Revolutionary War

Early Defeats -Initially, GW kicked the British out of Boston, so they sent 30,000 troops/300 ships to New York -British capture all major colonial cities New York Philadelphia Boston Charleston -Washington’s army in retreat and many desert

Patriot Victories -a few victories helped keep morale up -Dec. 1776 at Trenton -Hessians – German mercenaries hired by the British -GW attacked the Hessians on Christmas night, catching them off guard Jan. 1777 at Princeton -GW left campfires burning at Trenton and snuck off to Princeton

Standing up in a boat like that? #bold #Gdubs #itprobablydidntlookanythinglikethis

Turning Point -large British force defeated at Saratoga Oct. 1777 – the British expected southern reinforcements that never came -kept British near the coastline -helped colonists get French help in the war effort – French see that the Americans have a chance at victory -Saratoga = turning point of the war

Valley Forge -camp site of Washington’s army during winter of 1777-78. -British forces occupied nearby cities – The British followed war traditions and did not fight during winter -many soldiers died of cold and starvation -Congress struggled to gain supplies for the army -the lack of a central gov’t created difficulties

Civilian Life -inflation – Congress printed paper money for war supplies, lowering the value of $$ -shortage of goods -women took over the work of men -some women helped the military effort

Foreign Help -foreign military leaders offered professional training for the army -Friedrich von Steuben Prussian officer who trained patriot soldiers at Valley Forge -Marquis de Lafayette led a volunteer army from France

Southern Campaign -British strategy changed to splitting the colonies – expected support from Loyalists in the South -Charleston, S.C. captured by Cornwallis (British) -Kings Mtn Patriot Victory -Cowpens

War’s End -Guilford Courthouse - NC costly British victory -retreat to Yorktown -surrounded by French and Americans -Cornwallis surrenders Oct, 1781

Treaty of Paris -Treaty of Paris 1783 -recognized U.S. independence -set western boundary of the U.S. at the Mississippi River -some provisions of the treaty will lead to trouble later

Symbol to the World -liberty -freedom -equality – sort of -opportunity -belief in a greater cause -set a precedent for the American future -Precedent – an example, or guide