1. The American Revolution
Unit 2, Lesson 3

2. Essential Idea
Though victory was unlikely, America won the Revolutionary War with key victories at the Battles of Saratoga, Kings Mountain, and Yorktown.

3. British Advantages British Advantages: Much larger population
Stronger government to conduct war
Stronger economy and more money
Strongest and most disciplined military in the world

4. British Disadvantages
Overextended, trying to control too much of the world at once
English support for war was weak

5. British Disadvantages
Fighting offensive war, no “home field” advantage
America was a large area, hard to control

6. Colonial Advantages Colonial Advantages: Superior military leadership
Fighting defensive war, had “home field”
Patriots’ support was high, felt they were fighting for their rights

7. Colonial Advantages
Guerrilla warfare- sometimes fought with hidden ambushes, not lining up like the British
France eventually helped America
Did not have to win, just outlast Britain until they were tired of the war

8. Colonial Disadvantages
Much weaker, less organized military
Weak government and economy that struggled to support military
On paper, Britain should have won

9. Fighting in the North Battle of Long Island:
Washington’s army was defeated and forced to retreat
British General William Howe captured New York City
The Continental Army’s morale was low and Washington needed a way to boost it

10. Washington Crosses the Delaware
On Christmas of 1776, Washington led troops secretly across the Delaware River into New Jersey

11. Boosted Morale
Washington won two victories in the Battles of Trenton and Princeton
Washington Crosses the Delaware
Washington’s leadership kept morale up (for now) and kept soldiers from quitting

12. Britain’s Strategy to Win the War
Initial British strategy:
Cut New England off from the rest of the colonies
Troops under John Burgoyne in British-owned Canada would move south
Troops under Howe in New York City would move north to meet Burgoyne
They would meet in Albany and then invade New England
Why New England?
Most colonists and Patriots that wanted independence lived here and would be isolated
The Northern Strategy
Why it failed:
Howe decided to capture Philadelphia instead
Burgoyne was stopped at the Battle of Saratoga

13. Britain Takes Philadelphia
Howe in Philadelphia:
Howe’s troops moved to Philadelphia to capture the Congress
Howe thought the revolution would fall apart without its government
Washington failed to stop Howe, but the Congress escaped and survived
Howe occupied Philadelphia and took the winter off to enjoy the city

14. Winter Sets In Washington in Valley Forge:
Endured the harsh winter outside Philadelphia in Valley Forge

15. Valley Forge
Washington and other officers drilled and disciplined the soldiers to boost morale
After the winter, Washington’s men were stronger and able to win the Battle of Yorktown
Valley Forge

16. Battle of Saratoga Battle of Saratoga:
This battle was the turning point in the North
American forces stopped Burgoyne, ending Britain’s campaign to cut off New England
This helped convince France to join America against Britain, providing vital help
Battle of Saratoga

17. Fighting in the South Britain’s New Strategy:
Focus on controlling the South, where most loyalists were
Britain wanted to at least keep the South and maybe use it to invade the North

18. Charles Town (Charleston)
Fighting in the Carolinas:
Britain captured Charleston and brutally invaded South Carolina
British General Charles Cornwallis was put in charge of conquering the Carolinas’ countryside
British troops freed many slaves, making the South unstable
Britain Invades the South

19. Battle of Kings Mountain
This battle was the turning point in the South
Patriots (the “overmountain men”) marched out of the Appalachian Mountains to stop the British at Kings Mountain
This stopped the British invasion of North Carolina and boosted southern Patriots

20. The “Fighting Quaker” Nathanael Greene:
American General Nathanael Greene wanted to turn southern support against Britain
Greene baited Cornwallis’ troops to chase his men across the countryside using “hit and run” attacks
Low on supplies, Cornwallis’ troops plundered southern homes

21. Britain Loses the Southern Population
Greene lost every battle, but won because he turned the South against Britain and wore out Cornwallis’ troops
Britain only controlled a few major cities in the South but could not control the vast countryside in between
America’s Southern Strategy: Lose Battles but Win the War

22. Battle of Yorktown
Cornwallis marched to Yorktown, on the coast of Virginia, to wait for resupply from the British navy
Cornwallis assumed Britain’s strong navy still controlled the ocean
Washington rushed his army south to capture the land around Yorktown
The French navy captured the coast at Yorktown, preventing Cornwallis’ resupply and escape

23. Cornwallis Surrenders
Surrounded, Cornwallis and his 8,000 troops surrendered
The Battle of Yorktown caused Britain to declare the war over

25. Treaty of Paris (1783) The War Ends Treaty: Treaty of Paris of 1783
Terms:
Ended the American Revolution
Britain recognized the United States as a new nation
Battle of Yorktown and Independence
The United States owned land all the way west to the Mississippi River