The American Revolution 1776 - 1783

1. The American Revolution1776 - 1783 The Early Years p.162 - 168

2. The Opposing Sides • After the colonies declared independence form England in July 1776, the war for freedom was unavoidable. • Both sides expected the war for independence to be short. • Most Patriots believed the British would give up after losing 1 or 2 battles.

3. The Opposing Sides • At first glance the British had and overwhelming advantage in the war. • They had the strongest navy in the world; an experienced, well trained army, and the wealth of a worldwide empire. • Britain also had a much larger population than the United States.

4. The Opposing Sides • The colonists suffered serious disadvantages • They lacked regular army and a strong navy. • Americans soldiers also lacked military experience, and weapons and ammunition were in short supply. • Volunteer soldiers only fought for a short time before returning home.

5. The Opposing Sides • Not all Americans supported the struggle for independence. • Some people were neutral, taking neither side. • The Quakers would not participate in the war because they opposed all armed conflict.

6. The Loyalists • Loyalist – colonists who opposed the war for independence. Also known as Tories. • Some people changed side during the war. • Loyalists were strongest in the Carolinas and Georgia and weakest in New England. • Some remained loyalists because they were members of the Anglican Church, headed by the British king. • Some depended on the British for jobs. • Others could not understand what all the commotion was about.

7. African Americans in the War • At the start of the war, the British appealed to enslaved Africans by announcing that enslaved people who fight on the British side would be freed. • Many men answered the call.

8. Patriot Advantages • Patriots were fighting on their own land (defense). • Fought with great determination to protect it. • The British relied on mercenaries, hired soldiers, to fight. • The Americans called the mercenaries Hessians, after the region in Germany where most of them lived. • Patriots had a much greater stake in winning the war than the hired soldiers. • Greatest advantage was George Washington.

9. Raising an Army • After throwing off the rule of the British Parliament, they were unwilling to transfer power to their own Continental Congress. • In some ways the American Revolutions was really 13 separate wars, with each state pursing its own interest. • As a result, Congress experienced difficulty enlisting soldiers and raising money to fight the war.

10. Raising an Army • At first, soldiers signed up for 1 year of army service, but Washington pleaded for longer. • The Continental Congress offered enlistments for 3 years or for the length of the war. • Most soldiers still only signed up for 1 year. • Women also fought. Margaret Corbin, Molly Pitcher and Deborah Sampson all helped the soldiers or fought in the war.

11. Fighting in New York • Britain realized they would need more troops to end the war quickly. • In the summer of 1776, Britain sent 32,000 troops to New York. • The British commander was General William Howe.

12. Defeat on Long Island • The two armies clashed at the Battle of Long Island in late August. • The Continental Army suffered great defeat with only 20,000 troops. • Nathan Hale proved himself a hero by spying on the British troops. He was discovered and hanged. • After the defeat, Washington retreated to Manhattan and then later across New Jersey to Pennsylvania.

13. A Low Point • By the winter of 1776 – 1777, the Continental Army had dwindled. • Some soldiers completed their terms of service and went home • Others ran away. • Washington knew if soldiers were not recruited soon, the fight would be over.

14. Patriot Gains • Washington pleaded with the Continental Congress for more troops. He even asked for enlistment of free African Americans. • White men in the south felt uncomfortable giving slaves guns in fear of revolts.

15. African Americans Join the Fight • Some states ignored the ban and enlisted African Americans. • Rhode Island raised all African American regiments in 1778. • In the end, all states enlisted African Americans except South Carolina. • Its estimated 5,000 African Americans joined the Patriots. • African Americans fought because they believed in the Patriot cause, they needed money, or fought to earn their freedom.

16. American Victories in New Jersey • Armies usually called a halt to wars during the winter and the British did not expect to fight. • Washington saw a chance to catch the British off guard by attacking on Christmas night, 1776. • The Continental Army was stationed across the Delaware River from the British camp in New Jersey.

17. American Victories in New Jersey • Washington took 2,400 troops across the icy river and surprised the enemy at Trenton the next day. The Americans captured over 900 Hessians. • The British sent reinforcements under Lord Charles Cornwallis, but Washington marched his troops to Princeton where they drove away the British.

18. A British Plan for Victory • The British planned to take Albany, New York and gain control of the Hudson River which would separate New England from the Middle Colonies. • The plan involved a 3-prong attack: • General Burgoyne would lead 8,000 troops south from Canada. • Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Leger would move east from Lake Ontario. • General Howe would move north from New York City. • The 3 would meet at Albany and destroy the Patriots.

19. The British Capture Philadelphia • Howe planned to take the American capital, Philadelphia, before marching to Albany. • In September 1777, Howe’s troops captured Philadelphia, forcing the Continental Congress to flee. • Howe postponed the move north to Albany and decided to spend the winter in Philadelphia.

20. Patriots Slow the British • Problems delayed the British plans to take Albany. • Troops led by Benedict Arnold halted St. Leger’s advance in New York. • General Burgoyne’s army was not making much progress toward Albany either. • In need of food and supplies, Burgoyne sent 800 troops and Native Americans to capture the American supply base at Bennington, Vermont.

21. Patriots Slow the British • The British troops’ brightly colored uniforms made the soldiers easy targets in the woods. • The Green Mountain Boys attacked and defeated them • Burgoyne retreated in October to the town of Saratoga, New York.

22. The Battle of Saratoga • At Saratoga, Burgoyne expected British forces from the west and south to join him, but they had not arrived. • The Americans stopped St. Leger’s army; Howe’s forces were still in Philadelphia; American General Horatio Gates blocked his path to the south. • Burgoyne found himself surrounded by an army 3 times as large as his own.

23. The Battle of Saratoga • British made one last desperate attack on October 7, 1777, but the Americans held. • The British were trapped and had no food. • On October 17, 1777 Burgoyne surrendered. • Over 5,700 soldiers handed over their weapons while Patriots played, “Yankee Doodle.” • British 3 prong plan to take the Hudson River had failed.