Download Revolution! - Edison Social Studies

Revolution!
The Fight For Independence
Key Words




Continental Army- Colonial Army set up by
the Second Continental Congress
Patriot- Person siding with the colonies
Loyalist- Person siding with the British
Olive Branch Petition- Loyalty to the king in
exchange for repealing the intolerable acts
Attempt at Peace

The Second Continental Congress was
convened in Philadelphia after the battles at
Lexington and Concord

Sent the Olive Branch petition to King George III

The King was less than enthused



Felt Colonies wanted their own empire
Ordered 20,000 more troops to the colonies
Many were convinced that war could not be
avoided
The Beginnings

Volunteers known as the Green Mountain
Boys took fort Ticonderoga


Captured the fort and its cannons, gun powder
and control of a key route to Canada
The Second Continental Congress created
the Continental Army at this same time

They appointed George Washington as its
commander
Advantages

Patriots



Most colonial men owned rifles and were good
shots
Patriots were defending their own land, homes
and families while the Brits were paid soldiers
Home field advantage (knew the land)


Could be immediately reinforced with supplies
Washington was a brilliant leader and tactician
Advantages

The British

Far superior military


Well trained army, best navy in the world
Had some colonists support (Loyalists)


Mainly in the south
Loyalists were tarred and feathered and had their homes
and possessions stolen by Patriots
Bunker Hill

The Americans surrounded Boston


They did not let the British march out
Colonel Prescott and 1,200 minutemen held Bunker Hill



The British attempted to take the hill but were turned back
On the third try, the British took the hill
The British lost 1,000 men


This showed that the Americans could fight bravely


Also that the British would be very difficult to beat
Washington began to train the army


The Americans lost 400
Tough with colonial differences
British set up a blockade and hired mercenaries
Independence


Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” justified a
break from England
The Continental Congress drafted a Declaration
of Independence


It was written by Thomas Jefferson
Congress voted to separate from England on
July 2, 1776


They knew they would be seen as traitors
The declaration was ratified on July 4th

Triggered much celebration in the colonies

Natural Rights


Declared that “all men are created equal”
These are inborn rights



Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
If these rights are not met, then the people have the
right to rebel
British Wrongs


3 Parts
Disbanding Colonial Legislatures, sending troops in
peacetime, limits on trade and taxation without
representation
Declared independence as well as the rights of the
colonies to carry on as a free and sovereign nation
Roles in the War

Women

Women added men’s work to their own


Planted and harvested crops
Made blankets and uniforms, some even made cannons
and guns


Betsy Ross sewed flags
Cared for the wounded soldier at the front, washed and
cooked

Mary Ludwig Hayes (Molly Pitcher) carried water to the
soldiers in the field
When her husband was wounded, she took his place and
loaded and fired his cannon


This helped lead to more equality for women
Roles in War

African Americans


The continental army did not allow African
Americans to fight
The British offered to free slaves if they fought
for them


In response, Washington allowed free African
Americans to fight
Tough calls


Fight for the Brits and be hanged by Patriots
Fight for colonies and be captured and sold
Roles in the War

Native Americans were wanted by both sides

British were more effective


Convinced them that a Patriot victory would mean more
settlers moving west of the Appalachians
Some, such as the Miami’s allied with the Patriots


Helped trick the British into surrendering fort Vincennes
New Spain

Spain was neutral, but Bernardo de Galvez, the
Governor of Louisiana supported the Patriots



Supplied them with guns, medicine and cloth
He soon captured forts along the Mississippi and drove
the British from Western Florida.
Galveston, Texas is named after him