The American Revolution

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The American Revolution

• 1775-1781
• Farmers and Shop Keepers defeat and Empire

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How did they Compare?
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British Supporters were called Loyalists
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The Continental Army was Formed

• Initially many volunteered
• An enlistment lasted 1 year
• Pay was often delayed until the war was over

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Leadership and Desire

• The British had better training and equipment
  but no desire.
• Whether the British won or lost made little
  difference to many British Soldiers
• They had to hire German mercenaries called
  Hessians to assist in the war
• Some compare it to Vietnam for the British

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The Colonists had both!

• Americans rallied behind Washington
• Women supported the war and in some cases even
  fought
• To lose meant complete destruction of a way of
  life

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Most Battles took place in the North
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The American Victory at Saratoga was a turning
point
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Saratoga

• September 1777
• Outmaneuvered by American forces
• The British were cut off from their supplies
• They surrendered to Gen. Gates
• France now openly allied with the United States

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Valley Forge

• Washingtons Winter Headquarters 1777-1778
• Harsh conditions
• Little food, clothing, or shelter
• Some deserted
• Many questioned their ability to defeat the
  British
• Tom Paine publishes The Crisis

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Cornwallis Surrenders October 19, 1781
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What happened?

• Over 16,000 American and British Troops converged
  on Cornwallis at Yorktown, Va.
• The French Navy Blocaded the harbor
• Cornwallis had 8,000 troops
• Bewildered and astonished, Cornwallis surrendered
• The British still controlled New York and few
  realized it was the end of the war

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The American Revolution

• What factors led to an American Victory?
• Why were the British soldiers indifferent?
• What were the terms of the Peace of Paris?
• How long did the war last?
• What would the next task be for the newly
  independent nation?

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The British Concede

• Lord North Resigns
• Lord Rockingham favors granting American
  Independence
• Parliament withdraws its support for the war
• King George was forced to accept defeat
• Farmers and shop keepers had defeated and empire

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The Treaty of Paris

• September 3, 1783
• The U.S. was a free and sovereign nation
• The U.S. gave up its claim to Canada
• The U.S. Boundaries The Mississippi in the west,
  The Great Lakes in the North, Florida in the South

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And Now What..?

• All we need is a plan for government.
• See the U.S. Constitution presentation for more
  details!