The American Revolution1776 - 17831776 - 1783

British Army - AdvantagesBritish Army - Advantages

• Strongest navyStrongest navy• Wealth (surplus of weapons)Wealth (surplus of weapons)• Outnumbered Patriots 4-1Outnumbered Patriots 4-1• Loyalist support in coloniesLoyalist support in colonies

American Army - AdvantagesAmerican Army - Advantages

• Knowledge of terrainKnowledge of terrain• Psychological advantagePsychological advantage• Quick access to suppliesQuick access to supplies• Foreign alliesForeign allies• Guerrilla WarfareGuerrilla Warfare

Early BattlesEarly Battles

• Early battles involved small forcesEarly battles involved small forces(Lexington & Concord, Bunker Hill)(Lexington & Concord, Bunker Hill)

• No No decisivedecisive victories for Britain victories for Britain

Britain’s Plan for VictoryBritain’s Plan for Victory• Storm AmericaStorm America• Capture New York harborCapture New York harbor• 32,000 troops sent in 32,000 troops sent in

summer 1776summer 1776• Hired German mercenaries, Hired German mercenaries,

called called HessiansHessians

Battle of Long IslandBattle of Long Island

Battle of Long IslandBattle of Long Island

• NY holds strategic importanceNY holds strategic importance• Largest invasion in US history Largest invasion in US history • US unpreparedUS unprepared• Britain captures NY ; burnsBritain captures NY ; burns

American Hopes CrushedAmerican Hopes Crushed

• Low moraleLow morale• Low numbers (Low numbers (desertersdeserters))• Few suppliesFew supplies• Forced to retreat & evacuate NYForced to retreat & evacuate NY

Enter: Thomas Paine!Enter: Thomas Paine!

• ““The CrisisThe Crisis””• ““the harder the conflict, the more glorious the harder the conflict, the more glorious

the victory” the victory”• Washington distributes amongst troopsWashington distributes amongst troops• Cause is NOT lostCause is NOT lost

Trenton & PrincetonTrenton & Princeton

•On Christmas Night 1776, Washington leads On Christmas Night 1776, Washington leads 2,400 troops cross the Delaware River2,400 troops cross the Delaware River

•Capture 900 Hessians in TrentonCapture 900 Hessians in Trenton

•Drive away British forces in PrincetonDrive away British forces in Princeton

•Morale boost; symbolic victoryMorale boost; symbolic victory

•A British soldier in the American’s custody A British soldier in the American’s custody wrote, “They are all liberty mad again.”wrote, “They are all liberty mad again.”

Americans Cross the DelawareAmericans Cross the Delaware

Ask the Class....Ask the Class....

• If you were a British General, what plans would you initiate after the losses of Trenton & Princeton? What areas could you attack that would hurt the Americans the most?

• Split into groups and discuss your plans with your other ‘Generals.’ Formulate a final plan for victory that will be presented to the class.

British Plan for Victory:British Plan for Victory:Version 2.0Version 2.0

• Why does Britain need a new plan??Why does Britain need a new plan??

• Britain’s Plan: Separate New England from the Britain’s Plan: Separate New England from the Middle & Southern Colonies.Middle & Southern Colonies.

• WHY?WHY?

Britain’s Plan – BasicsBritain’s Plan – Basics

• Capture Albany, New YorkCapture Albany, New York• Control Hudson RiverControl Hudson River• This will separate New England from This will separate New England from

the rest of the coloniesthe rest of the colonies

• Divide & ConquerDivide & Conquer method method• Blame New England; minimal Blame New England; minimal

punishment for other coloniespunishment for other colonies• 3-Way Attack3-Way Attack on Albany on Albany

Mapping Britain’s PlanMapping Britain’s Plan

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xxxx

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June-October 1777

British Plans

Battle of SaratogaBattle of Saratoga

1.) Burgoyne stopped short of Albany1.) Burgoyne stopped short of Albany2.) Howe is in PA; unable to 2.) Howe is in PA; unable to mobilizemobilize in time in time3.) St. Leger defeated by 3.) St. Leger defeated by Green Mtn. Boys in VT Green Mtn. Boys in VT

• Burgoyne surrounded; forced to surrenderBurgoyne surrounded; forced to surrender

Importance of SaratogaImportance of Saratoga

• US gains foreign alliesUS gains foreign allies• French, Spanish, DutchFrench, Spanish, Dutch• Send troops, weapons, & loans ($$)Send troops, weapons, & loans ($$)• Countries wanted to diminish Britain’s control of Countries wanted to diminish Britain’s control of

western hemispherewestern hemisphere

• Example: Spanish Govr. of Louisiana captured Example: Spanish Govr. of Louisiana captured British forts on the Mississippi & sent $$ to VABritish forts on the Mississippi & sent $$ to VA

Winter at Valley ForgeWinter at Valley Forge

Winter at Valley ForgeWinter at Valley Forge

• Troops suffered terriblyTroops suffered terribly• Starvation ; frostbiteStarvation ; frostbite• Diseases; Diseases; inocolulationinocolulation• ““Washington’s Washington’s

Greatest Challenge”Greatest Challenge”

Foreign Aid in CampForeign Aid in Camp

• Marquis de LafayetteMarquis de Lafayette• Diplomat from FranceDiplomat from France• Close advisor to WashingtonClose advisor to Washington

• Baron Von SteubenBaron Von Steuben• Military officer from PrussiaMilitary officer from Prussia• Regimental trainingRegimental training• Bayonets, marching, tacticsBayonets, marching, tactics

Inflation

• More bills than More bills than gold/silver backinggold/silver backing

• Leads to Leads to inflationinflation• Businesses stop accepting Businesses stop accepting

paper moneypaper money

Native Americans in the WarNative Americans in the War

Native Americans in the WarNative Americans in the War

• Most Natives fought with BritainMost Natives fought with Britain• Americans continue to move beyond Americans continue to move beyond

Proclamation Line of 1763Proclamation Line of 1763• Natives view Britain as less of a threatNatives view Britain as less of a threat• Begin to raid US settlements in Begin to raid US settlements in

Ohio River ValleyOhio River Valley

The War Moves West & SouthThe War Moves West & South

War in the West

• VA militia sent to KY to stop VA militia sent to KY to stop settlement raidssettlement raids

• Illinois CampaignIllinois Campaign• Small force (200)Small force (200)• Captured forts in Illinois, Captured forts in Illinois,

Indiana, and OhioIndiana, and Ohio• Battle of VincennesBattle of Vincennes• Reason for British surrenderReason for British surrender

of northwest after war??of northwest after war??

British Warships on the Move

• Britain controls Britain controls east coasteast coast

• Enact Enact blockadesblockades• Control NY, RI, Control NY, RI,

VA, & SCVA, & SC

British Warships on the MoveBritish Warships on the Move

• 22ndnd Continental Congress passes law to build Continental Congress passes law to build 13 Warships13 Warships

• All 13 captured/destoryed by BritishAll 13 captured/destoryed by British• US forced to hire US forced to hire privateersprivateers• John Paul JonesJohn Paul Jones• Minor success, but can not stop blockadesMinor success, but can not stop blockades

British Burn Portland!British Burn Portland!

• Navy shells coast; burns coastal townsNavy shells coast; burns coastal towns• Examples: Norfolk, VA ; Falmouth, MEExamples: Norfolk, VA ; Falmouth, ME

Ask the Class...Ask the Class...

• The British have just lost the The British have just lost the Battle of Saratoga, and lost Battle of Saratoga, and lost control of the Ohio River Valley.control of the Ohio River Valley.

• If you were a British General, If you were a British General, where would you concentrate where would you concentrate your efforts? your efforts?

• What areas would you attack? What areas would you attack? Why? Why?

• Who would you Who would you recruitrecruit to help to help you?you?

Britain’s Plan : Britain’s Plan : 33rdrd Time a Charm?? Time a Charm??

• Concentrate efforts in Southern ColoniesConcentrate efforts in Southern Colonies• More LoyalistsMore Loyalists• Better economyBetter economy• More Ports = More Trade = More $$$More Ports = More Trade = More $$$

• IF ALL ELSE FAILS, YOU CAN LOSE NEW ENGLAND IF ALL ELSE FAILS, YOU CAN LOSE NEW ENGLAND AND KEEP THE SOUTHERN COLONIESAND KEEP THE SOUTHERN COLONIES

British Victories in the South

• British capture Savannah, GABritish capture Savannah, GA• Capture Charleston, SC after 2 yearsCapture Charleston, SC after 2 years• WORSTWORST American defeat of the war American defeat of the war

1.) British took thousands of prisoners1.) British took thousands of prisoners2.) Controlled America’s most important sea 2.) Controlled America’s most important sea port (supplies)port (supplies)

Guerilla WarfareGuerilla Warfare

• Guerilla – A Spanish word meaning ‘little war’

Guerilla WarfareGuerilla Warfare

• Thick woods, swamps Thick woods, swamps • Limited visibilityLimited visibility• Unfamiliar terrain for G.B.Unfamiliar terrain for G.B.• ““Friendly Fire”Friendly Fire”• Gen. Francis MarionGen. Francis Marion, ,

aka ‘aka ‘Swamp FoxSwamp Fox’’

America’s Plan in the SouthAmerica’s Plan in the South

• Use Guerilla Use Guerilla Warfare!!Warfare!!

• Forces split in 2:Forces split in 2:

1.) Half sent to 1.) Half sent to Cowpens, SCCowpens, SC2.) Half join 2.) Half join MarionMarion, , engage in guerrilla engage in guerrilla attacksattacks

Battle of CowpensBattle of Cowpens

Battle of CowpensBattle of Cowpens

• Turning Point Turning Point in Warin War• Americans defeat Americans defeat

British in CowpensBritish in Cowpens• Force British to Force British to

retreat to VAretreat to VA• Cornwallis abandons Cornwallis abandons

NC & SCNC & SC

Cornwallis Retreats to VACornwallis Retreats to VA

Battle of YorktownBattle of Yorktown

• US forces travel southUS forces travel south• NY decoy by WashingtonNY decoy by Washington• Cornwallis waits for Cornwallis waits for

reinforcementsreinforcements• French navy leaves RIFrench navy leaves RI• Cornwallis surroundedCornwallis surrounded• US/French US/French siegesiege

CL

L

CW

The Road to YorktownMay 1779-

September 1781

R

W

Britain SurrendersBritain Surrenders

• War is too expensive to continueWar is too expensive to continue• Too difficult to integrate colonies Too difficult to integrate colonies

back into empireback into empire• Loss of supportLoss of support

in Britainin Britain

Treaty of Paris (#2)Treaty of Paris (#2)

Treaty of Paris (#2)Treaty of Paris (#2)

• US recognized as US recognized as independent nationindependent nation

• Land: Land: - 13 colonies- 13 colonies- VT- VT- East of Miss.- East of Miss.

• US must return US must return property to Loyalistsproperty to Loyalists

Problems with TreatyProblems with Treaty

• Most property not returned to LoyalistsMost property not returned to Loyalists• US does not repay debt to British merchantsUS does not repay debt to British merchants• Native treaties ignoredNative treaties ignored• African troops return to slaveryAfrican troops return to slavery• Northern border disputes:Northern border disputes:

- Great Lakes- Great Lakes- Maine- Maine