The American Revolution Unit 5

Words to know… militia: a military force used to supplement a regular army in an emergency

Problems Creating An Army in the early years, the army was just untrained state militia solution: Washington began training his troops when the Continental Army was formed Baron von Steuben taught 100 men formations and how to use their bayonets those 100 taught another 100 and so on

Problems Creating An Army initially Congress only asked men to enlist for 1 year Washington never had more than 17,000 men serving at 1 time solution: Congress extended the enlistment time

Problems Creating An Army Congress was unable to supply the troops with what they needed

“Could I have foreseen what I have, and am likely to experience, no consideration upon earth should have persuaded me to accept this command.” -George Washington

British Strategy wanted to control the Hudson River Valley would cut off New England from the other states British would close in from 3 different directions

Battles In North Carolina British moved south thinking there would be a lot of loyalists to help them several battles in NC Patriot victories Battles of King’s Mountain, Moore’s Creek Bridge, Ramsour’s Mill British victory Battle of Guilford Courthouse

Battles of Saratoga Continental army was able to surround and defeat one of the best British generals in a series of battles significance: France and Spain believed that the Americans could win the war started supplying money, weapons, and troops

Valley Forge spent the winter in Pennsylvania no shoes, food, blankets, etc. smallpox spreads many deserted the army others respected Washington too much

“The unfortunate soldiers were in want of everything; they had neither coats, nor hats, nor shirts, nor shoes; their feet and their legs froze till they grew black and it was often necessary to amputate them…The Army frequently passed whole days without food.” -Marquis de Lafayette

Battle of Yorktown British were blocked in at Yorktown French were off the coast preventing retreat Washington came in from the north and surrounded the British significance: Lord Cornwallis surrendered his troops the war was over

Why the Americans Won 1: better leadership British leaders were overconfident and made bad decisions 2: foreign aid 3: home field advantage Americans knew the land British couldn’t control land past the coast

Why the Americans Won 4: motivation Americans had more to fight for lives, property, and dreams of independence were at stake

Treaty of Paris of 1783 the US would be independent boundaries included the Mississippi River on the west, Canada to the north, and Spanish Florida to the south each side would repay its debts owed to each other