Albany Congress 1754
Source: www2.ku.edu/~kunrotc/academics/380/
revolution_in_america.doc
Albany Plan of Union
The Road to War
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•Proposed by Benjamin Franklin
•First formal attempt at uniting the colonies
•Plan rejected by colonial legislatures and the King
•Franklin believes it might have prevented revolution
The Road to War
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Townshend Acts introduced in 1767
– Indirect tax on imports of manufactured goods....and tea.
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1770 Boston Massacre (5 killed while protesting taxation without
representation)
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1773 Boston Tea Party
– Britain responds with the Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts)
! Boston Harbor closed
! Quartering Act
! Martial Law enacted
! Mass. General Assembly curtailed
British defeat French in French and Indian Wars 1754-1763. This
action costs $$$$
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Defeat of Indians removes colonists perceived need for British protection.
Colonists see British troops in action.
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Stamp Act of 1765 (must buy tax stamp to buy paper, legal documents,
newspapers, etc) was enacted to force Colonists to pay for their own
protection. Colonists are outraged.
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Colonists protest
– Formation of Stamp Act Congress
– Nonimportation movement
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Britain repeals Stamp Act, but issues Declaratory Act
The BLOODY MASSACRE Perpetrated in King Street, BOSTON on March 5th 1770
by a party of the 29th REG
Artist: Paul Revere (and Henry Pelham?)
Unhappy BOSTON! see thy Sons deplore, Thy hallowe'd Walks besmear'd with guiltless
Gore: While faithless --- and his savage Bands, With murd'rous Rancour stretch their
bloody Hands; Like fierce Barbarians grinning o'er their Prey, Approve the Carnage, and
enjoy the Day.
If scalding drops from Rage from Anguish Wrung If speechless Sorrows lab' ring for a
Tongue, Or if a weeping World can ought appease The plaintive Ghosts of Victims such
as these; The Patriot's copious Tears for each are shed, A glorious Tribute which
embalms the Dead.
But know, FATE summons to that awful Goal, Where JUSTICE strips the Murd'rer of
his Soul: Should venal C-ts the scandal of the Land, Snatch the relentless Villain from
her Hand, Keen Execrations on this Plate inscrib'd, Shall reach a JUDGE who never can
be brib'd.
The Road to War
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Townshend Acts introduced in 1767
– Indirect tax on imports of manufactured goods....and tea.
!
1770 Boston Massacre (5 killed while protesting taxation without
representation)
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1773 Boston Tea Party
– Britain responds with the Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts)
! Boston Harbor closed
! Quartering Act
! Martial Law enacted
! Mass. General Assembly curtailed
The unhappy Sufferers were Messs. SAM. L GRAY, SAM.L MAVERICK, JAM.S
CALDWELL , CRISPUS ATTUCKS & PAT.K CARR Killed. Six wounded two of them
(CHRIST.R MONK & JOHN CLARK) Mortally
The Road to War
1774 First Continental Congress (vote to protest British actions)
19 Apr 1775 “Shot heard round the world” (Lexington)
17 June 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill
8 July 1775 “Olive Branch Petition” sent to the King
Jan 1776 “Common Sense” published
7 June 1776 Richard Henry Lee proposes that “these United Colonies
are, and of a right ought to be, free and independent States.”
2 July 1776 Delegates at 2nd Cont. Congress vote for independence
4 July 1776 Delegates adopt the Declaration
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Washington’s Headaches
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Only about 1/3 of colonists were in favor of a war for
independence, the other 1/3 were for England, and 1/3
were neutral.
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As Washington battles the Brits, he also battles internal
problems.
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State loyalties
Congress unable to tax to raise money for Federal Army.
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Continental dollar drops to less than 1 cent in value
Army to requisition supplies, farmers cut back production in response
Poor training (until arrival of Von Stueben 1778)
Colonial Strategy
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Washington adopts a strategy of attrition since
the Brits have a long supply line, and not much
will to fight for overseas possessions (or so he
hopes)
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England has enemies in Europe that will prevent the
deployment of too many British forces to the US.
Conflict in the Colonies was unpopular in England
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Riots in the streets over the recruitment of Irish and
Scottish Catholics
British Army
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Made up of least valuable socially and
economically
Hessians = German mercenaries
Little public support
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British Strategy
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“No dogs, lackeys, prostitutes, or soldiers.”
Contributed to Colonial opposition to quartering.
Break colonies in half by getting in between N and S
– Separate passion from provisions.
Blockade ports and prevent flow of goods
Their strategy of “divide and conquer” fell apart as
they ran into trouble with Spain and Holland at home,
and the West Indies to the South. As she kept more
forces at home, she had less to deal with the US.
Bunker Hill June 1775
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Colonials take positions that will threaten
Boston.
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British attack uphill to oust the Colonials.
Colonials dislodged, but Brits suffer over 40%
casualties.
Impacted morale/confidence on both sides.
Colonists adopt “Fabian tactics.”
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Bunker and Breed’s Hills
Saratoga Oct 1777
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Burgoyne moves south from Canada with
6K to split US along Hudson River
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Splits into three columns
Brits moved very slowly
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Slow rate of march/lack of urgency allowed Colonials to muster
additional forces
Colonials use scorched-earth policy
Turning point of the War.
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Southern Campaign Late 1778
Brits lose; France enters war.
Brits now focus on S part of US and leave North alone
Americans have to feed captured troops, draining resources
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British felt there were more loyalists in South than
North.
Southern resources more valuable/worth preserving.
British win number of victories, but unable to pacify the
countryside.
– 1778: Brits take Savannah, Georgia
– 1780: Brits take Charles Town, South Carolina
Colonials back on the offensive
– 1781: Colonials triumph at Cowpens
Yorktown
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Washington leads combined Colonial and French in feint
against NY, then to Yorktown, VA.
– Feint ties down British forces that would have reinforced
VA.
French defeat Brit ships at Battle of Capes (sink 19 ships).
ADM De Grasse effectively cut off supplies to Cornwallis.
British faced with American army to their front and French
Navy to their rear.
Colonial Army lays siege to Yorktown, then bombards it.
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Virginian plantation owners wait to reclaim surviving escaped
slaves
Americans force Brits to surrender on 17 Oct 1781
The World Turned Upside Down
Impact
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If buttercups buzz'd after the bee,
If boats were on land, churches on sea,
If ponies rode men and if grass ate the cows,
And cats should be chased into holes by the mouse,
If the mamas sold their babies
To the gypsies for half a crown;
If summer were spring and the other way round,
Then all the world would be upside down.
Causes of British Defeat
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Tactical vs. Strategic: Won battles, but lost the war.
Geography limited their greatest advantage (Navy).
Poor leadership
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Decision-making from England
Lack of flexibility
Indecisive and slow to act
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French Contributions
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Majority of weapons and military related
supplies came from French.
French threatened British in other areas.
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French Navy threatened seaward approaches.
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French Army made American threat at
Yorktown credible.
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Focused on terrain (cities) instead of the enemy
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Could not impose their will on the Colonies.
Objective?
“The World Turned Upside Down”
Who’s going to rule at home?
How is the new nation to be governed?
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West Indies, Europe
US Navy incapable of performing the same function.