A.

Moving Toward Independence

1. An American Story
When: June 16, 1775
Who: Colonel William Prescott and 1,200 militiamen
What: Battle of Bunker Hill (near Breeds Hill, across the harbor from Boston)
Outcome: British won, but with heavy losses. Americans retreated b/c of lack of
ammunition
2. The Second Continental Congress
1) met in Philadelphia
a) delegates: John Adams, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, George Washington,
Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson
Decisions:
1. govern colonies
2. created Continental Army (more organized)
3. chose George Washington as leader
4. organized committee to draft declaration of independence
a. Thomas Jefferson author
b. approved July 4, 1776
3. July 1775, Olive Branch Petition
a. to King George III
b. peace?, protect colonists rights?
c. answer: no
d. 30,000 German troops to fight beside British
4. Thomas Paine
a. Americans: independence = answer
b. January 1776 published Common Sense
1. strong language
a. condemn king
2. struggle for freedom
c. Common Sense convinced people effectively

B. The Colonies Declare Independence
1. Declaration of Independence
a. influences:
1. Magna Carta
2. English Bill of Rights
3. John Locke
a. innate natural rights to life, liberty, property
2. Ideas in D.I.
a. governments all powerful, made to protect citizens rights
b. rulers have to follow laws, treat citizens fairly
3. 4 Major Sections
a. preamble: people who wish to form a new gov. should explain their reasons for
doing so
b. middle two: rights colonists should have + complaints against Britain
c. last: declaration of new independent nation = United States
4. Other Details
a. Begins w/ traditional English political rights
b. after D.I., war (American Revolution)

C. The American Revolution

3 types of Americans:
1) Patriots supported freedom [believed British would give up after losing 1-2
major battles]
2) Loyalists loyal to Britain, 1 in 3 or 1 in 5
3) Neutral no side

1. Early Campaigns
a. when: summer of 1776
what: 32,000 British troops to N.Y.
why: sheer size of army will convince Americans to give up?
b. when: late August, 1776
where: Long Island, N.Y.
what: Americans lose
c. when: late Nov., 1776
where: Penn, across N.J.
what: Patriots retreated
d. when: winter of 1776
where: N.Y.
what: British settled, some N.Y., others Trenton + Princeton
e. where: across Delaware River from British Camp, N.J.
when: Christmas night 1776
what: across icy river, surprised British at Trenton, drove away British at Princeton
2. The Battle of Saratoga
a. British intention: separate New England and Middle colonies
1. how: take N.Y.s Hudson River Valley
a. how: 3 forces meeting in Albany, N.Y. crush Americans
2. when: 1777
b. Gen. John Burgoyne down from Canada
c. arrived at Saratoga town, but no 2 other forces
d. Gen. Horatio Gates had bigger American army
e. British = trapped, surrendered on Oct. 17, 1777
f. first major American victory Battle of Saratoga
3. Winter at Valley Forge
a. British comfortable in Philadelphia
b. Americans 20 miles to the west of the British
1. lack of decent food, clothing, shelter
c. challenge keep Continental Army together
1. w/ strong determination, made it
4. Gaining Allies
a. Battle of Saratoga = turning point
1. Europeans = Americans might actually win
b. 1778 French help openly
c. 1779 Spain help
1. Bernardo de Galvez (governor of Louisiana) kept British from towns + forts along
the Gulf of Mexico
a. secured southern frontier of U.S.
d. Marquis de Lafayette
1. French nobleman
2. soldier at Valley Forge
3. dedicated to the ideas of the Declaration of Independence
4. trusted aide to Washington
e. Thaddeus Kosciusko
1. Polish engineer
f. Casimir Pulaski
1. Polish calvary officer
g. Friedrich von Steuben
1. German former army officer
2. more effective Continental army
5. Life on the Home Front
a. women took over mens jobs and businesses
b. questioned place in society
c. Abigail Adams champion of womens interests
d. white Americans questioned slavery
e. blacks fought alongside whites in war
6. War in the West and on the Sea
a. where: northwestern frontier
b. British + N.A. allies raiding American settlements
c. 1778-1779 = George Rogers Clark seized British posts in Illinois + Indiana
1. officer in Virginia militia
2. strengthened the American position in the West
d. when: Sept. 1779
who: John Paul Jones and his ship Bonhomme Richard
British warship Serapis
What: Richard badly damaged
Give up?
Not begun to fight!
Serapis surrendered
John Paul Jones = naval hero to Americans
7. Struggles in the South
a. when: 1778
what: British sea power + Loyalist support = win victories in south
b. when: 1780
what: British = Savannah, Charles Town, but could not control
why: guerrilla warfare, small bands of Americans attacked then disappeared
8. The War is Won
a. 1780 British and American need a victory to win.
b. last battle: 1781, Battle of Yorktown
where: coast of Virginia
what: 1. French navy blocked the British from escaping by sea
2. American and French surrounded+trapped British
10. The Treaty of Paris
a. did not end at Battle of Yorktown
b. 2 more years in some areas
c. peace treaties began in Paris
d. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay represented the U.S.
e. Treaty of Paris Sept. 3, 1783; final settlement
f. new nation from the Atlantic Ocean west to the Mississippi River; north from
Canada to south Spanish Florida
11. Why the Americans Won:
1) home turf
2) British had trouble controlling countryside
3) help from other nations
4) spirit and determination (peoples movement)

12. Model for Others
a. French rebels in 1789
b. 1791 Saint Domingue (French-held island colony)
1. enslaved Africans fought
2. became part of Haiti