(AKA – The American War for Independence)

Revolutionary War – Military

American Revolution – Social

Britain

Strengths Weaknesses

Loyalists in Colonies Distance

Superior Navy Lack of enlisted soldiers

Formidable Army Financial Strain

Population in England Eventual lack of public support

Many enemies

United States of America

Strengths Weaknesses

State militias Loyalists/Slaves

Declaration Few well trained soldiers

New allies Lack of supplies

Persistence/courage

Summer, 1776 – Warships arrive in New York HarborLed by brothers General William Howe and

Admiral Richard, Lord Howe

End of 1776 – William Howe captures ¼ of Washington’s men.

Force Washington to retreat into Pennsylvania

12/25/1776 – Washington attacks Hessian fort in Trenton, NJ

1/3/1777 – Washington attacks British troops at Princeton, NJ

Significance of Trenton and Princeton…Boosted morale all aroundBritish would pretty much flee NJ and head for

the Big Apple.American forts built in Morristown, NJ by

WashingtonNJ Loyalists were disarmed; leaders jailed

Post-Jersey battles – Marquis de Lafayette joins Washington (19 years old)

Lets Americans know that France is paying attention

King Louis’ proof is in Saratoga…Summer 1777 – Colonel Barry St. Leger

marches south along Lake Ontario; General Burgoyne will come from Quebec.

Ft. Stanwix – 750 Continentals hold off 1,900 British

Burgoyne captures Ticonderoga (8,300 troops/Hessians)

General Horatio Gates fights two battles in Saratoga10/17/1777 Burgoyne and 5,800 troops surrender

FRANCE IS IN!February 1778 – France recognizes United

StatesJune 1778 – France joins the American causeVictory at Saratoga shows American possibilityJune, 1779 – Spain joins war as a French allyHolland was united against England, allying

with America

August, 1777 – 16,000 Continental troops occupy Philadelphia; General Howe lands 18,000 troops near Philadelphia

September 11, 1777 – Armies meet at Brandywine Creek, PA.

October 4 – Howe defeats Washington again at Germantown, PA

Washington retreats to Valley Forge.

Can’t forage at Valley ForgeWinter, 1777-78 – Washington and army stay at

Valley ForgeBaron Friedrich von Steuben arrives from

Prussia and trains the army.Daily training and drills increase effectiveness

and confidence in army

June, 1778 – British leave Philadelphia for NYJune 28 – Washington catches up to British at

Monmouth Court House, NJGeneral Henry Clinton retreats to NYCThis victory ends the battle for the North

Tensions between settlers and Natives are high

1776 – Cherokee begin attacking settlers in NC; settlers strike back by burning most towns.

Settlers force most Cherokee to sign treaties giving up most land in SC, and some land in NC and TN

Feb, 1779 - Colonel George Rogers Clark leads KY militia north of OH river and take Vincennes.

May, 1779 – John Bowman leads militia and destroys Shawnee villages

August, 1779- Daniel Brodhead destroys Delaware and Seneca

Pro-British Iroquois – led by Mohawk Joseph Brant

1778 – Brant campaigns through PA and NY frontiers

1779 – General John Sullivan attacks Iroquois villages, fights one battle (near Elmira, NY)Defeat Brant, burn several dozen villages,

destroy corn1780 – Brant’s warriors attack Tuscarora and

Oneida and spend 2 years attacking in PA and NY

England shifts focus to SouthNeeds to secure ports to transport troops to

West Indies easierSpring 1778 – British troops from E. FL take

over GAMay 1780 – Clinton takes over Charles Town,

SC

August 13, 1780 – Lord Charles Cornwallis effortlessly defeats American forces at Camden, SC.

Gates is relieved of command; Nathaniel Greene is new Southern Commander

March-September, 1781 – fights and loses 3 battles

Still causes Cornwallis to leave for VA

Cornwallis forms base at Yorktown, VA.August 30, 1781 – French fleet lands off VA

coastLafayette’s troops join French.Washington arrives with army from NYSept 26 – October 17, 1781 – Siege and battle

(yes, 21 days!)October 19, 1781 – Cornwallis and his troops

surrender to allied forces.