Notes on the American Revolution

Miss Springborn

Team 6

Anger Turns to Action…

• What is a revolution?– A violent uprising by the people of a

country that changes its system of government.

– A very large important change

Road to Revolution…1. Lexington and Concord

on April 19th, 1775• British troops march from Boston

to Concord trying to seize gunpowder the patriots were hiding

• Patriot spies in Boston find out• Paul Revere and William Dawes

both members of the Sons of Liberty travel on horseback to warn the Patriots

• Famous saying “The British are coming”

Map of Lexington and Concord

Lexington and Concord continued…

• By the time troops reach Concord, 70 brave minutemen have assembled to stop them

• Fighting erupts and British troops turn back towards Boston

• British run into 4,000 militiamen assembled to push the British back towards Boston

• Fighting becomes known as “The shot heard round the world”

• First fighting of the war

2. Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17th, 1775

• British attack with 2,400 troops to seize strategic spot overlooking Boston

• About 1,600 Americans hold off British until running out of ammunition

A moral victory…

• British win the battle BUT have over a 1,000 men dead or wounded

• Even though the Americans lose, it is still a great moral victory because it gives the militia hope that we could win

Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1776

• Written by Thomas Jefferson• Told the King that we were going to break away • Listed all our complaints about King George and

Parliament• Officially declared us a separate nation from Britain

Both sides prepare for a fight…

• Americans side:Primary Goal:

Independence from Britain

Advantages over Britain…

1. Geography- “home-field advantage”

2. Good Military leaders (like George Washington)

3. Fighting for a moral cause

4. Allies with foreign countries

5. Use of NEW military tactics, gorilla warfare

Disadvantages for Americans…

1. WEAK government and no money

2. Army was very weak and no navy

3. Colonist were divided: Patriots vs. Loyalists

4. Weather: Harsh winters

5. Small Navy, depended on the French

6. Constant shortages of supplies like weapons, food, clothing, medicine

British Side…

• Primary Goal:

Gain control over the colonies

Advantages over the Americans…

• Strong Government with lots of money

• Strong Army and Navy• Much larger population• Had many factories to build

supplies• Inside help from the loyalists• Had use of hired soldiers from

Germany

Disadvantages for the British…

• Had to overcome long distance communication

• Used old-style fighting tactics and had red uniforms

• Very unpopular war, many in Britain were against it

• The British underestimated their enemy, didn’t take them seriously enough

And the fight begins…then ends

• George Washington takes command of the American troops in June of 1775.

• Was Virginian delegate at both Continental Congresses .

• He helps to plan many brilliant victories and keeps the army going.

Some important battles of the war…

1. Battle of Trenton on December 26th, 1776• Important because it was a great victory for

the troops, helped lift the spirits of Washington and the troops

• This is the famous event preceded by Washington crossing the Delaware

2. Battle of Saratoga, October 17th, 1777

• TURNING POINT BATTLE• Important because it showed the

rest of the world the colonists were serious and might just win the war

• Convinced France they should send us troops, negotiated by Ben Franklin

• France Provides us with money, troops, and a navy

3. Winter at Valley Forge, winter of 1777

• Washington’s troops froze at this camp in Pennsylvania

• They chanted “No pay, no clothes, no provisions”

• Many died from disease and malnutrition• Low-point for American troops, over 1/5 of the

soldiers there died

4. Battle of Yorktown on October 19th, 1781

• Important because British were blockaded into their fort and forced to surrender

• Surrounded by Americans on land and the French at sea

• This means AMERICANS WIN THE WAR!!!

5. Treaty of Paris, 1783

• This is the document that ends the revolutionary war

• Gives the Americans INDEPENDENCE

• New Boundaries are created…Mississippi to the WEST, Canada to the NORTH, and Florida to the SOUTH

Also…

• We gain fishing rights off the Canadian Coast• Loyalist are to be repaid for their property• British Soldiers are to leave all American

Territories/Forts