The Revolutionary War

1
The Revolutionary War
2
American Strengths

• Patriotism - People willingly gave their lives to
  defend their liberty.
• Knowledge of the land.
• Fighting tactics taught by Native Americans.
• Aid from France - During the first two years of
  the war, France secretly supplied the rebels with
  90 of their gunpowder.
• George Washington - Inspired courage and
  confidence.

3
American Weaknesses

• Men - Continental Army never had more than 20,000
  troops.
• Many soldiers only enlisted for six months or a
  year.
• Men were not trained for battle.
• Guns and powered were in short supply.
• Food shortages -
• Uniforms.
• Lack of money.

4
British Strengths

• 50,000 troops (well-trained)
• 30,000 Hessian Mercenaries hired to fight.
• Loyalists
• Food, uniforms, weapons and ammo.
• Navy was strongest in the world.

5
British Weaknesses

• Distance between Britain and America.
• King George was never able to convince the
  British people that defeating the rebels was
  vital to their future.
• Poor leadership in England - Lord George Germain
  was running the war but never stepped foot in
  America.
• Britain was fighting in other areas.
• Overconfidence.

6
Military tactics

• American
• Guerilla tactics! Fight a hit run war!
• Retreat!?! Not necessary to win a battle, just
  wear the British down!
• Make an alliance with one of Englands enemies!
  (France?)

• British
• Divide Conquer break colonies in ½ by
  focusing on the Middle colonies
• Prevent goods from getting to colonies
• Get help from Loyalists

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The Colonies at WarThe War in the North

• After battles in Mass. And New York the hopes of
  the Patriots were dim.
• When Washington and his men retreated from NY and
  crossed the Delaware into Penn. They were in
  desperate shape.
• Washington came up with a daring strategy. He
  planned to launch a surprise attack on the
  British at Trenton

8
The Colonies at WarThe War in the North

• On Dec. 25, 1776, Washington led 2,400 soldiers
  across the icy Delaware river. Under the cover
  of darkness, all men crossed unseen. The next
  morning they attacked the sleeping Hessians and
  defeated them.
• After they learned of the defeat at Trenton,
  General Cornwallis pursued Washington and his
  troops. One week later Washingtons troops
  defeated the British at Princeton.
• These victories gave the army hope and confidence.

9
The Colonies at WarThe War in the North

• The British plan now was to take control of the
  Hudson River valley in NY. If successful, the
  strategy would benefit the British by cutting NE
  off from the rest of the colonies.

10
The Colonies at WarThe War in the North

• Burgoynes plan failed and three weeks later, the
  Americans attacked Burgoyne in the Battle of
  Saratoga.
• In the Battle of Saratoga the British lost
  hundreds of troops.
• Until the victory at Saratoga, neither France nor
  any other country had been willing to openly
  support the colonists

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• The victory at Saratoga made it clear that it was
  possible for the Americans to succeed.
• In February 1778, French King Louis XVI signed
  the Treaty of Alliance assuring the Americans the
  support they needed.
• The French sent money, weapons, troops, and
  warships to the Americans.
• Spain also entered the war against Britain.

12
The War Moves West

• As the war continued in the East, the British
  recruited Native Americans to help them in their
  frontier campaign farther west.
• At first, the Native Americans didnt want to
  take sides, but later most joined the British,
  believing it would help them turn back the white
  settlers moving into their land.

13

• Fighting broke out in the Ohio Valley as British
  and Native American forces began their invasion
  of frontier settlements.
• George Rogers Clark led volunteers on a raid
  against the British in the Ohio Valley. He made
  a surprise attack on the British fort at
  Vincennes. Clarks capture of Vincennes weakened
  the British in the Ohio valley.

14
The War at Sea

• Navy was established in 1775.
• Its very few ships had little effect on the
  outcome of the war.
• The colonist relied mainly on armed private ships
  called privateers.
• In 1779 an American warship, The Bonhomme Richard
  attacked the British ship the Serapis.

15

• John Paul Jones sailed to the coast of Great
  Britain and attacked the British warship .
• The Bonhomme Richard was torn with cannonballs.
  Seeing that the ship was on fire, the British
  commander ordered Jones and his men to surrender.
  Jones replied I have not yet begun to fight!
• He and his men boarded the Serapis and fought
  one-on-one and defeated the British.
• John Paul Jones became known as the father of the
  American Navy.

16
The War moves South

• The British turned their attention to the
  Southern Colonies when France entered the war in
  1778. They believed they had more support in the
  South and that would help them win more battles.
• Until 1778 only a few isolated conflicts had
  occurred between the Patriots and Loyalists in
  the South. But in one battle in 1776, Patriot
  forces crushed a Loyalist uprising at Moores
  Creek Bridge, NC. Although a small battle, the
  impact was great.

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• In the South, for almost three years the British
  marched through Georgia, the Carolinas, and
  Virginia without suffering a major defeat.
• General Washington felt disheartened by the heavy
  losses in the South. At the same time, news of
  another loss added to his concern.
• Benedict Arnold, one of Washingtons most trusted
  generals, had been caught spying for the British.
  Arnold tried to turn the American fort at West
  Point over to the British. Arnold escaped and
  became a General in the British Army.

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• SC Patriots felt angry about the defeat at
  Charleston. Looking for revenge, many of them
  took the situation into their own hands by
  forming bands and raiding British camps using
  hit-and run attacks.
• One of the most famous of the raiders was Francis
  Marion, known as the Swamp Fox. He was known
  for his imaginative tactics and success in battle.

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• Francis Marion and Daniel Morgan fought off the
  British in the South.
• In 1781, Morgan defeated the British in SC at the
  Battle of Cowpens.
• Following the victory at Cowpens, Morgan and
  other troops joined together with hopes of
  crushing Cornwalliss weakened force. The armies
  met in a bloody battle known as the Battle of
  Guilford Courthouse in NC. Although Cornwallis
  drove the Patriots from the battlefield, the
  Americans badly battered his troops.

20
Victory at Yorktown

• Following the hit-and-run attacks in the South,
  Gen. Cornwallis led his 7,500 troops north to
  Yorktown.
• On a peninsula formed by James River and
  Chesapeake Bay.
• Thought this would be a great location. From
  here he could receive supplies from British
  ships.

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• Aug. 29, 1781, the commander of the French fleet
  Admiral Francois de Grasse, anchored 29 warships
  in Chesapeake Bay. Blocked supplies and escape by
  sea.
• At the same time Washingtons army and 7,000
  French troops led by General Jean de Rochambeau
  hurried VA.
• The armies and French navy trapped Cornwallis.
• On October 17, 1781, Cornwallis wrote Washington,
  requesting a cease-fire.
• Two days later the British officially surrendered.

22
The Surrender

• The troops met at the river facing each other.
  Washington waited to accept General Cornwalliss
  sword.
• Cornwallis was not there. Instead, he had named
  Gen. Charles OHara to act in his place.
• Learning this, Washington selected Gen. Benjamin
  Lincoln to represent the Americans.
• As 7,000 British troops turned over their
  weapons, the British band played a tune titled
  The World Turned Upside Down.

23
Treaty of Paris

• John Jay, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams
  traveled to Paris to meet and work out the
  details of the treaty.
• September 3, 1783 the two sides signed the Treaty
  of Paris.
• Treaty stated
• Great Britain acknowledged the independence of
  colonists and removed all troops from American
  soil.
• Set new boundaries for the US - Included land
  West of the App. Mountains to the Miss. River.
• Great Britain returned Florida to Spain.
• Americans had to pay Loyalist for property lost.

24
Spying on the Enemy

• Spying was common during the war.
• When captured, spies were labeled as traitors and
  typically sentenced to death.
• Nathan Hale, 24 years old spied for Washington.
  He was captured and sentenced to death. His
  reported last words reflect his Patriotic Spirit
  
• I only regret that I have but one life to lose
  for my country.

25
African Americans and the War

• Nearly 1,000 enslaved joined the British and
  gained their freedom.
• About 5,000 served as soldiers, minutemen,
  scouts, and other positions for the Continental
  Army.
• Salem Poor fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
  American commanders singled him out for his skill
  and valor.
• Had to serve 1 year to gain freedom.

26
Women and the War

• Ran the family farm or business.
• Followed husbands to war and cooked, sewed,
  carried ammo and served as nurses.
• A few took part in the battles
• Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley - Spent seven years by
  her husbands side in battle. Soldiers called her
  Molly Pitcher because she carried water
  pitchers to the men during battles. - During the
  battle of Monmouth her husband was wounded. She
  took his place at the cannon firing at the
  British.