiers. This type of conflict lasted between April 1775 to July 1776. - In May 1775, an American force under the control of Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold captured the British garrisons at Ticonderoga and Crown Point. Gunpowder and artillery was taken for the siege of Boston. - In June 1775, the colonists seized Bunker Hill (Breed's Hill). The British launched a frontal attack with three thousand men, but the colonists numbering fifteen hundred drove the British back. - In July, 1775, the Continental Congress adopted the Olive Branch Petition to profess American loyalty to England. In response, King George III rejected all hope of reconciliation. In following months, the king arranged the hiring of thousands of German troops, which was arranged since the German princes needed money and the king needed men.

The Abortive Conquest of Canada- -In the autumn of 1775, the colonists undertook an invasion of Canada. The American leaders believed that the French were restless under the British. Success in Canada would also add a fourteenth colony, while depriving Britain of a valuable base. A colonial force was lead into Quebec by General Richard Montgomery, but were met by an army led by General Benedict Arnold. Montgomery was killed and the colonists retreated up the St. Lawrence River. - In January 1776, the British set fire to the Virginia town of Norfolk. - In March 1776, the British were forced to evacuate Boston which is now celebrated as Evacuation Day in Boston.

Thomas Paine Preaches Common Sense- -Americans still didn't intend to rebel against England and the king. -Five months before independence was declared, people were still loyal and saying, "God save the king". -The Americans were shocked into recognizing the necessity of separating by the harsh British acts like the burning of Falmouth and Norfolk and the hiring of Hessians. -In 1776, the publication of Common Sense influenced many colonists. Its author Thomas Paine connected to the common man in the colonies which helped it sell 120,000 copies in months.

Paine and the Idea of "Republicanism"- -Paine' s protest called not only for independence, but for a new kind of political society, a republic.

Jefferson's "Explanation" of Independence- -The task of writing a formal declaration of independence, as brought up by Richard Henry Lee on June 7, 1776, was given to Thomas Jefferson. -The Declaration of Independence was formally approved by the Congress on July 4, 1776. - The writting included imposing taxes without consent, dispensing with trial by jury, abolishing valued laws, establishing a military dictatorship, maintaining standing armies in peacetime, cutting off trade, burning towns, hiring mercenaries, and inciting hostility among the Indians.

Patriots and Loyalists- - Loyalists made up 16 percent of the American people. - Many people who were educated and wealth remained loyal. -The Loyalists were most numerous where the Anglican Church was strongest, as well as aristocratic New York City, Charleston, and Quaker Pennsylvania and New Jersey. -Loyalists were least numerous in New England where self-government was especially strong and mercantilism was weak.

General Washington at Bay- -With the evacuation of Boston in March 1776, the British concentrated on New York for operations. -In July 1776, British fleets appeared with five hundred ships and thirty five thousand men. Washington had eighteen thousand men to meet the invaders. -On December 26, 1776, Washington captured thousands of Hessians at Trenton who were sleeping due to their Christmas celebration.

Revolution in Diplomacy?- -France sided with the colonists in the hope of regaining their former position lost in the Seven Years' War. -Americans habored the ideas of ending colonialism and mercantilism and supporting free trade and freedom of the seas. -The Continental Congress in the summer of 1776 drafted a Model Treaty to inform the American commissioners it was about to dispatch with the French court. -On February 6, 1778, France offered the Americans a treaty of alliance.

Blow and Counterblow- -In the summer of 1780, a French army of six thousand arrived in Newport, Rhode Island. -In 1780, General Benedict Arnold turned traitor and plotted with the British to sell out the stronghold of West Point. The plan was detected and Arnold fled to the British. -The British aimed to control the south, where loyalists were numerous. Charleston, South Carolina fell first in 1780. -Warefare then intensified in the Carolinas, where Patriots fought Loyalists. General Nathanael Greene cleared most of Georgia and South Carolina of the British troops.

Yorktown and the Final Curtain- -French Admiral de Grasse advised to join with the Americans to lead an assault on Cornwallis at Yorktown. -Cornwallis surrendered his entire force of seven thousand men on October 19, 1781.

Peace at Paris- -After Yorktown, the British were weary of war and increasingly ready to come to terms. -With the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the British formaly recognized the independence of the United States.