1. Fundamental Concepts: Chapter 7: The American Revolution

2. The Outbreak of Revolution
The British entered the war confident of a complete victory:
Their army was 400% larger; well-trained solders, experienced officers, & Hessian mercenaries
Strong manufacturing base
The world’s most dominant navy
Believed the 1776 battles were a “police action” & the show of military force would make the Patriots give up 21

3. In reality, England faced an impossible task:
Their long supply lines across the Atlantic made it difficult for them to re-supply their troops
The American terrain was large (spread out)
To win, the English had to find & defeat the Continental Army
Underestimated the Patriots’ willingness to
fight for independence

5. The American Revolution, 1775-1781
Where was the American Revolution fought?

8. Building a Professional Army
Washington’s task was to defend as much territory as possible:
Relied on guerrilla tactics & avoided all-out-war with Britain
But, colonial militias played a major role in “forcing” neutrals to support the Revolution
As long as England did not defeat the Continental Army, England could not win
But Washington avoided “general actions” (all-out war) against Britain; understood importance of keeping Continental Army intact

9. Slaves & Indians in the War
Black slaves supported whoever seemed likely to deliver freedom:
Northern slaves supported the colonists who offered freedom for any slave who fought
Southern slaves typically supported Britain
Native Americans feared the colonists spreading to their territory & overwhelmingly supported Britain

10. Differing Military Strategies
The Americans
The British
“Divide & Conquer”
Use Loyalists
Encourage slave revolts
Seize (take) property
Break the colonies in half by dividing the North & South
Blockade the ports to prevent trade with American allies
Win a war of attrition (wearing-down the enemy)
England had long supply lines
Colonials did not have to “win”; just had to wear down the British
Guerilla tactics
Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies (France)

11. The Early Years:
The initial battles of the Revolution went badly for Americans:
British General Howe forced Washington to retreat at New York putting the Americans on the run
Gen Howe issued a “general pardon” to all Americans who swore an oath of allegiance to George III; thousands did so
Colonial militias retaliated against those who deserted the patriot cause 22

12. The Early Years:
The British strategy remained to fight a “major & decisive” battle; but Continental Army was difficult to get in one spot
Despite British victories & 1,000’s of colonial “oaths of allegiance”, Washington kept fighting
Won small victories
that renewed American
wartime morale
“Won” at Saratoga in
1777
Captured Philadelphia
Howe captured New York
Washington’s army almost starved at Valley Forge
Took Princeton
Took Trenton 24

14. British Seizure & Burning of New York, 1776
Crossing the Delaware in route to a surprise attack at Trenton & Princeton, 1776
The “Turning Point” of the Revolution: The Battle of Saratoga, 1777
Near Starvation at Valley Forge, PA in 1778

15. The French Alliance
Since 1775, the French secretly aided Americans with supplies
But after the “victory” at Saratoga:
France recognized America
as a new, independent republic
France promised to
pressure England to agree
to American independence
after war’s end
France gave up all of
its claims to territory in
America
The turning point of the war!!
In 1778, England offered to remove all parliamentary legislation & vowed never to impose revenue taxes on the colonists again
And…England now has to worry about a possible (yet remote) invasion of England by France
The Continental Congress refused the offer 25

16. The Final Campaign
By 1781, Washington pushed the Redcoats towards Yorktown (VA) where General Cornwallis was caught between the Continental Army & the French navy
On October 19, 1781 Cornwallis surrendered; the English still controlled NY & Charles Town but the fighting virtually ended 26

18. The Loyalist Dilemma
Loyalists believed in liberty too, but feared that independence would breed anarchy (chaos because of no government) in America
Loyalists were treated poorly:
The English never fully trusted the Loyalists
Patriots seized their property; imprisoned & executed others
More than 100,000 Loyalists left America when the war ended 27

19. The Treaty of Paris, 1783

20. The Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris in 1783 was negotiated with England by Franklin, John Adams, John Jay
The terms included:
Full American independence
All territory east of Mississippi River, between Canada & FL
The removal of the British army from U.S. claims in America
Fishing rights in the Atlantic 28

21. North America before the Treaty of Paris, 1763

22. North America after the Treaty of Paris, 1783