StudyGuideforExam#2 DeclarationofIndependence TheDeclarationofIndependencewaswrittenin1776.ThomasJeffersonwasthemainwriterof theDeclarationofIndependence. Thedocumentissplitintofourparts.Thefirstpartisanintroductionalsoknownasthepreamble. Next,thereisasectionthatdescribestherightsthatthecolonistsbelievetheyshouldhave.The thirdpartisalistofcomplaintsthatthecolonistshaveagainstKingGeorgeIIIandtheBritish Parliament.Lastly,thedocumentproclaimsthatthecoloniesarenowanewcountryandareno longerunderthecontrolofGreatBritain. Importanttopicsincludethefollowing, Allmenarecreatedequal PeoplearegivenbyGodtherightsoflife,liberty,andthepursuitofhappiness Governmentsexisttoprotectpeoplesrights Peopleofacountryshouldremoveagovernmentthatdoesnotprotectpeoplesrightsand replaceitwithagovernmentthatdoes.

tdoes. KingGeorgewouldnotallowtradewithothercountries(complaint) KingGeorgewouldforcetaxeswithouttheagreementofthepeople.(complaint)

RevolutionaryWar TheBattlesofTrentonandPrincetontookplaceinNewJerseyduringthewinterof1776.British troopsdidnotfightduringthewinterandGeorgeWashingtonusedthistoattackbysurprise. WashingtonandhistroopsattackedtheHessiansatTrentonanddefeatedthem. TheBattleofSaratogatookplacein1777.TheBritishcreatedaplantodefeattheAmericans afterthebattlesofTrenton&Princeton.TheAlbanyplanwastoseparatetheNewEngland coloniesfromtheMiddlecolonies.BritishGeneralJohnBurgoynefoughtagainstthecolonistsat Saratoga,NewYork.Hewasdefeatedandsurrendered.Thiswasamajorvictoryforthe Americans. From17771778,GeorgeWashingtonandhisContinentalarmyspentthewinteratValleyForge. Duringthiswinterthearmysufferedgreatly.Theydidnothaveenoughfoodtoeat.Theylacked clothingandmanyofthemendidnotevenhaveshoestowear.Shelterwasalsoamajorproblem especiallyintheharshconditionsofwinter.Thishorriblewintercausedmanyofthementofight eachotherandcausedsoldierstorunaway. In1778,FranceformsanalliancewiththeAmericancolonists.Theydecidetojoinforceswiththe patriotsfortworeasons.First,theyhatedGreatBritainbecauseoftheFrenchandIndianWar. Second,theysawthatthecolonistscouldwinamajorbattleatSaratogaontheirown.

Patriotsvs.Loyalists ThePatriotswereAmericancolonistswhosupportedindependence.Theywantedtobeseparated fromGreatBritain. TheLoyalistswereAmericancolonistswhodidnotsupportindependence.Theywantedtoremain loyaltoGreatBritain.

BritishAdvantagesinthewar Theyhadthestrongestnavyintheworld Theirarmywasexperiencedandwelltrained. Lotsofwealthtopurchasesupplies,mercenariesandanyotherneedstheymayhave. EnglandhadamuchlargerpopulationthantheAmericans.8millioncitizens. ColonistsDisadvantagesinthewar Theirpopulationwasmuchlesswithonly2.5millionpeople Theylackedaregulararmyandtheirsoldierslackedtraining Thenavywasveryweak. Soldiersdidnothavemilitaryfightingexperience. Thesupplies,cannonsandammunitionthattheAmericanshadwasinshortsupply. NotallAmericancolonistswantedtobeseparatefromEngland.Somepeoplelikethe Quakerswereneutralandwouldnotfightatall.Othercolonistswantedtoremainloyalto GreatBritain. ColonistsAdvantagesinthewar Theyfoughtontheirowngroundsotheyknewthelandscape.Theyalsowerefightingto keeptheirland.Whenyoufightforwhatisyoursyouwillfighttotheend. BritishDisadvantagesinthewar Theyhadtofightawarfarawayfromtheirhomeland. AlloftheirsuppliesandsoldierstheyhadtoshipacrosstheAtlanticOcean