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Per Dartmouth's orders, the governor of Massachusetts, Thomas Gage, sent his troops to confiscate Patriot artillery in Massachusetts. Militiamen met the British forces first at Lexington (not so successful) then at Concord (blocked the British from passage over the bridge).
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George Washington appointed general of the Patriot army. Jon Dickinson offers the Olive Branch petition to King George to attempt compromise one last time (fails). Independence is decided as the best course of action. Declaration of independence comes out of this as well.
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Three thousand British troops attcked American forts in three assaults (each assault, the Patriots mowed down the British, until they ran out of ammo) with 1,000 casualties (British). The British are beginning to realize that the Patriots might have enough gumption to require effort on their side. Continental Congress convenes as these battles occur.
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Lord Dunmore was kicked out of Virginia and in reaction created two forces for the Loyalists' cause: The Queen's Own Loyal Virginians and Ethiopian Regment. He offered freedom to slaves and indentured servants of Patriots who abandoned their masters to join his forces. Fear of slave rebellion caused the Patriot farmers to call for independence
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Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense as a rousing call for independence and republican government. It rallied the public to the Patriots' cause.
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Richard Henry Lee presented the idea of independence to the COntintental Congress in the form of the Virginia Resolution. Loyalists left the Congress, so the Patriots were left to their own devices to declare independence.
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Thomas Jefferson wrote the Delcaration of Independence. In the document, there are three parts: first, their general beliefs and American philosphy, second, specific grievances about the king, thrid, the resolution (most important). THese men were willing to give EVERYTHING to American independence.
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General William Howe was ordered by Lord North to capture NYC in order to block Patriot movement between the Middle and NE colonies (food and brains, respectively). Washington is on defensive and retreats across the Delaware River.
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Washington decides to cross the Delaware and attack the Hessians in Trenton, NJ which proves to be a successful decision. Patriot victory.
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General Howe captures Philedelphia which is a pyschological blow to the rebellion, but the Patriot leaders escape and continue to fight.
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Burgoyne "Gentleman Johnny" leisurely headed south and Horatio Gates as well as Benedict Arnold from the Patriots side defeated Burgoyne at Saratoga (nobody came to help). This was a turning point in the war.
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Very nasty winter - starvation, disease, death. Baron von Stueben shows up (Prussian) and trains to Continental Army. Trials of winter pay off later.
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French agree to support the Patriots with military supplies. Stipulation - once Amer. independence won, the French get the West Indies.
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Once the French showed up, Lord North repealed all the acts and promised no taxation if the colonies stopped fighting. This was dismissed because it was too little too late (he didn't get the idea of representation...). He then appointed Sir Henry Clinton over the British and brought in Lord Charles Cornwallis to head the new Southern strategy.
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Clinton forced Savannah to surrender and then proceeded to occupy the port of Charleston. This was a significant blow to the Patriots - Charleston was a major port. Unfortunately, Kafayette reminded Louis XVI of his agreement to the colonists and the southern strategy began to decline.
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As the French sent 6,000 troops to RI, Nathaniel Greene used local militia to beat the British at Kings' Mtn. Daniel Morgan won another bloody battle at Cowpens, SC in 1781. These both contributed to the failing Southern Strategy of the British.
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Greene fought Cornwallis at the courthouse which drove Cornwallis out of South Carolina and into Virginia, towards Yorktown and his ruin.
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Washington created a rumor there would be an invasion into NYC by the Continental army and the French troops BUT he really marched his troops down to meet Nathaniel Greene's and the French navy/army in Yorktown. For fifty days, canons bombard the fort and eventually Cornwallis gives in. The war is over, but a treaty must still be signed.
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Formally ratified in 1781; on paper, very powerful - able to tax, delcare war, make treaties, deal with interstate disputes, borrow moeny BUT in reality it really couldn't enforce treaties or tax. Also, it lacked a head executive and judiciary.
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This was only between Britain and America. Britain acknowledged American independence, relinquished land claims south of Great Lakes and east of Mississippi; Loyalists gained citizenship , legal claims for prewar debts, previously owened land. America gained fishing rights off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and freedom to navigate the Mississippi forever. The British were prohibited from taking property (uugh, like slaves and land) from Americans.
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Treaty between the British and the Spanish/French; the French gain Tobago and the Spanish gain Florida. Not much, but a small consolation prize.
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Crowd actions against taxes imposed by the government turned into open rebellion by Daniel Shays and other disgruntled farmers. The Riot Act was passed to calm them down and Gov. Bowdoin dispelled the rebellion. This uprising showed the people's resentment of an imposing government - they needed a Constitution!
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Fifty five delegates came to Philedelphia to revise the Articles of Condeferation, but instead they decided to build a new set of guidelines. There were two plans - the Virginia and NJ Plans. The delegates combined the two plans into one Constitution (also decided on 3/5 compromise).
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Prohibited slavery in the new states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan. Created plan for government (if the states grew large enough). Overlapped Indian territory.
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Before the Constitution could be adopted, 9/13 states had to accept it. There was a huge debate between federalists (james madison, john jay, alexander hamilton wrote Federalist essays )and antifederalists, but in the end the Constitution was adopted on the condition that there would be a bill of rights to accompany it. Afterward, people settled down and resigned themselves to the fact they were one country together.
