The War for America Independence

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The War for America Independence The American
Revolutionary War pt 3
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"These are the times that try men's souls"
Thomas Paine (the writer of Common Sense) wrote
sixteen pamphlets titled The American Crisis
which summoned up the American Revolution in the
winter of 1778 as the Continental Army froze at
Valley Forge
THESE are the times that try men's souls. The
summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in
this crisis, shrink from the service of their
country but he that stands by it now, deserves
the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny,
like hell, is not easily conquered yet we have
this consolation with us, that the harder the
conflict, the more glorious the triumph.
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The Traitor

• Benedict Arnold had been a great warrior for
  America, but after his early injuries he felt
  that he wasnt respected by Washington and others
  and became bitter. He also believed the war was
  not going well and wanted a way out.
• In Philadelphia while he recovered from his
  injuries he met and married a Loyalist women
  named Peggy Shippen.
• He began secretly talking to the British and he
  agreed to hand over control of West Point on the
  Hudson River in New York to them in exchange for
  a command in the British Army.

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John Andre, a British spy, was captured by
Americans carrying one of Arnolds secret letters.
He was a British soldier but since Andre was not
wearing a uniform. He was hung. Arnold barely
escaped American soldiers who were sent to arrest
him. Arnold would go on to fight in a few
battles AGAINST the Americans. Washington even
tried to have him kidnapped. He moved to England
after the war and eventually moved to Canada. He
never returned to the United States where his
name will forever be linked with TRATIOR.
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• On the battlefield at Saratoga, "In memory of the
  most brilliant soldier of the Continental army,
  who was desperately wounded on this spot, winning
  for his countrymen the decisive battle of the
  American Revolution, and for himself the rank of
  Major General. The victory monument at Saratoga
  has four niches, three of which are occupied by
  statues of Generals Gates, Schuyler, and Morgan.
  The fourth niche is empty

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The War Moves to the South

• The British believed that most colonists in the
  southern colonies were loyalists.
• They believed these colonist would help them hold
  territory. They also promised to free any slave
  who was willing to fight for England.
• Savannah and Charleston quickly fell to British
  forces and the American forces there were forced
  to surrender.

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• Lord Charles Cornwallis was in charge of the
  Southern British Army. He had served under
  General Howe throughout the war.
• He marched his army north to challenge Horatio
  Gates and defeated him in the Battle of Camden.

Cornwallis
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A Guerrilla War

• After yet another disaster in the Battle of
  Camden, Washington and the Americans realized
  that for the time being they couldnt afford to
  get themselves involved in big battles against
  the British, that instead they use a hit and run
  strategy also called fighting a Guerrilla War
• Horatio Gates was replaced by one of Washingtons
  best generals, Nathaniel Green.

Nathaniel Green
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Francis Marion Banastre Tarleton
Marion was a southern Colonial Guerrilla Fighter.
He was known as Swamp Fox and he and his men
were brutal fighters who terrorized British
Soldiers and Loyalist
Tarleton led a British cavalry company known as
Tarletons Raiders. He could never catch Marion
but built a reputation for brutal behavior.
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Prelude to Yorktown

• After victories in the south by the Americans and
  the arrival of a 5,000 man French army under the
  command of Rochambeau, in August 1781 Cornwallis
  and the British went North and establish a base
  at Yorktown in Virginia on the Chesapeake bay.

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Washington Changes Plan

• August 1781- George Washington was in New York
  fighting the British and their commander Henry
  Clinton and getting no where.
• He tricks Clinton into believing he is still in
  New York, but actually sneaks his troops and
  cannons south, towards Yorktown.
• The troops travel with great speed and walk
  approximately 400 miles in 5 weeks.

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Siege of Yorktown
With the arrival of Washington and the French,
Cornwallis is badly outnumbered and must retreat
inside the city. A siege soon develops.
Cornwallis is confident that the British Navy
will be coming soon to save him
I have no doubt, if relief arrives in any
reasonable time, York and Gloucester will be both
in possession of his Majestys troops
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The French Navy Blockades Chesapeake Bay

• The French Navy arrives and manages to blockade
  Chesapeake Bay. They pound the British defenses
  at Yorktown and keep British ships from getting
  near the fight. There will be no escape for
  Cornwallis and his British Army.

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• Battle Map

• Storming the Redoubt

October 14, 1781- George Washington and
Rochambeau storm the two closest redoubts
(earthen mounds of dirt built for protection) and
moves cannons closer to Yorktown.
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Cornwallis surrenders

• October 17, 1781- Cornwallis seeks a cease fire.
  He argues terms with Washington for the next two
  days. Cornwallis realizes that he has lost and
  surrenders 1/3 of all British forces in the
  Colonies to Washington and the Colonial Army.

British soldiers march to Surrender Field and set
down their arms.
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The Surrender

• Cornwallis does not attend the surrender
  ceremony. This is seen as a slap in the face to
  Washington. Cornwallis sent General OHara in
  his place. Washington made General Benjamin
  Lincoln accept the surrender because since OHara
  was the second in charge, it was only appropriate
  that the Colonial Armys second in command
  (Lincoln) accept the surrender.

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Siege of Yorktown
Yorktown is considered the last major battle of
the American Revolution. There was some small
fighting after this but this defeat in Virginia
caused the British government to begin
negotiating for peace. The American Revolution
was won at Yorktown!
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Surrender at Yorktown

• Treaty of Paris officially ends war in 1783
• Treaty of Paris states
• 1) confirms American independence
• 2) set boundaries for new nation
• 3) British promises to remove all troops from
  U.S.
• Americans gain their Independence

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CHARTThe Armies of the America Revolution
British -Well trained and highly discipline
army -Powerful Navy -Were fighting on foreign
ground they didnt know -Most supplies were
shipped in from England, Canada, or the Caribbean
and could take months to arrive -Experienced
European Generals who succeeded at large
set-piece battles but didnt adapt well to the
hit-and-run guerrilla tactics of the Americas

• USA
• -Not well trained/Lack discipline
• -Had more soldiers
• -Were fighting for their freedom on their home
  soil so they knew the land
• -Weak Navy
• -Lacked supplies, but were at home and France
  helped supply them.
• Washington was great at keeping the army
  together. Even if he struggled in huge set-piece
  battles.
• They succeeded at hit-and-run guerrilla war

Army/Navy Supplies Leaders
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siege-of-yorktown/videos