The American Revolution

1
The American Revolution

• Chapter 6

2
British Advantages

• Strongest navy in the world in 1770s

3

• Experienced, well-trained army

4

• Wealth (to supply and maintain army)

5

• Population advantage

6
American Advantages

• Fighting on their own ground with determination
  to protect it.
• British soldiers were hired to fight (Hessians
  German mercenaries)

7

• George Washingtons skill as a leader, his
  courage, and his determination

8

• French, Spanish, and Dutch rivalry with Great
  Britain eventually played to Patriot advantage.

9
Chart Activity

• Working with a partner or alone, create an
  illustrated chart on a sheet of legal sized copy
  paper, of the advantages and disadvantages of
  both British and American Patriots.
• Use your notes and information on pages 163-164
  of your textbook to help you complete the chart

10
British Disadvantages

• Relied on mercenaries (hired soldiers) to fight
• Had to transport soldiers and supplies from 3000
  miles across Atlantic Ocean

• British tended to underestimate the Patriots

11
Patriot Disadvantages

• Outnumbered
• Didnt have a regular army
• Didnt have a regular navy
• Volunteer soldiers (militia) could only afford to
  fight for short stretches of time

• Shortage of weapons and ammunition
• Some Americans remained neutral (Quakers are 1
  example)
• 1 American in 5 was a Loyalist

12
Nystrom Activity 16

• Revolutionary War

13
Homework

• Read Chapter 6, Section 1.
• Answer questions 1 and 2 on page 169.

14
New York City

• Gen. William Howe (Br)32,000 troops against
  Washingtons 20,000 troops fought Battle of Long
  Island
• British victory overwhelming
• British controlled New York City for rest of the
  war

15
Thomas Paine

• Wrote The Crisis early in 1776.
• Boosted Patriot morale and continued support for
  war.
• See quote on page 167

16
African Americans

• 5,000 Patriots (Lemuel Hayes and Peter Salem)
• Fought for Patriot cause, because they needed the
  money, or to earn their freedom
• Some fought on side of British

17
Washington Crosses the Delaware

• Christmas Night 1776
• Captured 900 Hessians at Trenton, NJ
• Boosted American morale
• Famous painting (see page 129)

18
Green Mountain Boys

• Vermont militia defended Bennington against
  General Burgoyne
• Defeated Burgoyne using guerilla warfare
• Burgoyne retreated to Saratoga, NY

19
Battle of Saratoga

• Burgoyne found himself surrounded by Patriot
  forces
• Surrendered October 17, 1777
• Patriot band played Yankee Doodle
• This battle marked the turning point of the war

20
French Allies

• Due to victory at Saratoga, French openly
  announced support for US
• Franklin had been in France for about a year
  trying to arrange support
• France declared war on Great Britain
• Money, troops, equipment sent to aid US

21
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

• Winter of 1777-1778
• Washingtons army camped 20 miles west of British
  forces in Philadelphia
• See primary sources page 947

22
Money Problems

• Continental Congress couldnt levy taxes directly
  on states
• Printed paper money to pay troops
• Amount of paper exceeded gold backing it up.
• Inflation resulted (dramatic rise in prices)

23
War Moves South and West
24
George Rogers Clark

• Lieutenant Colonel of Virginia militia
• June 1778 sailed down Ohio River to Tennessee
  River, then turned north
• Took British post at Kaskaskia (ILL) and
  Vincennes (IN)
• Strengthened American position in West
• Became a hero for his victories

25
War at Sea

• Privateers (merchant ships carrying weapons and
  authorized by Continental Congress) attacked
  British ships
• American Navy too small to be useful

26
John Paul JonesNaval Hero

• Raided British ports in England
• Captained the Bonhomme Richard acquired for him
  by Ben Franklin
• Naval hero for defeat of British ship Serapis
• When his ship was damaged, British asked him to
  surrender. He said, I have not yet begun to
  fight!

27
War in the South

• Siege of Charleston1780 (movie)
• Fall of Camden1780 (movie)
• Patriots began to use guerilla warfare in South
• Francis MarionSwamp Fox
• Victories at Kings Mountain and Cowpens (movie)

28
Yorktown

• Washington had planned to attack Gen. Clinton in
  New York in fall of 1780
• Waited for French fleet to arrive

29
Washingtons change of plans

• Knew Cornwallis was at Yorktown, VA.
• Received word that the expected French fleet was
  actually sailing to Yorktown instead of New York.
• Decided to change plans and attack Cornwallis

30
Secret March

• Didnt want Clinton to know
• Most American soldiers didnt know where they
  were going
• Anthony Wayne ordered to come from west with more
  Patriot troops
• French fleet arrived in September
• British were soon surrounded at Yorktown

31
Siege of Yorktown

• French fleet prevented Cornwallis from escaping
  by sea
• Siege lasted 8 days. (see p. 183)
• Cornwallis finally surrendered
• Sent a substitute to present his sword (symbol of
  surrender), so Washington also sent a substitute
  to receive it

32

• As Cornwalliss troops surrendered to the
  Americans, the American band played Yankee
  Doodle and the British band answered with The
  World Turned Upside Down
• See handouts with words and background info on
  the two songs.

33
Fighting Continued

• Battles continued to be fought in several places
• British still held New York
• George III finally decided that it was too costly
  to continue, so he appointed ministers to
  negotiate a peace.

34
Treaty of Paris of 1783

• American representatives Benjamin Franklin,
  John Jay, John Adams
• Met British ministers in April in Paris, France
• Took 6 months to negotiate the treaty
• Signed on September 3, 1783

35
The United States of America was recognized as an
independent country and the war was over!