The American The American RevolutionRevolution1776-17831776-1783

Chapter 7Chapter 7

Continental ArmyContinental Army*Less than 20,000 *Less than 20,000

*Militia: About 230,000 served – *Militia: About 230,000 served – but never at one time.but never at one time.

Low enlistment due to: Short Low enlistment due to: Short enlistments, desertions, time enlistments, desertions, time out to harvest crops.out to harvest crops.

Allies: French, African-Americans, Allies: French, African-Americans, Natives, and Women.Natives, and Women.

British Army*About 50,000 regulars*About 50,000 regulars

*30,000 hired German soldiers*30,000 hired German soldiers

Allies: Loyalists, African-Allies: Loyalists, African-Americans, NativesAmericans, Natives

* 1/3 of the Americans supported the Revolution

* 1/3 of the colonists remained loyal British subjects

* 1/3 were neutral (didn’t take sides!)

Who sided with who??

American Advantages! 1.1. Outstanding leadershipOutstanding leadership

2.2. Strong motivation: Strong motivation: Freedom!!Freedom!!

3.3. Fighting on home groundFighting on home ground

4.4. Experienced officersExperienced officers

5.5. Superior fire arms (German Superior fire arms (German made)made)

6.6. Sharp-shooters (snipers)Sharp-shooters (snipers)

American Disadvantages1. Inexperienced army/militia

2. Short enlistments (3-12 months)3. Brand new navy (few ships)4. Constant shortages (food, clothing,

medicine, arms, money)5. Near bankrupt treasury (no

gold/silver to place value on paper money)

6. Loyalist warfare (neighbor against neighbor)

British Advantages1. Military power (strongest in

world)2. Superior numbers3. Indian support4. Loyalist cooperation 5. Able to fund war and hire

soldiers6. Uniforms (took pride)

British British DisadvantagesDisadvantages

1.1. Weak motivation (no cause)Weak motivation (no cause)

2.2. Unaggressive officersUnaggressive officers

3.3. 3,000 miles from British base (poor 3,000 miles from British base (poor communications and supply lines)communications and supply lines)

4.4. 1,500 enemy coastline (difficult 1,500 enemy coastline (difficult blockade)blockade)

5.5. Vast landVast land

6.6. Easy targets with red uniformsEasy targets with red uniforms

7.7. European aid to AmericansEuropean aid to Americans

13 United States of 13 United States of AmericasAmericas

Goals: 1. Preserve Continental Army

2. Wear down British troops until they go home

Strategies: Hit and run! Avoid battles. Avoid capture.

Last battle is most important.

Great BritainGoals: Goals: 1. Force the Cont. army 1. Force the Cont. army to surrender.to surrender.

2. Restore British control of the 2. Restore British control of the 13 colonies.13 colonies.

Strategies:Strategies: 1. Capture seaports 1. Capture seaports2. Divide and conquer by 2. Divide and conquer by isolating and seizing: 1) New isolating and seizing: 1) New England 2) Middle States 3) England 2) Middle States 3) SouthSouth

American TacticsAmerican Tactics• Guerrilla Tactics: Surprise Guerrilla Tactics: Surprise

raids, fighting in hiding raids, fighting in hiding (snipers), learned these (snipers), learned these from Natives.from Natives.

• Also conventional 18Also conventional 18thth century war tacticscentury war tactics

British Tactics*Conventional 18th century war tactics: frontal attacks in close ranks.

Battle of Trenton *For several months, *For several months, Washington and his army Washington and his army fought General Howe and fought General Howe and his troops for control of New his troops for control of New York State. York State.

*The British forced *The British forced Washington to retreat.Washington to retreat.

*The soldiers spirits were low.*The soldiers spirits were low.

Battle of TrentonBattle of Trenton*Washington wanted a *Washington wanted a quick victory.quick victory.

*Washington decided to *Washington decided to surprise attack a British surprise attack a British force made up of Hessian force made up of Hessian mercenaries. mercenaries.

Battle of TrentonBattle of Trenton*Washington and his men *Washington and his men crossed the Delaware crossed the Delaware River to New Jersey on River to New Jersey on December 25, 1776. December 25, 1776.

*The Hessians were *The Hessians were surprised by the attack surprised by the attack and not able to put up and not able to put up much resistance.much resistance.

George Washington and his men crossing the Delaware river

Outcome of the Battle of Trenton

*The Americans captured or *The Americans captured or killed more than 900 killed more than 900 Hessians and gained Hessians and gained needed supplies.needed supplies.

*With this victory most of *With this victory most of the army reenlisted and the army reenlisted and attracted new recruits!attracted new recruits!

Battle of SaratogaBattle of SaratogaBritish General Howe did not British General Howe did not

meet his other armies in meet his other armies in Albany, instead he attacked Albany, instead he attacked Pennsylvania Pennsylvania

The Americans were able to The Americans were able to surround the British and force surround the British and force them to surrender!!them to surrender!!

Battle of SaratogaBattle of SaratogaThis is the turning point in the This is the turning point in the

warwarIt caused European nations to It caused European nations to

think that the Americans might think that the Americans might have a chance to win the war. have a chance to win the war.

Because of this several Because of this several European nations agreed to European nations agreed to help Americahelp America

Help from AbroadHelp from AbroadFrance wanted revenge over losing France wanted revenge over losing

the French and Indian War to the the French and Indian War to the British!British!

King Louis XVIKing Louis XVI signed two treaties signed two treaties of alliance with the United Statesof alliance with the United States

France sent aid in the form of :France sent aid in the form of :

1. money1. money

2. supplies2. supplies

3. troops3. troops

Valley ForgeValley Forge*Washington’s winter camp for 1777-*Washington’s winter camp for 1777-

17781778

* Signified great hardships the Americans * Signified great hardships the Americans lived through during the war. lived through during the war.

Short on suppliesShort on supplies

*Very difficult time; not enough food or *Very difficult time; not enough food or warm clothingwarm clothing

*Many soldiers died from malnutrition, *Many soldiers died from malnutrition, exposure to the cold, and diseases.exposure to the cold, and diseases.

*Still did not quit!*Still did not quit!

Battle of YorktownBattle of Yorktown* Cornwallis and his 8,000 British * Cornwallis and his 8,000 British

troops were trapped in Yorktown, troops were trapped in Yorktown, Virginia by Washington’s army and Virginia by Washington’s army and the French naval fleet.the French naval fleet.

*October 19, 1781: American and *October 19, 1781: American and French forces bombarded the fort French forces bombarded the fort with cannon fire.with cannon fire.

*General Cornwallis surrendered.*General Cornwallis surrendered.

*Last major battle of the Amer. *Last major battle of the Amer. RevolutionRevolution

Why the Americans won Why the Americans won the warthe war

1. Better leadership1. Better leadership

2. Foreign Aid2. Foreign Aid

3. Knowledge of the land3. Knowledge of the land

4. Motivation4. Motivation

Treaty of Paris (1783)Treaty of Paris (1783)*Ended the American *Ended the American Revolution (America won)Revolution (America won)

Six conditions:Six conditions:

1. The US was independent1. The US was independent

2. Boundaries would be the 2. Boundaries would be the Mississippi R. on the west, Mississippi R. on the west, Canada on the north, and Canada on the north, and Spanish Florida on the southSpanish Florida on the south

Treaty of Paris (1783)Treaty of Paris (1783)3. US got the right to fish off 3. US got the right to fish off Canada’s Atlantic CoastCanada’s Atlantic Coast

4. Each would repay debts it 4. Each would repay debts it owed the other owed the other

5. The British were to return any 5. The British were to return any enslaved persons it had capturedenslaved persons it had captured

6. Congress would recommend 6. Congress would recommend property taken from loyalists property taken from loyalists would be returned.would be returned.

Costs of the WarCosts of the War*Estimated 25,700 Americans *Estimated 25,700 Americans

died during the wardied during the war

*Estimated 10,000 British *Estimated 10,000 British soldiers were killed soldiers were killed

*Debt from war: about $27 *Debt from war: about $27 millionmillion

*Thousands of loyalists left the *Thousands of loyalists left the United States.United States.

A New Form of A New Form of GovernmentGovernment

*Republicanism – instead *Republicanism – instead of a king, the people of a king, the people would rule; government would rule; government would obtain its authority would obtain its authority from the citizens and be from the citizens and be responsible to themresponsible to them