Unit 3: The Revolutionary War

Ch. 6 Recreating America: Independence & a New

Nation, 1775-1783

British Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages7.5 million Britons to 2.5 million colonistsProfessional armyGeorge III had the money to hire

professional soldiers (30,000 Germans called Hessians)

American Loyalists & Indians on their side

British Advantages & Disadvantages

DisadvantagesFrance wanted revengeMany Britons had no desire to kill their

American cousinsFighting 3,000 miles from homeAmerica’s geographical advance was

enormousNo urban nerve center

American Advantages & Disadvantages

AdvantagesLeaders such as G. Washington & B.

FranklinReceived foreign aid from France

Wanted to regain power in N. AmericaEconomic reasons (trade)Enlightenment ideals

Fighting on familiar terrain

American Advantages & Disadvantages

DisadvantagesColonists were badly organized & still

struggled to unifyMilitiamen were highly unreliable & lacked

military skillsFew basic military suppliesEconomic difficulties – Congress couldn’t

tax to raise money for the armyFood & clothing shortages occurred Only 1/3 of colonists were in favor of war for

independence

Map of Loyalist Strongholds

Turning Point: Battle of Saratoga

Oct. 1777 American forces were able to cut off the British charge on New England – colonial victory!This convinced the

French of America’s military viability

Diplomacy

France entered the war in 1778, followed by the Spanish (1779) & the Dutch (1780)Credit given to Ben Franklin

for negotiating an alliance with the French

The French offered guns/equipment, money, troops, & naval strength

Treaty of Paris 1783

B. Franklin, J. Adams, & J. Jay were the American peace negotiators

Formally recognized the independence of the U.S.

Treaty of Paris 1783

Granted Americans land west to the Mississippi, north to the Great Lakes, & South to Spanish Florida

Americans given a share of the fisheries in Newfoundland

Britain kept Canada but had to give Florida to Spain

States were to return confiscated property to the Loyalists

American govt. would not interfere with collection of prewar debts owed to the British

Treaty of Paris 1783

Social Effects

WomenTook on various responsibilities during the warAbigail Adams pushed for more rights for

women as the new govt. was being formedRepublican Motherhood – women became

responsible for teaching republican values & patriotism in the home

Social Effects

Native AmericansThose who fought sided with the BritishNew colonial land acquisitions following the

war led to increased hostilities; many fled to Canada

Appealed to Congress on recognizing Indian territories but had little support

Social Effects

African AmericansOf those who fought,

most sided with the British; few fought with the Continental Army

Political leaders campaigned against slaveryEliminated in the North Remained deeply

embedded in the South