Revolutionary WarRevolutionary War

1775-17831775-1783

Part IPart I

RecapRecap 11stst Continental Congress Continental Congress

Sep-Oct 1774Sep-Oct 1774 Petitioned King and ParliamentPetitioned King and Parliament Organized boycottsOrganized boycotts

22ndnd Continental Congress Continental Congress Met from May 1775-1781Met from May 1775-1781 June, 1775 approve of a Continental June, 1775 approve of a Continental

ArmyArmy July, 1775 Olive Branch PetitionJuly, 1775 Olive Branch Petition July 2, 1776 IndependenceJuly 2, 1776 Independence July 4, 1776 Declaration of July 4, 1776 Declaration of

IndependenceIndependence

Siege of Boston Siege of Boston

After L&C in April, 1775, ~20,000 After L&C in April, 1775, ~20,000 armed Patriots surround Bostonarmed Patriots surround Boston

6,000 British soldiers contained6,000 British soldiers contained May, 1775, Vermont Militia captures May, 1775, Vermont Militia captures

Fort TiconderogaFort Ticonderoga Provide Patriots with Provide Patriots with

cannons/suppliescannons/supplies

Bunker Hill (June, 1775)Bunker Hill (June, 1775)

Americans occupied two hills north Americans occupied two hills north of Boston (Bunker/Breed’s Hills)of Boston (Bunker/Breed’s Hills)

British took the strategic high British took the strategic high ground, but at a huge lossground, but at a huge loss British casualties - 1,100British casualties - 1,100 Patriot casualties - 400Patriot casualties - 400

January, cannons from Ticonderoga January, cannons from Ticonderoga arrive in Bostonarrive in Boston

British abandon Boston in March, British abandon Boston in March, 17761776

Lacked well-supplied, stable army Continental Congress lacked power to force states to provide troops, supplies, and $$$ Militia fighters would often go home

Citizens resented paying taxes to support the war

Hostile territory, fought far from home

American Weaknesses

British Weaknesses

Fighting in their own “backyard” Many officers familiar with tactics from F&I War More African Americans fought for the Patriot cause than the British

Well equipped, disciplined, trained army Powerful Navy to support/transport troops and protect supply lines Support in colonies from Loyalists/Tories, Slaves, and Indians

American StrengthsBritish Strengths

British also hired about 30,000 mercenaries British also hired about 30,000 mercenaries Referred to as “Hessians”Referred to as “Hessians”

American Propaganda promised them American Propaganda promised them landland

Up to 5,000 stayed on in America after Up to 5,000 stayed on in America after the war endedthe war ended

Battle of Long IslandBattle of Long Island

Summer of 1776, British and German troops Summer of 1776, British and German troops under General William Howe land on Long under General William Howe land on Long IslandIsland

~30,000 British/Hessians vs. 10,000 ~30,000 British/Hessians vs. 10,000 AmericansAmericans

G.W. and troops are defeated outright, G.W. and troops are defeated outright, retreat to Manhattan, N.J, and then retreat to Manhattan, N.J, and then PennsylvaniaPennsylvania

Washington receives praise: although he is Washington receives praise: although he is defeated, most of his troops are evacuated defeated, most of his troops are evacuated safelysafely

British drive Washington’s troops British drive Washington’s troops out of N.Y.C. and into Pennsylvaniaout of N.Y.C. and into Pennsylvania Nathan Hale is captured and is said to Nathan Hale is captured and is said to

have declared:have declared:

““I only regret that I have but one life to I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”lose for my country.”

Not all troops feel that way!Not all troops feel that way! By winter of 1776, many troops By winter of 1776, many troops

deserted, collapse likelydeserted, collapse likely

Desperate TimesDesperate Times

Christmas night, 1776, Washington’s Christmas night, 1776, Washington’s troops ferry across ice-choked troops ferry across ice-choked Delaware RiverDelaware River

Battle of Trenton Battle of Trenton Nearly entire Hessian force was capturedNearly entire Hessian force was captured

Along with victory at Princeton the Along with victory at Princeton the next month, victory boosts American next month, victory boosts American morale and convinced many that the morale and convinced many that the Patriots could winPatriots could win

Washington Crossing the Delaware

Grand Union FlagGrand Union Flag

Battle of SaratogaBattle of Saratoga

June, 1777, General John Burgoyne led June, 1777, General John Burgoyne led British troops from Canada into northern British troops from Canada into northern New YorkNew York Attempt to cut off New England from other Attempt to cut off New England from other

coloniescolonies In September, Americans won series of In September, Americans won series of

critical victories around critical victories around SaratogaSaratoga, N.Y., N.Y. By October, Burgoyne surrenderedBy October, Burgoyne surrendered

TURNING POINT OF WARTURNING POINT OF WAR