The Declaration of Independence and The War Summary PDF
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This document provides a summary of the Declaration of Independence and the events of the American Revolutionary War, including key figures, battles, and important terms. It covers the causes of the war, the war's progress, and its eventual conclusion.
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The Declaration of Independence and the War - Summary Thomas Paine's"Common Sense"pamphlet changed many people's opinions about the colonies' relationship with England.Pamphlet:a sma...
The Declaration of Independence and the War - Summary Thomas Paine's"Common Sense"pamphlet changed many people's opinions about the colonies' relationship with England.Pamphlet:a smallbooklet or leafletcontaining information or arguments abouta single subject. May 1776: The Virginia Assembly allowed its delegatesto supportindependence. One of the delegates, Richard Henry Leeintroduced a resolution to the Congress of the colonies stating: "These United States are, andofright oughttobe,free and independent states". Before the Congress would vote, it appointed a committee to write a statement giving the reasons for s eparation from Britain.Thomas Jeffersonled thecommittee and wrote the statement himself. On July 4,1776, Congress approved the statement with thetitle"The Declaration of Independence".The focus was not for the colonies to be treated fairly by King George III anymore,but to create a new nation. → The Declaration of Independence is structured as such: 1. Preamble (introduction) "Weholdthesetruthstobeself-e vident,thatallmenarecreatedequal,thattheyareendowedbytheirCreatorwithcertain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. .People havenatural rightsand governmentsmustprotect them.(John Locke 2 ideas) 3. List ofgrievancesagainst the British Government 4.Colonists havethe right to abolishan unjust governmentand be free from Britain to create their own country. The War to Independence Sir William Howe- British Commander - Well trainedtroops George Washington -Colonist Commander - Poorly trained troops )The Battle of Long Island- British victory -NathanHale- spy - hanged - "I only a regret that I have but one life to lose for my country". British troops are pursuing George Washington's retreating Continental Army until Philadelphia.The Colonist army has low morale. Thomas Paine writes "The Crisis" to boost troops morale. December 23,1776 HESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will,inthis crisis,shrink from T the service of their country;but he that stands byit now,deserves the love and thanks of manand woman. George Washington used "The Crisis" to motivate his troops. Battles toward victory. b) Battle of Trenton On Christmas night 1776, Washington led 2,400 men across the Delaware.On the morning of the26 they attacked and surprised the Hessian troopsin Trenton. One thousand mercenaries were made prisoners escape during the night and they attacked British forces near Princeton.British General John Burgoyne'splan: Bringing troops in theHudson River valley →Cutting off New England from the rest of the colonieswas unsuccessful. )Battle of Saratoga- October 17 c ,1777 - Colonists'victory - Colonists surrounded the village and attacked.General Burgoyne surrenders. Proof that the Continental army could win. → France soon starts supporting the Americans. February 1777 – Treaty (Alliance) between France and the colonies. More countries are getting involved. Marquis de Lafayettebrought French troops and offeredto work with Washington.He became an officer in Washington's army.Volunteers from Poland likeCasimir Pulaskitrained cavalry in the Continental Army. A German baron Friedrichvon Steubentrainedtroops the Prussian way. The Continental Armywas getting more effective. )Valley Forge, Pennsylvania - Winter d 1777-1778 11,000 soldiers suffered from cold, inadequate clothing or housing.Many were sick. When newsabout their c ondition spread,help was organized by civilians.Still the Continental Army improved during the winter.By spring, fighting resumed. e)The War at Sea.Britain dominated the seas. Britishships blocked most ships from entering or leaving American harbors.One famous naval battletook place off the coast of England. The American ship"Bonhomme Richard" under the commandofJohn Paul Joneswon against the larger British ship the"Serapis". Some 800 "privateers" (armed civilian ships allowed to attack British ships and keep the cargo) forced the British navy to divert navy war ships to protect their merchant ships. Fighting movestothe South British troops under Lord Cornwallis moved north from the Florida/Georgia line to Georgia and the Carolinas. Americans used guerilla tactics to slow the British troops as British troops were more powerful. )Battle of Cowpen- January 1781 - Colonial f Victory - enedict Arnold - traitor - Formerly a colonial general who wanted to give an American fort to the British, was B now a British commander. )Yorktown,October 1781-Colonial g victory British Geneal Cornwallis moved his troops to Yorktown,a peninsula.Soon,the French navy controlled the sea,preventing British reinforcements and escape.The Colonial army and French troops kept the British troops under siege.After three weeks,Cornwallissurrendered.King Charles III wanted to continue the war.The British Parliament decided thatpeace was preferable to war at that point. April 1783 - Treaty of Paris:End of the RevolutionaryWar The treaty decided that the American land would be from the Atlantic to the Mississippi,from Canade totheborder of Florida. The war was over.
