US HISTORYDeclarations and War Study Guide

Directions: Use all class materials to complete the study guide on our unit covering the Revolutionary War

  1. SWBAT to identify the influences of Thomas Jefferson evident in the Declaration of Independence,
“Jefferson’s Ideas”
/ Enlightenment:“The Age of Reason” philosophers and scientists that challenged tradition.
Enlightenment thinkers: _Philosophers who debated the purpose of government and the rights of humans.
Social Contract: theory that governments are meant to protect the rights of people and if they do the people should obey it, if they don’t then they should rebel against it.
The purpose of Government: _protect the rights of people
Grievances: ______
______
______
  1. SWBAT to analyze and interpret the syntax of the Declaration of Independence, including the wordings hypocrisies and phrasesthat still inspire people today.
“Understanding the Declaration”
/ Inalienable: _something that cannot be taken away, such as rights all humans have.
Life:_the right to live and protect your life
Liberty, free will, ability to make your own life choices, freedom from enslavement
and Pursuit…to live as you choose,
“all men created equal”all men, rich or poor should have equal protection under the law
“consent of the governed”permission from the people to rule
Contradictions from Zinn’s “Tyranny” _Declaration of Independence did not include Native Americans, enslaved blacks or women.
  1. SWBAT to identify how the Declaration was a collaborative document, who contributed and edited it, when was it passed during the continental congress, and what were the results of its passing.
“Declaring Independence”
/ Author:Thomas Jefferson
Drafters:BF, TJ, J.A.
Franklin’s imput:edited out the part of abolition of slavery,
Ratified on:_July 4 1776
Signatures symbolized: _approval of the document/ treason to the British
Issued to the public on _July 4 1776
Commemorates:_the American colonies independence from Great Britain
Three Parts:
  1. Statement of Human Rights
  2. Grievances
  3. Statement of Separation
Results: _celebration, then preparation for war with Great Britain.
SWBAT to describe the strength, weaknesses and strategies of the Patriots and
British
Patriots

British

/ Colonials, aka __Patriots, Continentals, Americans, Rebels
Led by, _Washington_
Fighting to _gain independence from Great Britain
Strengths __Inspiring cause, confident leaders, knowledge of land guerilla warfare
Weaknesses __untrained gaggle of citizen soldiers(farmers), poor enlistment, high desertion, weak government, low supplies, nonavy
Strategy _win the war of attrition, keep the army and 13 colonies united, retreat to avoid big losses, get allies
British, aka_Redcoats, lobsterbacks, royal army.
Fighting to preserve their colonial possessions (keep their colonies), suppress a rebellion
Strengths __Naval empire, strong well trained and experienced army, strong and wealthy government (king) support of loyalist populations.
Weaknesses:distance from homeland (imperial war), weak, arrogant leaders/generals,
Strategy;isolate New England and cut off insurrection (rebellious radicals), gain loyalist support, overwhelm and intimidate the colonists, end war quickly to resume commerce (trading)
SWBAT to identify and describe the early battles of the Revolutionary War
(use battles Graphic organizer)
Bunker Hill

Ticonderoga

Long Island

Trenton:
/ Bunker Hill: _Patriots lose high ground surrounding Boston, but it was a moral victory because they proved they could beat the British.
Fort Ticonderoga: __Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen seize artillery, ship it to Boston, and force British evacuation of the city.
Long Island: _British land invasion forces months of retreat, loss of New York and Hudson river access.
Trenton: _Washington’s surprise attack on a garrison of German hessian mercenaries revives his armys spirits after months of losses.
Saratoga: _Americans outnumber British forces, force a surrender of the British, considered a turning point in the war.
SWBAT analyze the pros and cons of Washington’s audacious decision to attack at Trenton
/ Cons (Why his plan will fail)
___Washington’s army’s enlistment is up, all losses throughout the year, army is untrained against professional soldiers, surprise won’t work, cross a frozen river. Bad weather.
Pros (Why it will succeed) _element of surprise (Christmas attack, guerillas pulled away some British forces,
______
Why does Washington decide to go against logic (reasons)
_he must make an audacious move to revive his army’s spirits, get new recruits (enlistments), prove his army can win. He badly needed supplies they had at Trenton
If he didn’t get a win before the end of the year the War was pretty much lost.
Washington feels like he has nothing left to lose.
SWBAT describe the conditions at Valley Forge, its purpose, and outcome.

/ Conditions: _deplorable, no supplies, no shoes, freezing bad weather, disease (small pox), mutiny,unsanitary
Purpose: position the Continental Army between occupied Philadelphia and Continental Congress at Baltimore.
Outcome: __In the spring the Army came together, trained elite soldiers, came out of experience trained and hardened.Trained by European military leaders.
SWBAT describe three reasons why the battle of Saratoga was considered a turning point of the Revolutionary War,
/
  1. British strategy shift
_ended British strategy to isolate New England, split the colonies in half_
  1. Benjamin Franklin’s role:
_diplomat to France, convinced French the Americans could win a big battle, openly make alliance and declare war against their rivals_
  1. _proved to European nations that Americans could indeed win their freedom

SWBAT to identify major battles of the second part of the Revolutionary War in the South / Camden: _major American loss, General Gates deserted, open field battle.
Cowpens: _major moral defeat for British.
York Town: __siege of port town where the British were surrounded by land and sea, last major battle.
SWBAT to identify the results of the treaty of Paris
/
  1. Most Importantly, independence was recognized.13 colonies are now 13 states (1 Nation)
  1. Borders: _Canada in the North, the Mississippi in the west.
  1. Debt: _all war debts would be honored, encourage return of loyalist property

SWBAT identify and describe three major reasons the Americans were able to prevail in the Revolutionary War /
  1. __British generals failure to end the war early, arrogance, and refusal to demoralize their English brethren.
  2. _The Americans fought a war of attrition that wore down the British, their desire to fight against guerilla tactics, and pay for a never ending imperial war.
  3. __The Americans ability to win over allies, The contribution of the French and their navy.