The American Revolution 1776 - 1783

The Early Years Main Idea The British and the Americans each had advantages and disadvantages as they faced one another in war.

British Advantages strongest navy experienced, well trained army wealth of world wide empire large population

Colonial Advantages Fighting on own ground Determination Fighting to win their independence George Washington

Hessians (German Mercenaries) British Disadvantages They had to ship soldiers and supplies from a far distance They were unfamiliar with the territory Hessian mercenaries – the fight wasn’t important for them They were the invaders of someone else’s land Hessians (German Mercenaries)

Colonial Disadvantages No regular army or strong navy Little experience Small amount of weapons and ammo Mostly volunteers that fought for a short time Not all Americans supported revolution

3 Sides Neutral Loyalists Patriots Tories Yankees Tories Quakers and Backcountry settlers Will Franklin Robert Kerr John Butler Patrick Henry John Adams Ben Franklin Northern Colonies Carolinas & Georgia

Why not revolt? Many did not think the reasons for revolt were strong enough. Members of the Anglican Church were Loyalists. Most jobs from British trade would be lost. Many were afraid that a new government would not do a good job.

Exports & Imports: 1768-1783

Women Warriors Margaret Corbin Molly Pitcher Deborah Sampson When her husband died in battle she took his place, from Pennsylvania She disguised herself as a boy to join the army, from Massachusetts She carried water to soldiers, and helped man the guns at the Battle of Monmouth, New Jersey

I need a regular army that will serve more than 1 year. Raising An Army I need a regular army that will serve more than 1 year. Americans aren’t willing to transfer power from King George to the Continental Congress During the summer of 1776 Britain sent 32,000 troops to the colonies. General Howe, the British commander, hoped the size of the army would convince the Patriots to give up.

Slave Revolt Lemuel Hayes and Peter Salem Washington asks Congress to enlist free African Americans into the Army. Southern states stop this because of a fear of a Slave Revolt Some Northern states ignore the ruling of the Congress and by the end of the war there are over 5,000 African Americans enlisted in the Army. 2 African Americans who fought at Lexington & Concord. Lemuel Hayes and Peter Salem Salem also fought at Bunker Hill.

Battle ofTrenton Christmas Night, 1776 – Washington took 2,400 troops across the Delaware River and surprised and captured 900 Hessians under the command of Johann Rall. Most of the Germans were asleep after a long night of celebrating Christmas! After the victory at Trenton, Washington’s troops drove the British from Princeton, New Jersey as well.

Battle of Saratoga British General John Burgoyne (“Gentleman Johnny”) goes to Saratoga, New York for supplies and to wait for British forces coming from the south and west. American forces stop the British from the south and the west and General Horatio Gates surrounds Saratoga and halts any movement by Burgoyne. The battle lasts for weeks. The British finally surrender on Oct. 17, 1777, ending their plan to drive a wedge between the colonies.

British General John “Gentleman Johnny” Burgoyne American General Horatio Gates

Saratoga was the turning point of the war because the victory convinced France Spain & join the Americans because they believed the colonists could now defeat the British. The French sent small numbers of: Troops Money Supplies

Valley Forge Winter ’77 to Spring ‘78 No Food Ratty Clothing The location where Washington and his army spent a brutal winter. It became a symbol of the hardships of war that the Americans suffered through. No Food Ratty Clothing Bad Shelter Severe Frostbite

Foreign Aid July 1780 5,000 French soldiers landed at Rhode Island a wealthy young French noble that helped Washington and the Continental Army with money, weapons and training. a German noble that assisted Washington by training the Continental Army into professionally trained soldiers. Marquis de Lafayette Baron von Steuben July 1780 5,000 French soldiers landed at Rhode Island Gotcha! We will save the Americans!

The Battle of Yorktown Nathaneal Greene Washington Rochambeau British General Cornwallis was camped at Yorktown, held there by Marquis de Lafayette and Nathanael Greene’s army. Washington and Rochambeau leave New York and head to Yorktown, Virginia Nathaneal Greene Washington Rochambeau Washington keeps the move to Virginia so secretive, his troops don’t even know where they are going. Cornwallis Marquis de Lafayette

The Siege of Yorktown Washington and his troops marched 200 miles in 15 days to reach Yorktown. The British had no idea the Americans left. By the end of September, 1781 over 14,000 American and French troops surround the 7,500 British and Hessian troops under Cornwallis. Washington and Lafayette controlled forces on land and French Admiral De Grasse was in charge of the French fleet.

Those lobsterbacks aren’t going anywhere! De Grasse’s fleet defeats the English fleet and prevents Cornwallis from escaping by sea. Those lobsterbacks aren’t going anywhere! Sweet Revenge! Admiral De Grasse On October 9th the American and French began a bombardment Constant firing with cannons British supplies ran out and many soldiers were wounded so Cornwallis surrendered on October 19th, 1781. Because the war was getting too expensive for both sides, the Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the Revolutionary War.

The surrender at Yorktown, Virginia “The World Turned Upside Down!” Oct. 19, 1781 “The World Turned Upside Down!”

Independence Benjamin Franklin John Adams John Jay The 2 sides sent delegates to Paris, France to work out a treaty: Benjamin Franklin John Adams John Jay The Treaty of Paris officially ends the war Signed on September 3, 1783 in Paris, France

Terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1783: England recognized the U.S. as an independent nation Won land from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River and from Georgia to Canada British promised to remove all their troops from American land Americans gained permission to fish off the coast of Canada

The (new) United States in 1784