Strengths

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Strengths Weaknesses of the American British
Armies

• Plus the Battles of Saratoga and Yorktown as well
  as the Treaty of Paris!

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American (Continental) Army
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British Army
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American Strengths

• Americans were Patriotic!!
• Americans received help from the French
• 90 of gunpowder came from Europe/France!
• The Commander, George Washington inspired
  confidence and courage.

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British Strengths

• A large professional army of 50,000 and 30,000
  mercenaries!!
• They recruited Loyalists, African Americans, and
  Native Americans.
• Well trained in military tactics/had more
  experience.
• They were well supplied with food, uniforms,
  ammunition, and weapons.

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American Weaknesses

• A shortage of troops
• They never had more than 20,000 at a time
• Poorly trained soldiers with little experience.
• Many shortages guns, gunpowder,food, uniforms.
• The government had no power to raise money for
  supplies.

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British Weaknesses

• The distance between American and Britain was
  huge!
• Sending troops and supplies was slow.
• King George could never convince the British that
  this was a war that had to be won.
• Limited popular support.
• Poor leadership that had never set foot on
  American soil before.

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• Who appeared to be the likely WINNER of the war?
• WHY?

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• Given that we know the outcome of the warand
  that we know the differences in strengths and
  weaknesses why did the Americans win? What
  factors were most important?

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• American Revolution/ Revolutionary War/ War for
  American Independence
• 1775-1783

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Turning Point Battle of Saratoga

• The turning point of the Revolutionary War
  occurred at the Battle of Saratoga in New York in
  October 1777
• Until the British surrender at Saratoga, the
  Colonists cause looked hopeless
• France entered the war on the side of the
  Colonists as a result of Saratoga
• The French supplied money, men, weapons and
  warships

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Surrender Yorktown

• The Colonists officially won the war at
  Yorktown, Virginia in October 1781
• The Colonists victory in this battle and in the
  war was due to French involvement
• It would take another 2 years for the peace
  treaty to be negotiated

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Treaty of Paris (1783)

• The Treaty of Paris officially ended the
  Revolutionary War
• Major outcomes of the treaty negotiations
• United States of America was granted official
  recognition
• New borders for USA Atlantic Ocean to
  Mississippi River, Great Lakes to Florida
• All British troops were to leave USA
• Loyalists could return to USA and not be
  prosecuted

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Treaty of Paris (1783)
This depiction of the signing of the treaty
between America and Great Britain by American
Artist Benjamin West (1730-1820) was left
unfinished because he could not get British
Commissioner and member of Parliament David
Hartley to sit for the painting. Hartley had
posed for individual portraits before, and had
actually signed the treaty, but refused to sit
for this painting because he said he was "too
ugly." In all probability he was commanded by his
superiors not to pose, as this loss to the
American Colonies was difficult to imagine and no
artistic reminders were needed.
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The United States of America laid down from the
best authorities, agreeable to the Peace of 1783.
(Published in London, 1783.)