Revolutionary War

1
Revolutionary War

• Objectives- Students will understand
• The basis of American rights by identifying the
  two keys rights in the Declaration of
  Independence and explaining how those two rights
  are evident in the US today
• Identify one key fighting strategy of both the US
  and England and explain one reason the US was
  able to defeat a stronger enemy in war.
• Explain the outcome of the Revolutionary War by
  identifying the original boundaries of the US

2
2nd Continental Congress (May 1775)

• Called in regards to what the colonies should do
  after Lexington and Concord
• Olive Branch Petition- asked king to return to
  Benign Neglect before 1763
• Continental Army- created to protect American
  rights
• Why would the King have a problem with the
  actions taken by the 2nd CC?

3
Common Sense (Thomas Paine) states the colonies
should seek independence

• Three Reasons to separate
• Monarchy- foolish and dangerous form of
  government
• Why is monarchy foolish?
• What are some reasons why democracy is a better
  from of Gov? or worse?
• Americans are not English
• Old World vs. New World- old world corrupt, new
  world has liberty and opportunity

4
Enlightenment- movement in 1600s by philosophers
and thinkers which created ideas that influence
the United States government and ideas on freedom
and equality

• Voltaire- used satire (humor) to make fun of his
  opponents
• Wrote for freedom of speech, religion, tolerance
  and against intolerance and racism
• Montesquieu- did not like monarchial rule (by
  king)
• Separation of Power- idea to divide government
  into different branches with different roles so
  one branch does not have total power
• Thomas Hobbes- believed people are naturally
  evil, government needs to protect people
• Social Contract- people give up certain rights
  for law and order
• Explain how each one of these Philosophes ideas
  are seen in the US today

5
John Locke believed people are shaped by their
environment, people learn from their mistakes and
othersbasis of self government and US (if you
dont like the president, you dont vote for him
again)

• Natural Rights life, liberty, and property
• Explain what each one of these rights means and
  how they are evident in your life today
• These are rights every person should have
  regardless of what country they live in
• role of government is to protect your natural
  rights (if government does not, people have the
  right to revolt)
• What are some was that people revolt peacefully
  and violently against he Government (and US?)

6
Declaration of Independence- begins the United
States and states basis of American rights

• Thomas Jefferson- author, influenced by John
  Locke/Natural Rights
• Opening- states the basis of rights for all
  Americans
• Inalienable Rights- Life, Liberty, Pursuit of
  Happiness
• Do all Americans have these rights? Identify
  groups who have been denied these rights?
• Equality- All men are created equal
• ?What does equality mean? Explain if all people
  are equal?
• Second Section- grievances against the king
• Governments power comes from the people
• How do people today force the Gov. to recognize
  the power of the people?
• Third Section- Declaration of War, states
  colonies are now these United States

7
Strategies- US is now at war with EnglandHow can
a weaker country defeat a super power?

• US- Defensive War (US has home court advantage)
  US does not need to win land
• Guerilla Warfare- hit and run
• Avoid Major Battles
• Drag the war on till England Quits
• British/Conventional War-Major Battles, Control
  Cities, Divide Colonies
• ?Why is Englands strategy set up to fail?

8
Major Events

• Battle of Saratoga- major battle won by Americans
  (looks like US could win war if some country
  helped)
• French Alliance- Fr. Join war on side of US
• ?Why did the French want to ally themselves with
  the US?
• Valley Forge- thousands of American soldiers
  freeze and starve to death in winter camp
• ?Why is the worst event in the Revolutionary War
  significant in helping the American cause?
• Yorktown- England surrenders, loses the war

9
Treaty of Paris (1783)- ends the revolutionary
war and establishes first boundaries of the US

• Boundaries
• North- Canada
• South- Florida (given to Spain)
• West- Miss. River
• ?Why did England offer such a generous settlement
  to the US?