Chapter 5 - History of the United States
The American Revolution
Not all of the colonists supported the independence movement from Britain. These settlers were loyal to England and were underestimated. The loyalists thought that independence was too risky. Britain was slow to take advantage of the loyalists, since they looked down on the colonists to begin with (Yankees). Eventually in 1780, the loyalists in the Continental Army outnumber those who were for independence about 2 to 1.
People begin migrating away from the states. About 16-17 thousand colonists leave for Canada, mainly Quebec and Nova Scotia. Also, about 50 thousand slaves run away from their masters. SOme slaves were taken by the British, and others volunteered in the Continental Army, as they thought that they would gain their freedom if they served out some time in military service.
During this time of revolution, the Indians tended to side with Britain. They looked ahead and thought that if the Americans won the war, they would threaten the Indians' survival and land. At first, however, the Indians remained neutral in the whole affair, but they soon took sides. In 1776, the Iroquois, Mohawks, and Senecas fought for the Brits, and a small minority fought for the Americans.
A major battle that marked the near ending of the war was the battle at Yorktown. There, the Continental Army marched south and caught Britain on the peninsula. The French, who were allied with the Americans, their navy fought the Brits as well, and surrounded General Cornwallis. Cornwallis surrenders his army of about 8000 men as a result.
After the war, the Americans chose to ignore their alliance with France and to go ahead and negotiate a peace treaty with England. The outcome was the Treaty of Paris of 1783, in which the Americans and Brits came to agreement on these issues:
Not all of the colonists supported the independence movement from Britain. These settlers were loyal to England and were underestimated. The loyalists thought that independence was too risky. Britain was slow to take advantage of the loyalists, since they looked down on the colonists to begin with (Yankees). Eventually in 1780, the loyalists in the Continental Army outnumber those who were for independence about 2 to 1.
People begin migrating away from the states. About 16-17 thousand colonists leave for Canada, mainly Quebec and Nova Scotia. Also, about 50 thousand slaves run away from their masters. SOme slaves were taken by the British, and others volunteered in the Continental Army, as they thought that they would gain their freedom if they served out some time in military service.
During this time of revolution, the Indians tended to side with Britain. They looked ahead and thought that if the Americans won the war, they would threaten the Indians' survival and land. At first, however, the Indians remained neutral in the whole affair, but they soon took sides. In 1776, the Iroquois, Mohawks, and Senecas fought for the Brits, and a small minority fought for the Americans.
A major battle that marked the near ending of the war was the battle at Yorktown. There, the Continental Army marched south and caught Britain on the peninsula. The French, who were allied with the Americans, their navy fought the Brits as well, and surrounded General Cornwallis. Cornwallis surrenders his army of about 8000 men as a result.
After the war, the Americans chose to ignore their alliance with France and to go ahead and negotiate a peace treaty with England. The outcome was the Treaty of Paris of 1783, in which the Americans and Brits came to agreement on these issues:
- the Mississippi River was the westward boundary of the United States
- New England fishers can fish off of Newfoundland
- the states would restore property taken from loyalists
- the Brits can collect debts
- loyalists were not to be harrassed
posted by VictoriaS | 7:56 PM
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