Chapter 8 America Secedes from the Empire 17751783

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Chapter 8America Secedes from the
Empire1775-1783

• PowerPoint by
• Holly Bates and Abigail Day

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Congress Drafts George Washington

• Washington was chosen by Congress hesitantly as
  the leader of the rebel army but his strength of
  character proved to make him a worthy leader

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Bunker Hill and Hessian Hirelings

• May 1775 Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold captured
  British garrisons at Ticonderoga and Crown Point
  securing a priceless store of gunpowder and
  artillery
• June 1775 colonists seized Breeds Hill (aka
  Bunker Hill)
• July 1775 the Continental Congress adopted the
  Olive Branch Petition asking the king to stop
  hostilities and professing loyalty to the crown

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Bunker Hill and Hessian Hirelingscont.

• August 1775 King George III proclaimed the
  colonies in rebellion and rebellious activity
  became treason- a hanging crime.
• The king hired thousands of German mercenaries
  called Hessians to crush rebellious subjects
• Some Hessians, seduced by the plentiful land,
  deserted and stayed in America to become
  respected citizens

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The Abortive Conquest of Canada

• October 1775 the British burned Falmouth, Maine
• American military planned an assault on Canada,
  hoping to gain another colony
• General Richard Montgomery led one column of the
  attack and his troops conquered Montreal
• General Benedict Arnold joined Montgomery at
  Quebec after a grueling trek through the Maine
  woods
• Montgomery was killed and Arnold was wounded and
  the armies were forced to retreat

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The Abortive Conquest of Canada cont.

• January 1776 the British set fire to Norfolk,
  Virginia
• March British and friends of the king were forced
  to evacuate Boston
• February Americans won a battle at Moores Creek
  Bridge
• June Americans fought off an invading British
  fleet at Charleston Harbor

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Thomas Paine Preaches Common Sense

• Loyalty had always been ingrained into the
  colonists
• 1776 Common Sense by Thomas Paine was published
  one of the most influential pamphlets ever
  written.

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Paine and the Idea of Republicanism

• Paine called not only for independence, but for a
  republic- where all government officials derive
  their authority from popular consent
• Many colonist, especially New Englanders
  already practiced republicanism in their town
  meetings and the success of the Committees of
  Correspondence made it seem possible
• In order for a republic to work, people would
  need to be virtuous and self-sacrificing, wanting
  the best for the common good

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Jeffersons Explanation of Independence

• June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee of Virginia moved
  that these United Colonies are, and of right
  ought to be, free and independent states. It was
  adopted by Congress on July 2, 1776
• Congress appointed a committee to draft a formal
  statement of separation
• Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of
  Independence that was approved on July 4, 1776

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Patriots and Loyalists

• Loyalists were called Tories and Patriots were
  called Whigs
• These two parties did not only fight against each
  other but for the support of the neutral public
• The British could only gain the support of areas
  they could physically control, while the
  enthusiastic colonist army gained more support
• Loyalists were most numerous where the Anglican
  church was the strongest

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Peace at Paris
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A New Nation Legitimized

• Britian through in the huge trans-Appalachian
  area hoping to keep Americans away from a French
  alliance
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