LECTURE III.

UNARMED REBELLION.

Direct causes of the war.

1. Policy of Townshend. Chancellor of the Exchequer in Pitt's 1766 Ministry. His commercial duties. Their withdrawal, except the tea duty. Impolicy of Townshend's measures. Reception of Townshend's measures in America. They tend to consolidate the colonies in opposition.

2. Lord North, Prime Minister, 1770. Conditions under which he took office. The party of the King's Friends. The king in relation to American questions. Troops despatched to the colonies. Non-importation agreements among the colonies. The Boston massacre.

Lord North's Regulating Act. Its bearings on the American question. The Boston Harbour outrage. Punishment of Boston and Massachusetts by

(1) The Boston Port Bill.

(2) The Massachusetts Government Bill.

The Hutchinson letters.

Hutchinson Governor of Massachusetts. His correspondence with Whateley, Grenville's Secretary. The letters fall into Franklin's hands. Effects of the publication of the letters in Massachusetts. Privy Council inquiry into the Hutchinson question. Insult to Franklin by Wedderburn.

The colonies, threatened as to their institutions by the Acts of Government, call for a Congress of the various States. Attitude of Virginia. Patrick Henry's efforts in Virginia. Congress of Philadelphia, 1774.

Declaration of the Rights of Man.

Position of Washington. Independence not the object sought. Preparations for war.

LECTURE IV.

ARMED REBELLION.

The outbreak of hostilities.

Skirmish at Lexington, April, 1775.
Comparison of the rival forces.

1. Composition of the American Army: (a) Colonial militia; (b) Continental army; (c) Indian allies. Condition of the American troops in relation to experience, discipline, &c. Numerical strength.

2. Composition of the British Army: (a) Regulars; (b) German mercenaries; (c) Indian allies. Co-operation of the British fleet. Strength of forces employed.

Comparison between the Generals employed. Washington: nature and extent of the influence he exercised. British Generals. Their lukewarmness and inefficiency. Hopes of conciliation paralysing to vigorous effort.

The campaign of 1775. Investment of Boston-importance of the New England colonies. The strategical plan of action. Battle of Bunker's Hill. Its effects upon the struggle now definitely engaged. American invasion of Canada. Montgomery and Arnold. Washington fashions an American army. Progress of siege of Boston, 1776. Difficulties of Washington. His insufficient supplies, and unruly troops. He succeeds at Boston. (Evacuation of Boston by General Howe, March, 1776.) Strategic effect of this event.

Spread of the idea of Independence as the logical outcome of the struggle. Proposals for a Declaration of Independence. American reverses in Canada. Washington at New York.

Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. Its terms and political meaning.

Progress of the campaign. Desperate condition of Washington. He evacuates New York. Howe's successes. Washington's retreat. Crosses the Delaware. Partially retrieves the position, December, 1776. Despondency in America.

LECTURE V.

THE COLONIES AND THE FRENCH ALLIANCE.

1. Great Britain and the Foreign Powers, 1775. French losses in 1763. Natural desire on part of France to retaliate. Family compact between France and Spain. Encouragement given to the colonists by the Foreign Powers.

2. America and France. Overtures to France made by the colonies. Accession of Louis XVI. Defeat of Turgot and fall of his ministry, 1776. Aspirations towards liberty in France. Enthusiasm for American cause. Lafayette and volunteers from France. The French require guarantees. Importance of the Declaration of Independence.

3. British combined plan of campaign. Burgoyne fails in his movements. Surrender of Saratoga, October, 1777. The French conclude an alliance with America. Spain joins France against Great Britain. Attack on Britain's commercial and naval supremacy. Claims of Great Britain as to rights of search and principles of blockades. The Northern powers combine against Britain. The Armed Neutrality. Britain's isolated situation. The war on the high seas and in the Mediterranean. Rodney and De Grasse. Siege of Minorca and of Gibraltar. Eliot (Lord Heathfield) at Gibraltar.

4. The campaign in America. Operations in Virginia and the Carolinas. Nathaniel Greene. His character and military qualities. Cornwallis in command against Greene. Washington moves southward to co-operate with Greene. Cornwallis retreats to York Town. His reliance on the assistance of the fleet. Rochambeau in New York Harbour. Washington closes in on Cornwallis. Surrender of York Town, October, 1781. Virtual close of the war.

LECTURE VI.

CAUSES OF COLONIAL SUCCESS.

1. The rival causes contrasted. Moral rights involved. Principles of freedom innate in the American people. 'If they fall, they fall like the strong man grasping the pillars of the Constitution' (Pitt). Faults inherent in Britain's view of colonial policy. Results for American colonies had Britain won.

2. Qualities of the commanders. Washington embodies and glorifies the American cause. His difficulties, and means by which he overcame them. The British commanders. Gates, Howe, Cornwallis as contrasted with Washington and Greene.

3. Difficulties peculiar to Great Britain's position. Misapprehension of the gravity of the struggle-underestimate of the strength of the enemy. Weakness due to continued hopes of conciliation. Difficulties of transport. Distance from base. Advantages of carrying on a campaign out of reach of the fluctuating currents of public opinion. Character and views of George III. His responsibility for the loss of the colonies.

4. England overweighted by the French alliance. Co-operation of British fleet. The Continental war occupies the British fleet, and scatters its resources far and wide. Momentary loss of naval supremacy produces fall of York Town, and so decides the war.

Some remarks on the teachings of history, contained in the history of the American War.

University Extension Lectures

Syllabus

of a

Course of Six Lectures

on

Six Historical Plays of Shakespeare

by

E. L. S. Horsburgh, B.A.

Staff Lecturer in History and Literature for the Oxford and American
Societies for the Extension of University Teaching

The American Society for the Extension of University Teaching

III South Fifteenth Street, Philadelphia, Pa.