The War for American Independence

1
The War for American Independence

• Chapter 7

2
You Say You Want a Revolution?

• The newly formed United States of America
  declares independence July 4th, 1776
• Just One SLIGHT Problem
• No other country recognizes us as being
  independent ?

3
Divisions in Colonial America

• Not all colonists were supportive of the war
• Loyalists made up 20-30 of the population
• 40-45 were Patriots
• 25-40 were Pacifists and/or Neutral
• Northern colonies were mostly Patriots
• Southern states were Loyalist

4
Reasons for Remaining Loyal

• AKA Tories
• Some held jobs by the crown or parliament
• Some feared disorder without a king
• Some were members of the Anglican Church, headed
  by the king
• Some slaves were promised their freedom if they
  fought for the British

5
Reasons for Wanting American Independence

• AKA Patriots
• No taxation without representation
• Colonies were self-sustaining
• Wanted religious freedom
• Some just wanted more land out west

6
Reasons for Being a Pacifist or Neutral Party

• Many such as the Quakers did not approve of war
  for religious reasons
• Remaining neutral allowed for partnerships with
  both sides, and later with the victor (just like
  Switzerland has done many times!)

7
What About the Native Americans?

• Native American populations were severely divided
• Some tribes joined the British (fears of
  Americans taking more of their land)
• Others joined the Americans (had previous
  positive partnerships)
• Splits caused the largest war in Native American
  history!

8
PatriotArmyProblems

• Complied from state militias
• Men were untrained, unskilled, and unprepared
• Soldiers enlisted for only one year
• Numbers never reached over 17,000 men

9
Off to a Lousy Start

• American armies lost almost all early battles
  they fought
• British were far better organized
• Congress did not fund armies well enough for
  quality equipment, supplies, food or medical
  care.

10
BritishArmyProblems

• Many officers refused to fight against Americans
• Soldiers enlisted for life
• The war was expensive and unpopular in England
• The British had to hire many mercenary soldiers
  from Germany called Hessians

11
George Washingtons Leadership

• George Washington had fought in the French and
  Indian War and was a great military strategist
• However, Americans lost almost every early battle
  in the war
• Moral was very low in the fall/winter of 1776
• Washington knew he needed a victory before the
  end of the year

12
Surprising Them in their Undies!

• Battle of Trenton

13
Battle of TrentonDecember 1776

• On the night of December 25, 1776, George
  Washington crossed the freezing Delaware River to
  attack Hessians.
• The American troops surprised Hessian mercenary
  soldiers in an early morning raid and captured
  nearly 1,000 men. There were no American
  casualties
• The battle was a major victory for the Americans,
  as morale was boosted and soon the army began to
  attract recruits as a result

14
Battle of SaratogaHope for the Colonies!
15
Battle of SaratogaOctober 1777

• October 7, 1777 Saratoga, New York
• Turning point in the war Victory at Saratoga
• American General Horatio Gates faced off against
  British General John Burgoyne
• (Benedict Arnold was the hero, but General Gates
  gets all the credit remember this later on)
• Ended a major British threat in the northern
  colonies

16
Why did the Battle of Saratoga take place?

• The British plan was to cut the colonies in two
  along the New York state line like a snake
  because when you cut off a snakes head it dies!

• This plan did not work because the colonists
  killed British generals and Native American
  guides, and by doing so did not follow
  eighteenth-century laws of war.

17
First American Victories!

• The first two major battles that the colonists
  won occurred at Trenton and Saratoga.

18
Gaining New Allies!

• Upon hearing of the American victory at Saratoga,
  European countries like France and Spain declared
  their recognition of the United States of America
  and fully supported their war for independence.
• Help from France in particular was necessary in
  winning the war!