Why the Colonists WonWhy the Colonists Won COLONISTS BRITISH

Pop. 2.5 million

Patriots

Adv—Leadership, motivation, fighting at home, sharp shooters, European aid

Tactics—Guerilla, sharpshooters target generals, Culper Spy Ring, wear down British

Pop. 8 million

Loyalists

Adv—military power, numbers, Indian support, money

Tactics—Divide/ Conquer, capture ports, Frontal attacks

Lexington/Concord Lexington/Concord Gen Gage vs. Cpt. John Parker

60 militia w/ orders not to “fire unless fired upon”

“Shot Heard Round the World”

8 minutemen lay dead

British head to Concord

More than 1000 militia fired on British shadowing their march

Killed 73, wounded 200

Phase IPhase I:: The Northern The Northern CampaignCampaign[1775-1776][1775-1776]

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

The British suffered over 40% casualties.

Bunker Hill/Bunker Hill/Breed’sBreed’s Hill Hill Militia fortified Bunker/Breed’s Hill

Colonists not allowed to fire until they see “the whites of the eyes”

Held British back 2x until they ran out of ammo

1000 British troops killed/wounded

Moral Victory

A war had begun!

Washington’s Washington’s HeadachesHeadaches

Only 1/3 of the colonists were in favor of a war for independence [the other third were Loyalists, and the final third were neutral]

State/colony loyalties

Congress couldn’t tax to raise money for the Continental Army.

Poor training

SIEGE of BOSTONSIEGE of BOSTONMilitia had very little gunpowder, but G.W. spread rumors that they had more

G.W. sent Henry Knox to Fort Ticonderoga to seize artillery

March 4, 1776-British soldiers in Boston saw the new weapons being pointed at them

They abandoned the city

Many fled to Canada with loyalists

Many hoped that would be the end of the war

Phase IIPhase II::

NY & PANY & PA[1776-1778][1776-1778]

Defeat in New York Defeat in New York August 1776—Largest land invasion in American history and biggest attack on NYC until 9/11

British outnumber Patriots 2-1

British chased colonists out of NY, through NJ and finally across the Delaware to Pennsylvania

3000 Patriot POWS held in British prisonships (HMS Jersey, nicknamed hell)

GW’s first defeat

New York City in FlamesNew York City in Flames(1776)(1776)

11:15

Battle of Trenton Battle of Trenton BRI planned to crush rebellion by force (More troops the better)

British troops and German Hessians had stationed themselves in N.J.

G.W. was across the Delaware River and saw a chance to catch BRI off guard

Planned a surprise attack on Christmas 1776

Battle of Trenton Battle of Trenton Patriot victory

Hessians surrender

U.S. takes 868 prisoners without losing a life

Saratoga: Saratoga: “Turning “Turning Point”Point” of the War? of the War?

A modern-day re-enactment

Battle of Saratoga Battle of Saratoga Burgoyne (BRI) vs. Horatio Gates/Benedict Arnold (U.S.)

FIRST MAJOR AMERICAN VICTORY IN THE REV

BRI attempted to split middle colonies from NE (take control of Hudson river)

But, Burgoyne was slow on the roll due to the American wilderness, his heavy load and dealing with guerilla fights attacking generals

BRI surrounded by colonists

Turning point as it led to other European nations declaring war on Britain

21

Valley Forge Valley Forge GW greatest challenge was keeping the Continental Army together

Terrible winter

25:22

Valley Forge Valley Forge Inoculation (small pox)

Arrival of Baron Von Steuben and Marquis de Lafayette to train and discipline soldiers

25:22

Serapis BattleSerapis BattleJohn Paul Jones (Father of the American Navy)

Took on the British ship Serapis

Tied boats together and engaged in hand-to-hand combat

“I have not yet begun to fight”

U.S. victory

Two burials—1792 (alone in France)

Exhumed in 1905 (still recognizable face)

Buried again with full military honors in Annapolis, Maryland

Benedict Arnold Becomes Benedict Arnold Becomes TraitorTraitorBenedict Arnold never felt his nation’s gratitude

and felt a sense of betrayal at lack of promotions

He was injured at the Battle of Saratoga and while he lay in the hospital, Horatio Gates took credit for Saratoga

After he recovered, he was unfairly convicted on and reprimanded for two misdemeanor counts of dereliction of duty

GW granted him control of West Point

Arnold plotted to sell it to the British for 20,000 pounds (3mill today)

Major Andre was intercepted with plans

Culper Spy Ring were tipped off and credited with the capture

Arnold escaped

Andre hanged, Arnold erased from military records

Phase IIIPhase III:: The Southern The Southern Strategy Strategy [1780-1781][1780-1781]

Britain’s “Southern Britain’s “Southern Strategy”Strategy”

Britain thought that there were more Loyalists in the South.

Southern resources were more valuable/worth preserving.

The British win a number of small victories, but cannot pacify the countryside

Face trouble in the Carolinas

Nathaniel Greene send BRI on a exhausting chase until they finally settle in Yorktown, VA

Battle of Yorktown Battle of Yorktown

BRI surrounded by American forces on land and French forces at sea

Gen. Cornwallis surrendered (1781)

Cornwallis’ Surrender at Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown:Yorktown:

Painted by John Trumbull, 1797

““The World Turned Upside The World Turned Upside Down!” Down!”

North North America America After theAfter theTreaty of Treaty of

Paris, 1783Paris, 1783

Treaty of Paris Treaty of Paris Ben Franklin, John Jay and John Adams represented the U.S. in peace talks

Treaty of Paris signed 9/3/1783

GB recognized U.S. as independent nation

Territory expanded to west of the Mississippi

Loyalists would not be persecuted

Effects of the WarEffects of the WarCasualties

6200 killed in combat

10,000 died of disease

8500 died as POWs

Debt=$70million

New Government created

Articles of Confederation (1st Constitution)

A Model for Others A Model for Others Inspired white Americans to question slavery

Haiti (Toussaint L’Ouverture)

Second nation to achieve independence from colonial rule

French Revolution (“Liberty, Equality and Fraternity”)

BritainBritain AmericansAmericans

AdvantagesAdvantages ?? ??

DisadvantagesDisadvantages ?? ??

On the Eve of the On the Eve of the RevolutionRevolution