The American Revolution

1
The American Revolution

• A World Turned Upside Down

2
Britain and Its American Colonies

• The American Colonies Grow
• American colonies grow large and populous during
  the 1600s and 1700s
• Colonies thrive economically through trade with
  Europe
• Britains Navigation Act restricts that trade
  (1651)
• Other trade laws add restrictions and taxes
• Colonists identify less and less as British
  subjects

3

• British-Colonial Tensions Arise
• Britain and American colonies win the French and
  Indian War in 1763
• Britain taxes colonists to help pay the war debts
• Colonists argue that British cannot tax them
  without their consent
• Secret protest societies
• No taxation without representation

4

• Growing Hostility Leads to War
• Colonists protest tea tax with Boston Tea Party
  in 1773
• Colonists meet in Philadelphia to address British
  policies (1774)
• British and Americans exchange fire at Lexington
  and Concord in 1775

5
American Strengths and Weaknesses

• The colonists are fighting for independence
• George Washington can inspire his men to fight
• France will aide the colonies with weapons,
  supplies and their navy

6
Patriots and Loyalists

• Patriots were colonists who supported the break
  from England.
• Loyalists are colonials support the England.
• Colonists are divided as to whether or not they
  should rebel against England!

7
American Strengths and Weaknesses

• The colonists are not a trained army
• Colonists enlist for months instead of years
• Short on money, weapons and supplies to fight a
  war

8
British Strengths and Weaknesses

• The British have an experienced professional
  army
• Outnumber the Continental Army
• The British army is well supplied with equipment
  and weapons

9
British Strengths and Weaknesses

• The British are not fighting for a cause
• British officers are careless and poor leaders
• The British have a to cross the Atlantic Ocean to
  send men and supplies for the war
• The support at homes is rather weak

10
Washingtons Headaches

• Only 1/3 of the colonists were in favor of a war
  for independence the other third were Loyalists,
  and the final third were neutral.
• State/colony loyalties.
• Congress couldnt tax to raise money for the
  Continental Army.
• Poor training, until the arrival of Baron von
  Steuben.

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12
The Strategy of War
13
American Colonies vs Britains

• American Colonies
• Keep the Colonial Army together
• Washington seeks to stretch the British army away
  from supply lines
• Harass the enemy, defeat the British in a major
  battle

• Britain
• Seeks to destroy the Colonial Army
• Regain control of the colonies by region
• Take the fight to the Colonial Army using
  European war tactics
• Use loyalists support against the colonies

14
Military Strategies
American Colonies
Britain

• Attrition the Brits had a long supply line.
• Guerilla tactics fight an insurgent war you
  dont have to win a battle, just wear the British
  down
• Make an alliance with one of Britains enemies.

• Break the colonies in half by getting between the
  No. the So.
• Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods
  and supplies from an ally.
• Divide and Conquer ? use the Loyalists.

15
Lexington and Concord, April 1777

• British attempt to capture Samuel Adams and
  weapons stockpile around Concord
• The colonists are warned by Paul Revere and 40
  other riders that The British are coming
• 4,000 colonial militia men exchange fire with
  British troops along the main road
• This battle is considered the beginning of the
  American Revolution

16
A personal view of the American Revolution

• The men that was wounded in the thigh or leg,
  they dashed out their brains with their muskets
  and run them through with their bayonets, made
  them like sieves. This was barbarity to the
  utmost.
• Sergeant New Jersey Regiment, 1778