Febuary 1

Arnold’s Betrayal. Benedict Arnold was a great American hero. Before he became a villain, he was an American soldier and general. He gets angry when the continental congress reprimand him for spending to much as governor as Philadelphia. He spent the money on himself. He gets his feelings hurt, he plots revenge by giving both Washington and Westpoint to the British. He sets a trap. His plot leaks and the go between is hanged and Arnold must join the British. He returns to Britain and he dies in a duel.

Surrender of Yorktown The French assistance allows Washington to trap Cornwalace at Yorktown. Washington’s siege begins September of 1781. On October 17 1881, two years to the day after Saratoga, the British surrender. Lord Cornwalace himself is to embarrassed to give up by himself. Peace of Paris Parliament refusal to continue the war comes Feb 1781. John Jain, John Adams and Ben Franklin. We fear that France will barter away our territory so we make a separate peace with Britain. The terms of this treaty were the Americans get recognition, the English admit America is a separate nation, we get land all the way to the mississippi river. The British get the ability to collect debts we won’t stand in their way. And the second thing they get American territory. Nothing is said or done about the Indians.

Articles of Confederation. John Dickinson He wrote the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union. The federal government is to weak. Any major change must be decided unanimously. They pass the Land Ordinance of 1775, it deals with land sales. The Northwest Ordinance of 1777 deals with Statehood. Shays’ rebellion ends the Articles of Confederation.