The War of Independence

1775-1783

You’re taking on the greatest militarypower of the age…what do you do?

Hold on as long as you can!

Colonists v. Great Britain

Colonial Advantages

• Need only to fight a defensive war

• Good, creative leaders

• “The Spirit of ’76” – fighting for a cause

• Alliances with other nations

Colonial Disadvantages• Small, poorly trained

militias• Lack of supplies• No credit, no national

bank• No existing government

Colonists v. Great Britain

British Advantages• An effective and

organized army• Huge financial

resources• Stable and

functioning government

• Naval superiority until 1778

British Disadvantages• Distance = long supply

lines.• Cost of a long war >

benefit from tax revenues.

• Need to defeat rebels, yet do so without alienating the public.

• Must divide forces to defend holdings in other parts of the world.

• Unpopular war at home.

The War of Independence

• The “Big Picture”– War lasts for 8 years…– Americans will lose most of the battles

but will win the war…– The war becomes a “world” war for

Britain when France, Spain, and other European nations support the US…

– US could not have won the war without foreign aid…

Major Military Engagements• 1775

– Lexington and Concord• First shots of the Revolution• Illustrates the danger of a population in revolution.

– Ft. Ticonderoga• Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen• Seize British fort on the Hudson River• No shots fired.

– Bunker Hill• Britain attempts to dislodge colonists on Breed’s Hill• “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”• Britain loses over 1000 men…• A “Pyrrhic victory”

Major Military Engagements• 1775

– Lexington and Concord• First shots of the Revolution• Illustrates the danger of a population in revolution.

– Ft. Ticonderoga• Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen• Seize British fort on the Hudson River• No shots fired. • Artillery from Ticonderoga would be used to liberate Boston in 1776

– Bunker Hill• Britain attempts to dislodge colonists on Breed’s Hill• “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”• Britain loses over 1000 men…• A “Pyrrhic victory”

1776

– Evacuation of Boston• Britain withdraws from

Boston after cannon from Ticonderoga are put into place on Dorchester Heights.

• Henry Knox transported 59 cannon (weighing 1 ton each)

1776June

– Battle of Long Island

• GB sends largest force ever…32,000 men, Hessians, and navy

• Washington routed and barely escapes

– Retreat!• Washington forced

to abandon Manhattan and retreat into NJ

• Keeps most of the Contintental Army intact

Defeat and Retreat

December 1776• Battle of Trenton

– Troop enlistments will run out Dec 31.– Surprise attack against Hessians at Trenton.– GW crosses the Delaware River on Christmas

eve and attacks Christmas morning.– Captures 1200 Hessians.– Militarily insignificant, but a huge morale boost

for the Patriots.– Follows up with a victory against the British in

Princeton, NJ…helps secure NJ for Patriots.

Battle of Trenton

Significance of Trenton

Major Military Engagements

• 1777– Philadelphia falls…occupied by the

British.– Loss of capital does not mean loss of

war

– GW winters at Valley Forge.

• Hunger, disease, depression

• 11,000 men winter; 2,500 die from exposure and disease

• Businessmen refuse to sell supplies for American money – “Continentals”

• Baron von Steuben – Prussian general put in charge of drilling troops. Americans will be better prepared for future battles.

• Battle of Saratoga– October 1777– Britain’s Northern

Strategy• separate New England

by invading from Canada…

• General “Gentleman Johnny” Burgoyne sails down Lake Champlain to the Hudson River…

• General Howe will come north from Philadelphia

• Both forces will meet at Albany, NY

– Burgoyne recaptures Ft. Ticonderoga

– Burgoyne marches to the Hudson

• Huge military – over 8000 men, 2000 women, Iroquois guides, wagons, etc.

• Colonial militia slow Burgoyne down by chopping down trees, destroying bridges, etc.

Significance of Saratoga

– Surrender at Saratoga = turning point: France official recognizes the US and gives aid.

Franklin in France