Fighting for Independence

Essential Questions What happened during the Siege of Boston? What was its outcome? What were the strengths and weaknesses of the British and American forces? Why was the Battle of Saratoga considered a turning point in the war? Ch. 4-4

Key Terms Battle of Bunker Hill Casualty Loyalist Mercenary Battle of Trenton Battle of Saratoga

The Siege of Boston After Lexington and Concord, 20,000 armed rebels surrounded Boston. British Gen. Thomas Gage had only 6,000 soldiers. The rebels had Gage surrounded. X X X

The Siege of Boston The British forced the rebels to retreat, but with heavy losses. British: Rebels: Total: 2,400 1,600 Losses: 1,054 400 19 officers 0 officers

The Siege of Boston In May of 1775, an outlaw militia from Vermont captured a British fort on Lake Champlain and stole their cannons. They moved them to Cambridge with oxen and sleds, arriving in January of 1776.

The Siege of Boston In July of 1776, General Washington arrived, and put the cannons in Dorchester, where they could hit the British in Boston.

The Siege of Boston The British fled for Nova Scotia, Canada, taking 1,000 loyalists with them.

Strengths and Weaknesses British Strengths: Well-equipped, trained, disciplined army. The best navy in the world. 50,000 loyalist fighters. Native Americans. 30,000 German mercenaries British Weaknesses: Still broke. War unpopular in Britain. Fighting in hostile territory. Not able to change tactics to suit the landscape.

Strengths and Weaknesses Rebel Strengths: Fighting on their own territory. Officers experienced in fighting here. George Washington. Rebel Weaknesses: Supplies were scarce. Troops were poorly trained. New recruits all the time, veterans return home.

Fighting in the North 1. New York. 2. Trenton and Princeton. 3. Saratoga.

Fighting in the North The British took over New York after losing Boston. Washington marched from Boston to fight them there. Washington's army was defeated and forced to retreat into Pennsylvania.

Fighting in the North In December of 1776, Washington attacked the British Hessian (From Hesse, in Germany) mercenaries in New Jersey. On Christmas, he sneaked across river, surprising the British and defeating them at Trenton. Weeks later, the rebels retook Princeton as well.