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American Revolutionary War
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Opposing Sides Britain Beginning: had greater advantages
Manufacturing: more ships and weapons Established government Well trained soldiers Well supplied
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Opposing Sides Colonies/America: Odds were not in their favor
Beginning: fewer advantages No established government Little manufacturing Struggled to pay for war/small economy Inflation from printing money Soldiers: hungry and cold Odds were not in their favor
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British Mistakes Did not view the Patriots as a real threat/enemy.
Repeated their mistake at Concord again at the Battle of Bunker Hill Patriots fortified hills overlooking Boston, hoped to drive British from the seaport Lord William Howe, new British commander, ordered a frontal assault by soldiers in the middle of the day to retake the hills. Carried heavy packs, wore bright uniforms, marched right into gunfire. Why?
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Howe’s Reasoning He wanted to prove that “trained troops are invincible against any numbers or any position of untrained rabble.” Complete bloodbath, point was not made/proven. First 2 charges for the hills were unsuccessful, third was successful only because the Patriots ran out of ammunition. British technically won, but suffered 2x the causalities that the Patriots suffered Psychological victory for the Patriots
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January 1776: 6 months after the Battle of Bunker Hill
Colonel Henry Knox arrives with cannons to reinforce the Patriots outside Boston. Cannons were captured from Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York and were hauled to Boston by Knox’s men. British abandoned the city in March
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British Misunderstanding
Assumed they were fighting a European war Thought that if they defeated the Continental Army, captured major seaports, and the Patriot capital, the Patriots would surrender. Didn’t understand that they were fighting a revolutionary war British hired German mercenaries to fight Hessians: soldiers who fought for hire Very brutal
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Patriot Strengths Washington’s leadership Small, but committed army
Encouraged persistence Skillful retreats Small, but committed army Suppressed loyalists in the countryside
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Colonial Hardships Continental Army needed aid and support from the civilian population Women’s work was crucial Freed their husbands and sons for military service Ran farms and shops for them Made clothing, blankets, and shoes for soldiers
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Colonial Hardships British blockade of ports
Shortage of supplies Colonists began selling “rare” supplies for lots of money Inflation caused by issuing paper money “Continentals”: would be worth nothing if the Patriots lost Women followed their husbands into war Maintained camps and washed clothing Helped fire cannons or served as soldiers by disguising as men
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$20 Continental
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Deborah Sampson For her service, she received a military pension from Congress after disguising as a man.
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Mary Hays/Molly Pitcher
Delivered water to troops during the battle on Monmouth Stepped in and took her husband’s place at the cannon after he died.
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War Brought to the Middle States
British left Boston in early 1776 Attack New York City & cut off New England from the rest of the colonies Captured NYC Sept 15, nearly crushed the Continental Army Washington retreated across New Jersey to save his army
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Battle of Trenton Washington led a surprise attack on a garrison after crossing the Delaware River in the middle of the night on Christmas night Attacked Dec. 26 Modest victory, raised the spirits of the Continental troops and Patriot supporters
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Washington Crossing the Delaware
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Military Turning Points
January 1777: Another Washington victory: Battle of Princeton Moved his troops during the night and attacked General Charles Cornwallis’s troops More Washington defeats throughout 1777 Fall of Philadelphia to Howe’s army in the fall Saratoga: British army falls into Patriot trap British surrender of General John Burgoyne in October Greatest Patriot victory yet, might just win the war
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Battle of Princeton
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Saratoga
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European Allies Victory at Saratoga encouraged France to recognize American independence and enter the war Welcomed the opportunity to fight Britain Prior to Saratoga: doubted the ability of the Patriots to win Secret alliance rather than open alliance Secret shipments of arms and ammunition Marquis de Lafayette: French aristocrat and Patriot general provided military expertise
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Marquis de Lafayette
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French Alliance Open alliance after Saratoga
February 1778: alliance drafted that reflected the brilliance of Benjamin Franklin Leading negotiator in Paris Alliance would produce the biggest victory of the war in 1781
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Spain as an Ally Spain entered the war as an ally to the French in 1779 Also wanted to weaken Britain Feared American independence would inspire their own colonists to rebel Provided money and supplies to the Patriots Prevented British ships from entering the Mississippi River.
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Continental Army at Valley Forge
Washington’s Army spent the winter of at Valley Forge, just outside of Philadelphia Harsh winter, very hungry Lack of supplies and food Nearly a third of Washington’s 10,000 person army had no shoes or coats Received drilling from German volunteer: Baron Van Steuben
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Valley Forge
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Valley Forge
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June 1778 British evacuated Philadelphia, retreated across New Jersey to New York City Fought Washington’s army at Monmouth in New Jersey Demonstrated improved discipline British turned their attention to the South
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Frontier War Colonists defied the Proclamation of 1763 and settled west of the Appalachian Mountains in the early 1770s Native Americans supported the British Increased attacks on colonial settlements in 1777 White settlers increased their attacks on neutral Native Americans
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