Chapter 6: War and Revolution, 1775-1783

1775

Expanded Timeline

Second Continental Congress meets

Though the Second Continental Congress was divided between Patriots who wanted
independence and conservatives who preferred reconciliation with Great Britain, it did
organize a Continental Army, name George Washington as commander, and authorize the
invasion of Canada.

Battle of Bunker Hill

The Continental Army took over the waging of the war, which through early summer
1775 had been fought by militiamen from Massachusetts. They had withstood three
assaults from British troops before giving up their position outside Boston at Bunker Hill
in June 1775.

Congress submits Olive Branch petition

Meanwhile, moderates in Congress who favored reconciliation with England pushed
through the Olive Branch petition to King George, in which they pledged their obedience
and aksed him to repeal oppressive Parliamentary legislation. King George rejected the
petition, declared the Americans "traitors," and vowed to crush the rebellion.

Lord Dunmores Proclamation offers freedom to slaves

When Patriots took over the Virginia Assembly, the governor, Lord Dunmore, took refuge
on a ship and organized two Loyalist military forces. One of these was comprised of
slaves to whom he had offered freedom if they would join the Loyalist cause.

American invasion of Canada

Meanwhile Congress, hoping to unleash a popular rebellion in French Canada, authorized
a military invasion of Canada. Though one small American force captured Montreal,
another failed to take Quebec, and the effort failed when the French expressed no
interest in joining the American rebellion.

1776

Patriots and Loyalists skirmish in South

When the Loyalist governors of North Carolina launched a military effort to suppress the
rebellion there, patriot militia rose up and defeated his troops and then established an
independent Congress controlled by patriots.

Thomas Paines Common Sense

Early in 1776 Thomas Paines pamphlet Common Sense gave a boost to the Patriot cause
by persuasively attacking monarchy and advocating the creation of an independent
republic. By weakening Americans loyalty to the crown and presenting a plan for a new
government, Paine dramatically increased support for independence. The rising tide of
support for independence encouraged Patriots in North Carolina and Virginia to call on the
Continental Congress to consider a resolution for independence.
Declaration of Independence (July 4)
In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson, appealing to natural rights of the
governed, blamed the king for abridging the rights of his subjects and declared him a
tyrant. The document justified the creation of an indepedent American republic.

British General William Howe defeats General George Washington in New York
In August, British forces under General William Howe easily outmaneuvered Washingtons
inexperienced forces before New York, allowing the city to be occupied by the British for
the rest of the war. American forces narrowly missed being captured twice and were
forced to retreat north into New York. The British moved from one victory to another
against the inexperienced American army and by years end had pushed Washingtons
troops across New Jersey into Pennsylvania.

Virginia Declaration of Rights

Republican ideas quickly began to influence American social and cultural life. In the
Virginia legislature, Patriots who were advocates of the Enlightenment, pushed through a
resolution declaring religious freedom for all Christians.

1777

Patriot women become important in war economy

American women responded to wartime shortages and inflation by dramatically

increasing their production of "homespun" cloth. Women filled in for those men who were
absent due to war service and ran shops and farms across the colonies. Women generally
experienced an increased sense of involvement in public affairs, prompting some women
to claim more rights in the new republic.

Howe occupies Philadelphia

The British launched a new campaign in 1777 to invade Canada and cut off New England
from the other colonies. General Howe, however, moved south and, after defeating
Washingtons troops yet again at Brandywine Creek, occupied Philadelphia.

General Horatio Gates defeats British general John Burgoyne at Saratoga

Howes occupation of Philadelphia left General John Burgoyne, who was bogged down in
the Hudson Valley, without support. Burgoyne was forced to surrender to Horatio Gates
and thousands of American militiamen at Saratoga, New York.

Continental army suffers at Valley Forge

Severe inflation of paper currency
Congress, reluctant to raise taxes, issued paper currency to finance the war. But the
money quickly depreciated, making it nearly impossible to acquire supplies just as
Washingtons army went into winter camp at Valley Forge, leaving them without
provisions and forcing them to endure incredible hardship.

1778

Franco - American Alliance (February 6)

Lord North seeks negotiated settlement
British begin southern strategy; capture Savannah

The American victory at Saratoga reassured the French that the British could be beaten
and encouraged them to sign a treaty of alliance with the Americans. Lord North, eager
to forestall such an alliance, tried one last time to negotiate a settlement with the
Americans, but it was far too late. As a result, the British, now wary of French designs on
the rich West Indies colonies, spread out their troops and concentrated on trying to
recover the rich southern colonies, where they believed there was considerable Loyalist
sentiment and a good chance for victory.

1780

Sir Henry Clinton seizes Charleston

French army lands in Rhode Island

In response to the successful British capture of Charleston and Camden, American militia
and regular forces intensified their efforts to defend the south. While American forces
increased their harassment of British forces and eventually prevailed at Kings Mountain,
North Carolina, the French landed in Rhode Island, and by posing a threat to British
troops in New York, forced the British to again shift their strategy.

1781

Lord Cornwallis invades Virginia; surrenders at Yorktown

Lord Cornwallis, stymied in North Carolina, headed northeast into Virginia. Meeting little
opposition, his forces and those led by Benedict Arnold ransacked the countryside.
Meanwhile, Washington, taking advantage of French troops and the arrival of the French
fleet from the West Indies, launched a major offensive against Cornwallis. By vigorous
troop movement Washington was able to coordinate his arrival at Yorktown with the
arrival of the French fleet. Surrounded, Cornwallis had no choice but to surrender.

Loyalist immigration

The war polarized popular opinion and increased Patriot harassment of Loyalists, forcing
many to leave the country by 1781.

Partial redemption of Continental currency at 40 to 1

Unable to tax the states, the Congress was compelled to finance the war by issuing bills
of credit or paper money. Many states also issued paper money. The flood of currency,
combined with a loss of faith in the ability of the government to redeem the currency for
gold or silver at value, set off the worst inflation in American history. By 1781 it took
forty dollars of continental currency to acquire a dollar in gold or silver. When merchants
began to refuse to accept the currency, civilian patience and morale eroded, threatening
the social order.

1782

Slave manumission in Virginia (reversed, 1792)

The presence of British troops in the South increased the number of slaves who sought
refuge behind British lines and escaped to freedom. Some masters, seeking the loyalty of
their slaves, bought that loyalty with promises of future freedom. Others sensed the
implications of republican theory and freed their slaves or let slaves work to free
themselves. In 1782 the Virginia legislature passed an act that officially allowed masters
to free their slaves, leading to the manumission of at least 10,000 slaves by 1792. In
1792, rising resistance to the manumission of slave resulted in the state legislature
rescinding the law.

1783

Treaty of Paris (September 3) officially ends war

Maneuvering around French delay tactics and taking advantage of British political interest
in signing a treaty quickly, American diplomats managed to acquire both recognition of
American independence and land rights to all the territory between the Appalachians and
the Mississippi River, thus establishing the basis for a large and powerful nation.

1786

Virginia Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom

Republican theory permeated American life, changing peoples attitudes toward religion.
Many state legislatures passed laws separating church and state and making all churches
equal before the law by providing no government support for any denomination.

1800

Gabriel Prossers conspiracy in Virginia

By the 1790s the tide had turned against emancipation of slaves in the South. When
Virginia officials discovered plans for a slave rebellion led by Gabriel Prosser, they
suppressed the planned uprising and executed Prosser and thirty of his followers, thus
reaffirming the southern commitment to slavery and white supremacy.