the war for independence
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The War for Independence. Originally entitled Yankee Doodle painted by A. M. Willard came to be known as The Spirit of '76 it is a familiar symbol of American patriotism. War for Independence. The shot heard ‘round the world has been fired - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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The War for Independence
• Originally entitled Yankee Doodle
• painted by A. M. Willard• came to be known as The
Spirit of '76• it is a familiar symbol of
American patriotism
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War for Independence
• The shot heard ‘round the world has been fired
• The first battle, The Battle of Bunker Hill, has taken place
• Independence has been declared
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The British Strategy• The British dispatched to America the
largest force Great Britain had ever assembled anywhere– Such a large force would mean a quick
victory• Capture major American cities
– New York City – Capture the capital, Philadelphia
• Isolate New England colonies/divide the colonies
• Blockade the coast• Win a big military victory in one battle
– A clear cut military victory would bring about regaining colonial allegiance
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The Patriot Plan• Only fight when could/had a
good chance to inflict damage• Use Native American attack
method for fighting– Hit and run
• Take out the Native American scouts– Wouldn’t know the land
• Start targeting British officers– Leave the foot soldiers leaderless
• Fight a war of attrition
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The American Army• Young single and footloose
enlisted for long periods of time• Farmers with families enlisted for
short periods of time• Northern states turned to blacks
(free and slaves) – Most slaves in the north won their
freedom• Women followed the camps are
cooks, nurses, launderers– Mary Hays = Molly Pitcher
• At home women run the farms and shops so that the men could fight
Mary “Molly Pitcher” at the battle of Monmouth
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American Strengths
• Washington’s leadership– No all out major battle– lost most of his battles
BUT leadership saved his army to fight anther day
• Fighting on home ground
• Inspiring cause• Help from other nations
– France (navy)
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The British problems• Defeats on the battlefield did not lead to the
abandonment of colonial political aim of Independence• Only 5% of the population lived in the cities captured
by the British• The Americans would not fight a conventional
European war – they were trained in open battlefield• Did not take the Patriots seriously • Hessians
– Relied too heavily on them– No real reason to fight – except $$$– Colonist hated them for their brutal reputation
• Long distance from home/supplies• Unfamiliar with land• Weak military leadership
British General Howe
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Fighting in the New England• British Attack New York
– Largest invasion fleet at that time (D-day)
– Biggest attack on New York (until 9/11) – Washington losses New York
• Surprise Battle of Trenton– Crossing the Delaware River – On Christmas night/day– Surprised garrison of Hessians– Modest victory raised the sprits of
the troops
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Washington Crossing the Delaware
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Fighting in the Middle Colonies
• Battle of Princeton– Washington inflicted heavy
casualties on British troops– “It is a fine day for a hunt”– Becomes a hero by rally his troops
by riding out in front of them– Raised moral and encouraged more
men to enlist• Washington lost Philadelphia
– Continental Congress on the run
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Washington at the Battle of Princeton
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Battle of Saratoga• Turning point of the war• Players
– British General Johnny Burgoyne – British General St. Leger– British General Howe– American General Ethan Allan– American General Arthur Sinclair– American General Horatio Gates– Daniel Morgan and his widow makers– American General Benedict Arnold
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Battle Saratoga
• Burgoyne would march towards Saratoga following the Hudson River
• Meet up with St. Leger and Howe
• Cut the colonies into two parts Gen Johnny Burgoyne
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Burgoyne’s Problem• “Gentlemen” Johnny Burgoyne• Terrain
– dense forest hard to cut through– Patriots cut down trees for road blocks– Advance just one mile a day
• They created enemies where ever they went– Poor treatment of the locals and farmers
• New type of American Solider– Daniel Morgan and his sharp shooters – New technology
• American long rifles– Light weight– Grooves inside the barrel which spins the shot
giving the marksmen greater accuracy – Can hit a target 250 yards away – twice the
range of the British musket
Daniel Morgan
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What Saratoga does for the cause• America had proof they
would beat the British regulars
• British confidence takes a blow
• French recognizes America independence– Openly support the war
effort– Navy forces the British to
fight on land and seaGeneral Burgoyne
surrenders to General Gates
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The British Move South
• After Saratoga, England changes strategy and moves South– Could serve as a vase for attacking
the North– Many Loyalist in the South
• Howe is replaced with Clinton• Early victories convince him
Southern strategy is the way to go!
• Charleston, SC falls to the British• Clinton goes back to New York –
replaced with Cornwallis• Gen Horatio Gates and Nathanael
Greene is in charge of American forces in South
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At Cowpens• Little Battle – 3, 000
men • American Gen Daniel
Morgan vs. British Gen Tarleton (Patriot movie)
• Morgan picked a spot so that the men had to fight
• Victory for Americans
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Guildford Court House• Took place in Greensboro, NC• Pyrrhic victory for Cornwallis• Most of army has been destroyed
Greensboro, NC National Park
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Cornwallis leaves South Carolina• Headed for Virginia• Joined with Benedict Arnold (Am
traitor)• Washington and French General
Rochambeau discuss going after Cornwallis
• Word comes from West Indies, “de Grasse will arrive with French fleet!”
• American troops head for Virginia with 16,000 men
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Yorktown
• Lay siege to Yorktown• Cornwallis is trapped• British navy not coming • Cornwallis sues for peace• “The World Turned Upside Down”• News reaches England
– We have had enough– Parliament votes to cease offensive and begin
peace negotiations
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