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Second Continental Congress Philadelphia May 10, 1775, all 13 colonies arrived, purpose: new appeals to king George Washington Congress chose Washington to head army in Boston, political reasons: from Virginia, man of wealth so not a fortune-seeker, character: leadership, strength of character, moral force war of inconsistency April 1775 to July 1776- colonists were split between loyalty to the king and shooting the king's soldiers Ticonderoga and Crown Point May 1775- Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold captured British garrisons and secured priceless store of gunpowder and artillery Bunker Hill June 1775- colonists seized Bunker hill where they threatened British army in Boston. British victory on account of the depletion of American supplies. yet gave them confidence- It pushed Americans towards a final decision for war. Olive Branch Petition last ditch effort at peace that proclaimed American loyalty to the crown, begging king to prevent further hostilities- failed Hessians German troops that King George III hired when he proclaimed the colonies to be in rebellion on August 1775, angered colonists General Richard Montgomery colonists invaded Canada in 1775 and Montgomery captured Montreal General Benedict Arnold Montgomery was joined at Quebec by Arnold, assault on Quebec was beaten off, Montgomery was killed, and Arnold injured, eventually turned traitor- but was caught Virginia town of Norfolk British set fire to this town in 1776, then in March were forced to leave Boston Moore's Creek Bridge in North Carolina victory for the colonists! :) 1776 Charleston harbor colonists defeated invading British fleet in June 1776 Thomas Paine 1776 wrote Common Sense, convinced American colonies that their true cause was independence not reconciliation with Britain, also supported the idea of a "republic" republic power from the people, individuals in republic must sacrifice personal interest to public good Richard Henry Lee June 7, 1776, "declared independence" , notion adopted on July 2, 1776 Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson wrote this on July 4, 1776, talked about the natural rights of humankind (king denied these rights), French Declaration of the Rights of Man were made 13 years later based on this Loyalists colonials loyal to the king (Tories)- 16% of population, people of education + wealth, older generation, Anglican clergy, (Loyalists were roughly handled, imprisoned, and a few hung, many estates were confiscated and sold) Patriots American rebels (Whigs) Battle of Long Island Washington and an army escaped to Manhattan Island then to Delaware River, British general Howe did not crush American forces speedily, battle continued at Trenton (see Trenton) Trenton December 26, 1776- Washington captured 1000 Hessians after stealthily crossing back on the Delaware The Scheme for Capturing the Hudson River Valley British General John Burgoyne would push down the Lake Champlain route from Canada, General Howe's troops in New York could meet Burgoyne near Albany, Colonel Barry St. Legor could come in from the west by Lake Ontario and Mohawk Valley Lake Champlain in 1776 General Benedict Arnold fought here and lost, but he won time attack on Philadelphia British General Howe attacked Philadelphia, Washington sent troops in 1777 to Philadelphia but was defeated at Brandywine Creek and Germantown Valley Forge Washington retired to Valley Forge after the loss in Philadelphia Saratoga Burgoyne who was struggling through the north of Albany got trapped, forced to surrender in October 17, 1777 to American Horatio Gates- secured French aid and revived colonial cause Model Treaty guide American commissioners (no political connection, no military connection, only commercial connection) Armed Neutrality 1780 Catherine the Great of Russia made this where all the remaining European neutrals maintained an attitude of passive hostility towards Britain Carolina campaign of 1781 General Nathaniel Green- strategy of delay- succeeded in clearing Georgia and South Carolina from the British Treaty of Fort Stanwix 1784, Indians (Senecas, Mohawks, Cayuhas, and Onondagas) forced to cede land because they were allies of George III George Rogers Clark 1778-1779 captured British forts Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Vincennes in the Illinois country privateers American privately owned armed ships who were authorized by Congress to prey on enemy shipping- captured 600 British prizes Yorktown and Cornwallis Cornwallis fell back to Yorktown to wait for seaborne supplies, Admiral de Grasse joined Washington to attack Yorktown (Washington by land, de Grasse by sea), Cornwallis surrendered 7000 men on 12/19/1781 Treaty of Paris of 1783 -British recognized independece of US -granted generous boundaries -Yankees retain a share in the fisheries of Newfoundland -Loyalists not further persecuted - debts owed to the British creditors must be paid