Chapter+8+Notes+Emily

America Secedes from the Empire 1775-1783 -Washington had very little military background -Gifted with leadership, strength of character, patience, courage, self-discipline, and a sense of justice. -Was more of a moral force than a military force. -Since Washington was of wealth he could not be accused of only serving in the military for money. -Washington served because he wanted to help his country. -The war was fought for 14 months from April 1775 to July 1776. -June 1775, the British Troops stormed Bunker Hill. After the colonists ran out of supplies they had to give up their fort on Bunker Hill. -July 1775, the colonists propose the “Olive Branch Petition” -August 1775, King George III announced that the colonies were rebelling. -The European mercenaries were called Hessians because they came from the German principality of Hesse. -Many of the Hessians fell in love with the American land and deserted the troops and ended up becoming citizens of America. -October 1775, the British burned Falmouth, Maine. -Americans decided to invade Canada. -December 1775 the Americans invaded Canada but fought they were fought off. -Canada didn’t want to go against the British. -January 1776, the British set fire to Norkfolk, Virginia. -In March the British soldiers were forced to leave Boston. -Colonists had two victories in 1776. -Many Americans still considered themselves as part of Britain even with all the fighting that was taking place. -Once the British army set fire to Falmouth and Norfolk, the colonists realized they needed to separate from Britain. -1776, //Common Sense// was published. -Changed the opinions many colonists had on being a part of Britain. -//Common Sense// called for the creation of a republic. -Republic, where power flows from the people themselves, not from a monarchy. -Paine thought that all government decisions should be made based on popular belief. -This type of government got rid of the hereditary aristocracy because everyone had a say in the government. -June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee said “these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states.” -July 2, 1776 start of declaring independence. -Thomas Jefferson was appointed to write the Declaration of Independence. -July 4, 1776, Declaration of Independence was accepted by the Congress. -The Declaration of Independence listed the misdeeds of King George III. -The rebels were fighting Britain and the Loyalists. -Loyalists were people who wanted to remain loyal to Britain. -The British Military only controlled areas where they could have a large amount of troops. -When they weren’t fighting, the Rebels got people to join their side. They made the British seem like terrible, untrustworthy people. -If the British would have won the war the rebels would have been disgraced, punished and forgotten. -Loyalists consisted of older generations and the king’s officers. -Loyalists were sometimes tarred and feathered. -After the Declaration of Independence the loyalists were treated terribly, as if they were traitors. -Hanged and imprisoned. -Loyalist’s homes were confiscated and sold. -Summer and fall of 1776, Battle of Long Island. Would have ended in disaster for the rebels but fog and wing helped them escape. -December 26, 1776, Washington surprised and captured a thousand Hessians. -1777, British came up with a plan to capture the Hudson River Valley. -Winter came and the British were forced to retreat to Canada. -Howe’s plan was to weaken the rebel army so Burgoyne’s army could finish them off. -The Americans surprised Howe and trapped the British army. -October 17, 1777 Burgoyne had to surrender his command at Saratoga. -France wanted to join on the American side in hopes of getting revenge on Britain. -Summer of 1776, “Model Treaty” stated that the only connection between the French and the American was a commercial one. -Benjamin Franklin went to Paris to work on a treaty with them. -February 6, 1778, the French offered a treaty alliance to the Americans. -The treaty stated that both armies would fight until America had won its independence. -From 1778 to 1783 the French provided the Americans with all the military supplies they would needed, including soldiers. -June 1778 Washington attacked the British. The battle was indecisive because the British escaped to New York. -There was some controversy between the French and the Americans, but the French gold and help solved all of those disputes. -1780, General Benedict Arnold turned traitor. -The British started taking over land in the south because that’s where most of the loyalists lived. -The Indians were on the British side because they wanted to reclaim their land. -1777 known as the “bloody year” -1778-1779 the Americans captured all the British forts in the wild Illinois country. -The country was in massive amounts of debt from the war and knew they would have to raise taxes to pay for it. -Washington marched to the New York area in order to defeat the British. The British were surrounded on land and sea. -October 19, 1781 Cornwallis had to surrender his entire force. -Washington had to keep the army in the field and the states together in order to win the war and sing a peace treaty. -By the time the British army was deteriorating, three American peace negotiators were in Paris. -France wanted America to be independent but still rely on other countries because that would make it easier for the French to control them if necessary. -Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783, the British formally recognized the independence of the United States. -Britain tried to get the Americans to drop their alliance with the French. -They were incredibly friendly to the rebels and the soldiers. -America was the only army that gained from the war. -Britain was beaten badly. -The French had gotten their revenge.
 * Congress Drafts George Washington **
 * Bunker Hill and Hessian Hirelings **
 * The Abortive Conquest of Canada **
 * Thomas Paine Preaches Common Sense **
 * Paine and Idea of “Republicanism” **
 * Jefferson’s “Explanation” of Independence **
 * Patriots and Loyalists **
 * The Loyalist Exodus **
 * General Washington at Bay **
 * Burgoyne’s Blundering Invasion **
 * Revolution in Diplomacy? **
 * Blow and Counterblow **
 * The Land Frontier and the Sea Frontier **
 * Yorktown and the Final Curtain **
 * Peace at Paris **
 * A New Nation Legitimized **