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The American Revolutionary War, also known as the American War for Independence, was fought between 1776 and 1783. Major battles in the North included Washington's pivotal victories at Trenton and Princeton, which boosted morale and led to crucial French support following the American victory at Saratoga. In the South, British forces initially dominated, but strategic leadership from the Continental Army, particularly under Greene and Washington, ultimately led to British defeat at Yorktown in 1781. This conflict paved the way for the United States' independence.
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The Revolutionary War (AKA – The American War for Independence)
War vs. Revolution • Revolutionary War – Military • American Revolution – Social
The Contenders… • Britain
The Contenders… • United States of America
War in the North (1776-78) • Summer, 1776 – Warships arrive in New York Harbor • Led 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
War in the North (1776-78) (cont) • 12/25/1776 – Washington attacks Hessian fort in Trenton, NJ • 1/3/1777 – Washington attacks British troops at Princeton, NJ
War in the North (1776-78) (cont) • Significance of Trenton and Princeton… • Boosted morale all around • British would pretty much flee NJ and head for the Big Apple. • American forts built in Morristown, NJ by Washington • NJ Loyalists were disarmed; leaders jailed
War in the North (1776-78) (cont) • Post-Jersey battles – Marquis de Lafayette joins Washington (19 years old) • Lets Americans know that France is paying attention
War in the North (1776-78) (cont) • King Louis’ proof is in the Saratoga pudding… • 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 Saratoga • 10/17/1777 Burgoyne and 5,800 troops surrender
War in the North (1776-78) (cont) • FRANCE IS IN! • February 1778 – France recognizes United States • June 1778 – France joins the American cause • Victory at Saratoga shows American possibility • June, 1779 – Spain joins war as a French ally • Holland was united against England, allying with America
War in the North (1776-78) (cont) • 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.
War in the North (1776-78) (cont) • Can’t forage at Valley Forge • Winter, 1777-78 – Washington and army stay at Valley Forge • Baron Friedrich von Steuben arrives from Prussia and trains the army. • Daily training and drills increase effectiveness and confidence in army
War in the North (1776-78) (cont) • June, 1778 – British leave Philadelphia for NY • June 28 – Washington catches up to British at Monmouth Court House, NJ • General Henry Clinton retreats to NYC • This victory ends the battle for the North
War in the West (1776-82) • 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
War in the West (1776-82) • 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
War in the West (1776-82) • 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 corn • 1780 – Brant’s warriors attack Tuscarora and Oneida and spend 2 years attacking in PA and NY
War in the South (1778-81) • England shifts focus to South • Needs to secure ports to transport troops to West Indies easier • Spring 1778 – British troops from E. FL take over GA • May 1780 – Clinton takes over Charles Town, SC
War in the South (1778-81) • 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
Victory in the South (1781) • Cornwallis forms base at Yorktown, VA. • August 30, 1781 – French fleet lands off VA coast • Lafayette’s troops join French. • Washington arrives with army from NY • Sept 26 – October 17, 1781 – Siege and battle (yes, 21 days!) • October 19, 1781 – Cornwallis and his troops surrender to allied forces.