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The American Revolution: 1775-1781. Opposing Sides. Opposing Sides. By mid August of 1776, 32,000 British troops had arrived Controlled by William Howe Continental Army=230,000 Rarely had more than 20,000 at a time. Opposing Sides. Paying for the war became a problem for colonies
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The American Revolution: 1775-1781
Opposing Sides • By mid August of 1776, 32,000 British troops had arrived • Controlled by William Howe • Continental Army=230,000 • Rarely had more than 20,000 at a time
Opposing Sides • Paying for the war became a problem for colonies • Continental Congress couldn’t tax • Robert Morris helped fund the Cont. Army • Set up loans and helped establish the Bank of North America to help finance the military
Military Strategies The Americans The British • 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. • 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.
Phase II: NY & PA[1777-1778]
The Northern Campaign[1777-1778] • Britain wanted to take New York City to crush the will of the colonial rebels • Continental Congress asked George Washington to defend NYC • Troops were inexperienced so the British easily took NYC • Washington and his troops retreated • Nathan Hale=U.S. spy was captured and hanged “ I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country” • British established NYC as their headquarters for the rest of the war
Crossing the Delaware • Battle of White Plains • Washington is forced to retreat again • British heads toward Philadelphia/ instead of following retreating colonial forces • Washington reaches Penn.=British had stopped their advance and est. winter quarters in N.J. • On Dec. 25, 1776, Washington led 2,400 troops across the icy Delaware River • Won two small victories at Trenton and Princeton • SETTLED IN HILLS OF N.J. FOR WINTER
Washington Crossing the Delaware Painted by Emanuel Leutze, 1851
Philadelphia Falls • Gen. John Burgoyne devised a three-pronged attack of New York (March 1777) • Attack NY from the North, South, and West • Wasn’t carried out • In Spring of 1777, Gen. Howe took 13,000 troops and attacked Philadelphia from the South (Maryland) • Defeated Washington at the Battle of Brandywine Creek • Captured Philadelphia • Continental Congress escaped and Howe failed to destroy C.A. • Retreated to VALLEY FORGE
Valley Forge • Bitter cold and food shortages killed nearly 2,500 men • Two European military officers joined Washington and helped improve discipline and boost morale • Marquis de Lafayette (France) • Baron Friedrich von Steuben (Prussia)
France Enters the War • Gen. Burgoyne in June of 1777, attacks New York from the North (Quebec) with 8,000 troops • 800 British troops and 1,000 Iroquois attacked Albany from the east=defeated by Benedict Arnold • He won a few early victories but were unable to defeat Americans in upper NY • With his supplies dwindling and him being unable to defeat the militia • Surrendered at Saratoga • Turning point of the WAR!!!!!!
Saratoga: “Turning Point” of the War? A modern-day re-enactment
War in the West • In 1778, George Rogers Clark took 175 troops down the Ohio River and captured several towns • Gave Americans control of the region • Various Indian Groups joined w/ British and fought against the Americans • Most suffered defeats and had villages and towns destroyed
France Enters the War • France and Spain had been sending weapons to the Americans • U.S. now wanted troops from France • French didn’t want to get involved until they knew the Americans could win • Battle of Saratoga Victory=French alliance w/ U.S. • Feb.6, 1778, U.S. signed two treaties • 1st France recognizes U.S. as an independent nation • 2nd Alliance b/w France and U.S.
War at Sea • American ships attacked British merchant ships=disrupt trade • Congress issued letters of marque=licenses to private ships authorizing them to attack merchant ships (Brit.) • Seized millions of dollars of cargo • Most famous naval battle= John Paul Jones Bonhomme Richard vs. Serapis and Countess of Scarbrough, Sept. 1779 • Jones “I have not yet begun to fight.” • 3hrs of fighting=British surrendered
Bonhomme Richard vs. Serapis and Countess of Scarbrough, Sept. 1779
Bonhomme Richard vs. Serapis and Countess of Scarbrough, Sept. 1779
John Paul Jones “I have not yet begun to fight.”
Britain’s “Southern 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 [similar to U. S. failures in Vietnam!] • Good US General:Nathanial Greene
The Southern Campaign • British defeat at Saratoga=Gen. Howe resigned • Replaced by Sir Henry Clinton • In Dec. 1778, British captured Savannah, GA • Gen. Clinton the attacks Charles Town, SC • About 14,000 troops surround the city • On May 12, 1780, Americans surrendered • 5,500 Americans captured=biggest defeat
The Southern Campaign • Upset the “over-the-mountain” men, put together a militia • Battle of Kings Mountain • Defeated Ferguson and destroyed his army • Turning point of Southern Campaign • Gen. Nathaniel Greene • Hoped to wear down British while militia destroyed supply lines • Carried out hit-in-run raids against British camps and supply wagons • Francis Marion “Swamp Fox”=leader of most famous militia
