Chapter review

(Chapter 4)

Kunwoo Kim

2nd hour

Group number: 7

1. Frist Continental Congress

To many colonists the closing of Boston Harbor was the final insult in a long list of abuses.

In response to the mounting crisis, all the colonies except Georgia sent representatives

to a meeting in October 1774. This meeting, known as the First Continental Congress-

gathering of colonial leaders who were deeply troubled about the relationship between

Great Britain and its colonies in America. They did not seek separation from Great Britain.

It held for weeks, in Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia. Leaders, including Patrick henry

believed that violence wat unavoidable. They compromised, and encouraged colonists to

continue boycotting British goods and told militias to prepare for war. And to make sure

that the Boycott works, First Continental Congress made Continental Association. They

also drafted the Declaration of Rights, a list of 10 resolutions to be presented to King

George III, including colonists’ right to “life, liberty and property. The Frist Continental

Congress did not seek a separation from Britain, it was just asking the king to correct the

problems.
 2. Continental Army (Strengths & Weaknesses)

In the Second Continental Congress, delegates authorized the Massachusetts militia to

become the Continental Army. This force would soon include soldiers from all colonies

and would carry out the fight against Britain. Congress named a Virginian, George

Washington, to command the army. He is chosen for commander, because He did have

military experiences, wealthy, honest, and most important thing was that he is from

Virginial. The Continental army was poorly supplied, and poorly equipped. However, they

are fighting for purpose, and they fight in familiar land, which was there home, and they

had George Washington

3. George Washington

Commander of Continental Army. Although he was a wealthy farmer, he spent most of his

life in the military and in politics. He was the only one that wore military uniform in the

Second Continental Congress. Leading the colonial forces to victory in the Revolutionary

War, he then helped shape the new government of the United States. On April 30, 1789,

he was sworn in as the first president of the United States. He led battle in Dorchester

Heights to victory. General Howe knew that he was surrounded so he sent massage to

Washington that they will retreat if Washington promise not to fire the ships retreating,

and Washington agreed, and made British army to retreat to Canada, and it was an easy
victory without shot. He lost the Battle of Long Island, by General William Howe, in 1776.

At that Battle, General Howe could crash the Washington’s army, but he didn’t, and it was

a big mistake. He also led the victory in Battle of Trenton and Princeton. These two

victories inspired his army. Battle of Yorktown was also led by Washington, which was last

major battle in American Revolution. He did have no quit attitude, and he was honest, and

he was able to keep his army I the field.

4. Common Sense

Common Sense, a 47-page pamphlet that was distributed in Philadelphia in January 1776.

It was published anonymously- that is without the author’s name. The author, Thomas

Paine, argued that citizens, not kings and queens, should make laws. News of the work

spread through the colonies, eventually selling some 500,000 copies. He reached a wide

audience by writing as a common person speaking to common people. Common Sense

changed the way many colonists viewed their king. It made a strong case for economic

freedom and for the right to military self-defense. And made Americans feel more

comfortable about the idea of independence. His word changed American history.

5. Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence formally gave reasons and an explanation as to why

Americans were seeking their independence from Great Britain. It expressed three main

ideas. John Adams made Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Jefferson, influenced by John Locke, argued that all people possess unalienable

rights, including the rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Next, Jefferson

asserted that king George III had violated the colonist’ rights by taxing them without their

consent. Third, Jefferson stated that the colonies had the right to break from Britain. It

contains 27 grievances- proof of their need for independence, 56 men signed the

Declaration of Independence. People who signed Declaration of Independence were

wealthy, well educated. Almost none of them lived happily or peacefully after they signed

the document. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of

Independence. This act broke all ties to the British crown. The United States of America

was born.

6. Loyalists

Colonists who chose to side with the British were known as Loyalists. Often called Tories.

Historian estimate that 20-30% were royalists. Because They treated so poorly, that more

than 50,000 Loyalists fled the colonies during the Revolution. Most went to Canada,

where Britain allowed them more self-rule after the Revolution. They abandoned their

homes and property.

 7. Battle of Saratoga

British General John Burgoyne decided to push through New York State and cut off New

England from the other colonies. He came up with a plan to have three armies to join in

Central New York and divide the colonies. Burgoyne from the north, Howe from the south,

Col. Barry St. Leger from the west. The strategy required perfect timing with General

Howe and Burgoyne. And if not all armies understand what is going on, or do not care

about the plan, there will be disaster. But timing went wrong for the British. St. Leger’s

army retreated to Canada, because he was tricked by Benedict Arnold, and General

Howe left the New York, without telling Burgoyne, and decided to have his own operation

of capturing Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Burgoyne’s army bogged won in thick forests, and

his army was too slow. But the time Burgoyne reached Central New York, the Patriots

surround his army. Near the Saratoga, Patriots attacked the Redcoats. The Battle of

Saratoga in New York was the turning point of the Revolutionary War. It was the Greatest

victory yet for the American forces. This made Benjamin Franklin able to convince the

France to join America and help them win with Treaty of Alliance of 1778. So France

declare war on Great Britain. France needed major victory, and see Americans being

sincere to independence, and that it is possible that America can win the war. General

Washington was not in the Saratoga.

 8. France & Spain

Benjamin Franklin, a skilled and experienced diplomat, had gone to France in 1776 to ask

for support from King Louis XVI. Finally, Battle of Saratoga in 1777 persuaded the French

king that colonists could win the war. In May 1778, the Continental Congress ratified the

treaty of support with France. After the treaty became official, the French increased the

level of supplies and agreed to provide soldiers and ships. The French naval support

would be a key ingredient in defeating the British.

Spain, also a bitter enemy of Britain, joined the war in 1779. Bernardo de Gàlvez, the

governor of Spanish Louisiana, became key ally to the Patriots. Gàlvez seized British

posts all the way to Pensacola, Florida.

Marquis de Lafayette, was a French man, who inspired by the idea of revolution brought

his own ship to America in 1777. He brought a group of well-trained soldiers, and

volunteer to serve the Continental Army, without pay. He became skillful commander and

became major general, that pursue 6000 Redcoats in 2000 Patriots. Marquis de Lafayette

would become one of Washington’s most trusted officers.

Baron von Steuben, Prussian officer, lied to Washington about his role in the Prussian

army. He spent enormous money for revolutionary war, give many information to General

Washington, and he was good troop trainer.

 9. Battle of Yorktown

In early 1781, the war was going badly for the Patriots. They were low on money to pay

soldiers and buy supplied. The British held most of the South, plus Philadelphia and New

York City. The Patriots’ morale took another blow when Benedick Arnold, one of America’s

most gifted officers, turned traitor. He was replaced by General Nathanael Greene.

Francis Marion, and General Greene used Guerrilla Warfare and began to wear down

Cornwallis. Guerrilla warfare was the hit and run fighting style. Cornwallis needed

supplies and reinforcements. Because of that, Cornwallis oved his force of 7,200 men to

Yorktown, Virginia to get help from British navy. It was very fatal mistake. Washington had

been sitting outside of New York for over a year. French General Comte de Rochambeau

convinced Washington to combine their armies and move South quickly to join up with

General Lafayette and trap Cornwallis at Yorktown. At first, they pretend to attack Henry

Clinton, but they move south quickly and cut off the escape routes. The Patriots

surrounded Cornwallis with some 16,000 soldiers. Meanwhile, a French naval fleet seized

control of the Chesapeake Bay, preventing British ships from rescuing Cornwallis’s

stranded army. On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis sent a drummer and a soldier with a

white flag of surrender to Washington’s camp. Patriots took some 8,000 British Prisoners.

The Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the American Revolution. Later, they

exchange Henry Lawrence and Cornwallis with British.

 10. The Treaty of Paris

After Yorktown, only a few small battles took place. Lacking the money to pay for a new

army, Great Britain entered into peace talks with America. Benjamin Franklin had a key

role in the negotiations. Delegates took more than two years to come to a peace

agreement. In the Treaty of Paris of 1783, the most important part was that Great Britain

recognized the independence of the United States. The Treaty also set America’s borders.

Canada to the north, Mississippi river to the west, Florida to the south. Great Britain

agreed to leave all forts in the west. And America agreed to pay Loyalists for their lost

property. In a separate treaty between Britain and Spain returned Florida to the Spain. At

the war’s end, Patriot soldiers returned to their homes and families. The courage of

soldiers and civilians had made America’s victory possible. George Washington: “I… wish

that your latter days be as prosperous as your former ones have been glorious.”

Revolutionary War because of better leadership- George Washington.