American Revolution

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American Revolution

• The Final Years

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Winter, 1777-78

• Washington retired to Valley Forge for winter of
  1777-78
• Supplies were scarce food, clothing
• Army whipped into shape by the Prussian
  drillmaster Baron von Steuben.
• Episode demonstrated American resolve despite
  horrible conditions.

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Benedict Arnold becomes a traitor, 1780

• Arnold frustrated with his treatment by his
  superiors despite his heroic service
• Persuaded Washington to make him head of West
  Point
• Plotted with the British to sell out West Point
• Key to defense the Hudson River
• Plot failed after it was accidentally discovered
  by Washington

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Articles of Confederation adopted, 1777

• Largely written by John Dickinson
• Americas first constitution
• Designed to make Continental Congress the
  permanent government body
• Did not take effect until 1781
• Problem with western lands
• Congress only government body
• Had power to conduct war, handle foreign
  relations secure loans, borrow money.
• No power to tax, regulate trade
• No executive except President of Congress

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Franco-American Alliance, Feb. 1778

• France tried to enlist Spain
• Saw this as chance to hurt Britain after losses
  in French Indian War
• Said that neither would conclude a treaty of
  peace without the others consent
• British offered terms to US
• Congress replied that only recognition of US
  independence would end war
• Some members of Parliament even tried to bribe
  members of Congress!

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France secret supplier

• At first, French did not give aid openly
• Ben Franklin Silas Deane arranged for munitions
• Marquis de Lafayette very helpful in getting
  supplies

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American RevolutionWorld War!

• Franco-American Alliance, 1778
• Spain entered in 1779
• Britain declared war on Dutch in 1780
• Catherine the Great of Russia organized the
  League of  Armed Neutrality
• War fought in West Indies, Europe, S. America,
  India!

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1777 known as "the Bloody Year" on the frontier

• Indians mainly allies with British
• Joseph Brant
• Devastated western PA upstate NY until finally
  signed treaty
• First Indian Treaty with US

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• George Rogers Clark
• seized several British ports along the Ohio River
• British to cede the whole Ohio region in the
  peace treaty of Paris after the war

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In 1778, Britain changed strategy focus on
Southern Colonies

• Savannah, Georgia taken in late 1778
• Charleston, SC, fell in 1780
• Heavier loss to the
• Americans than
• Saratoga was to
• the British
• Nathanael Greene
• succeeded in
• clearing Georgia
• and S.C. of most
• British troops

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The War Ends!

• Yorktown last major battle of war, Oct. 19, 1781
• Peace of Paris officially ended war, 1783
• Franklin, Adams, John Jay sent to Paris
• French NOT included at bargaining table
• Indians (again) NOT included!
• Americans turned to Britain as Adams etc.
  suspicious of French Spanish

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Results of Peace of Paris (IMPORTANT!)

• Britain formally recognized US independence
• Super boundaries for USall the way to
  Mississippi River in west
• Fishing rights off Newfoundland
• British promised to return any slaves to their
  owners (they did not do this!)
• All prewar debts on either side will be honored
• Loyalists will not be prosecuted
• British will remove all troops from US territory
  ASAP
• Spain got Florida back

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Americans Only Ones To Really Win

• British lost territory, money
• France got nothing but debt which eventually
  helped lead to French Revolution
• Spain had engaged England in west south to
  retake their land lost in French Indian War,
  but got nothing else

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Wartime Economy problems

• British blockade ended American trade
• Continental currency hit hard by inflation
• 1777, 3 1 in gold
• 1778, 8 1 in gold
• 1780, 100 1 in gold
• 1781, 146 1 in gold
• A bag of salt--1 at beginning war, 3,900 by
  1780!!!

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Actual Results of War

• 250,000 fought in war (Americans)
• 10 died, highest casualty rate in any war in
  American history
• British occupied most major American cities
• Economic disaster
• Most of fighting done by poorest citizens
• 5,000 African-Americans fought for independence
  promise freedom
• Native Americans left with very bitter taste
  after war
• Women became more politically active many felt
  war goals betrayed them, as well

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Deborah Sampson

• Enlisted as a man in army, 1782
• Robert Shurtliff
• 57 tall, bound her breasts to disguise
• Massachusetts Regiment
• Fought at Battle of Tarrytown, NY
• Wounded eventually discovered by doctor
• Quietly given an honorable discharge from army
• Her husband only man to receive a widows
  pension from US government

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Mary Ludwig Hayes

• Given citation by George Washington for her
  bravery after Battle of Monmouth
• June 28, 1778, very hot day
• Husband artillery man
• She carried pitchers of water to men at gunner
  positions
• When her husbands gun crew was too injured to
  continue, she stepped in and manned the gun
• Molly Pitcher Hayes

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Agrippa Hull

• Enlisted in American Army in 1777
• Served as orderly to General John Patterson
• Returned to Mass. after war and married a former
  slave
• Did not want to send in his discharge papers to
  get his pension as it had George Washingtons
  signature on it!

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Lemuel Hayes

• Child of African father white mother, abandoned
  as child
• Raised in Mass., but not a slave, only in service
  to age 21
• Became Minuteman fought at Battle of Lexington
• Ordained a Congregational minister in 1785
• Married a white schoolteacher
• Had to leave one church due to racial prejudice
• 1804 received a Masters of Arts from Middlebury
  College, becoming first African American to get a
  Masters degree!