TheThe AmericanAmerican RevolutionRevolution(1775-1783)(1775-1783)

J.A.SACCOJ.A.SACCO

BritainBritain AmericansAmericans

AdvantagesAdvantages ?? ??

DisadvantagesDisadvantages ?? ??

On the Eve of the On the Eve of the Revolution ?Revolution ?

LoyalistLoyalist

StrongholdStrongholdss

Washington’s HeadachesWashington’s 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 couldn’t tax to raise money for the Continental Army.

Poor training [until the arrival of Baron von Steuben.

Exports & Imports: 1768-Exports & Imports: 1768-17831783

Military StrategiesMilitary Strategies

Attrition [the Brits had a long supply line].

Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down]

Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies.

The American

s

The British

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.

Opening Events Apr. 19,1775Opening Events Apr. 19,1775

Retreat from ConcordRetreat from Concord

The Northern CampaignThe Northern Campaign[1775-1776][1775-1776]

Americans capture Fort Ticonderoga ( May 10, 1775)and Crown Point (May 12, 1775) but fail to take Quebec (Dec.31, 1775)- Cannons captured at Ticonderoga later used in driving British at of Boston!!

Bunker Hill (June, 1775)Bunker Hill (June, 1775)

The British suffered over 40% casualties.

WAR IS INEVITABLE!!!WAR IS INEVITABLE!!!After the British evacuate Boston in March 1776, several factors After the British evacuate Boston in March 1776, several factors make a peaceful solution impossiblemake a peaceful solution impossible•Br. Destruction of Boston after evacuationBr. Destruction of Boston after evacuation•Br. Use Hessians as mercenaries/ stir up Native American Br. Use Hessians as mercenaries/ stir up Native American resistance on frontierresistance on frontier•Must declare independence if going to get assistance from a Must declare independence if going to get assistance from a FranceFrance•King not address Olive Branch PetitionKing not address Olive Branch Petition•Publication of Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”Publication of Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”

The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence(July 2, 1776)?(July 2, 1776)?

• All men are created equal- slaves?All men are created equal- slaves?• Unalienable rights?Unalienable rights?• Purpose of government?Purpose of government?• Governments created by?Governments created by?• When governments become unjust?When governments become unjust?

Thomas Jefferson

Britain on the Offensive-1776Britain on the Offensive-1776

• After Declaration of After Declaration of Independence, Br. land 30,000 Independence, Br. land 30,000 men in the colonies. The men in the colonies. The British capture NY after the British capture NY after the Battle of Long Island and force Battle of Long Island and force Washington across the Washington across the Hudson River into NJ and then Hudson River into NJ and then into Pa.into Pa.

Washington Crossing the Washington Crossing the Delaware Dec.26,1776Delaware Dec.26,1776

Washington wins two major battles at Trenton Dec.26, 1776 and then

Princeton on Jan.3, 1777.

Saratoga:1777Saratoga:1777 “Turning Point”“Turning Point” of the War? of the War?

Br. Gen. John Burgoyne trapped by American forces under Horatio Gates and Benedict

Arnold

• Britain attacks Phil. in Britain attacks Phil. in Sept. 1777 and wins Sept. 1777 and wins key victories at key victories at Brandywine and Brandywine and Germantown. Germantown. Washington spends Washington spends winter at Valley winter at Valley Forge. For the next Forge. For the next three years, there are three years, there are no major battles.no major battles.

NY and PA- 1777-1778NY and PA- 1777-1778

Britain’s “Southern Britain’s “Southern Strategy”Strategy”

Britain thought that there were more Loyalists in the South.

Southern resources were more valuable/worth preserving.

The British win a number of small victories, but cannot pacify the countryside

Good US General:Nathanial Greene

The Southern Strategy The Southern Strategy [1780-[1780-1781]1781]

The Battle of Yorktown The Battle of Yorktown (1781)(1781)

Count de Rochambeau

AdmiralDe Grasse

Cornwallis’ Surrender at Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown:Yorktown:

Painted by John Trumbull, 1797

““The World Turned Upside The World Turned Upside Down!” Down!”

North America After theNorth America After theTreaty of Paris, 1783Treaty of Paris, 1783