The Opposing Sides In order for the colonies to actually gain their independence from Britain, they had to fight a war.  No one expected it to last so long, however. (pages 162–166) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-5

The Opposing Sides The Patriots, or Americans who supported independence, faced several obstacles:  Britain had a larger population–over 8 million against 2.5 million.  Britain had the strongest navy in the world and a well-trained army as well.  The Americans did not have a regular army or navy.  Many colonists belonged to militias who were basically volunteers and served for short periods of time. (pages 162–166) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-6

The Opposing Sides (cont.) Not all Americans supported the war effort.  Some were neutral, some were opposed to fighting, and some were loyal to Britain. (pages 162–166) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-7

The Opposing Sides (cont.) The Loyalists, or Tories, supported Britain for several reasons:  Some were members of the Anglican Church and thus loyal to Britain.  Some depended on the British for jobs.  Some feared the changes a new government might bring and feared challenging an existing government.  Some just did not understand the war.  Loyalist strength varied from region to region but was strongest in the Carolinas and Georgia. (pages 162–166) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-8

The Opposing Sides (cont.) Some African Americans were promised their freedom if they fought on the British side, so they became Loyalists.  The Patriots had some advantages over the British troops.  They fought on their own ground, not thousands of miles from home.  They had a personal stake in fighting to protect the freedom of their own land as opposed to the Hessian mercenaries, or hired soldiers, who fought for the British for money.  George Washington was a leader with courage, honesty, and determination. (pages 162–166) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-9

The Opposing Sides (cont.) Raising an army was difficult.  Congress had trouble enlisting soldiers and raising money to fight the war.  The Americans had militias, not a regular army.  Soldiers usually signed up for one year of service.  The Congress offered a three-year term, or length of service, but the one-year enlistment was most common. (pages 162–166) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-10

The Opposing Sides (cont.) Some women also fought in the war as Patriots. (pages 162–166) Section 1-11

Fighting in New York The British troops outnumbered the Americans.  During the summer of 1777, Britain sent 32,000 troops to fight in America.  The British hoped to win an early victory. (pages 166–167) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-13

Fighting in New York (cont.) The British defeated the Continental Army at the Battle of Long Island in August.  Nathan Hale became a hero for America.  He was discovered as a spy and hanged.  After the defeat, Washington retreated to Manhattan and then across New Jersey into Pennsylvania, pursued by the British. (pages 166–167) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-14

Fighting in New York (cont.) The Continental Army faced many obstacles.  It ran short of supplies.  The size of the army shrank.  Soldiers became discouraged.  Some soldiers finished their term of service and went home.  Others ran away. (pages 166–167) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-15

Patriot Gains More soldiers were needed, so some states enlisted African Americans.  By the end of the war, every state except South Carolina had enlisted African Americans.  In fact Rhode Island had an all African American regiment in 1778. (page 167) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-17

Patriot Gains (cont.) American troops scored victories at Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey.  Washington caught the British troops off guard when he surprised them at Trenton in late December 1776.  The British sent more troops under Lord Charles Cornwallis, but Washington marched his troops to Princeton and drove away the British. (page 167) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-18

A British Plan for Victory The British planned to gain control of Albany and the Hudson River to separate New England from the Middle Colonies.  First, John Burgoyne would lead troops south from Canada.  Second, Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Leger would move east from Lake Ontario.  Third, General Howe would move north from New York City, and they would all meet in Albany. (pages 167–168) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-20

A British Plan for Victory (cont.) Howe’s troops captured Philadelphia, and the Continental Congress fled to the countryside.  Howe postponed the move to Albany and stayed in Philadelphia during the winter. (pages 167–168) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-21

A British Plan for Victory (cont.) The Americans, however, were able to slow down the British.  American forces led by Benedict Arnold forced the British to retreat at Fort Stanwix, New York.  General Burgoyne’s army captured Fort Ticonderoga but had trouble after that.  Short of supplies and men, Burgoyne retreated to Saratoga, New York, in October. (pages 167–168) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-22

A British Plan for Victory (cont.) The British lost the Battle of Saratoga.  Burgoyne’s troops were completely surrounded by the Patriot Army.  On October 17, 1777, they handed over their weapons to the Americans and surrendered. (pages 167–168) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-23

Gaining Allies European nations helped the American cause.  France and Spain were at war with the British in Europe and hated the British.  They realized that the Americans had a chance to win their war, so they offered assistance. (pages 172–175) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 2-5

Gaining Allies (cont.) France at first secretly gave money to help the American war effort and then publicly announced its support.  In February 1778, the French and the Americans worked out a trade agreement and an alliance.  France declared war on Britain and gave the Americans money, equipment, and troops to fight the British. (pages 172–175) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 2-6

Gaining Allies (cont.) Spain and the Netherlands were at war with Britain.  Spain did not recognize America’s independence until after the Revolution, but the Spanish governor of Louisiana, Bernardo de Gálvez, helped the war effort. (pages 172–175) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 2-7

Gaining Allies (cont.) Washington’s troops spent a hard winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.  The army lacked enough food, clothing, and shelter.  Some men deserted; others resigned.  Yet the Continental Army survived.  In April news of France’s alliance cheered them. (pages 172–175) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 2-8

Gaining Allies (cont.) A French nobleman, Marquis de Lafayette, spent the winter at Valley Forge.  He offered his services and became one of Washington’s trusted aides.  Other Europeans also volunteered to help.  Casimir Pulaski from Poland died fighting for the Continental Army in 1780.  Friedrich von Steuben from Germany taught military discipline to Washington’s troops.  Juan de Miralles from Spain lent money, became friends with Patriot leaders, and convinced Cuba, Spain, and Mexico to send financial aid to the colonies. (pages 172–175) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 2-9

Gaining Allies (cont.) Getting money to finance the war was difficult.  To pay for the war, Congress and the states printed hundreds of millions of dollars of paper money.  Soldiers had to be paid and supplies bought.  The paper quickly lost its value and in turn led to inflation.  Congress stopped issuing paper money because no one would use it. (pages 172–175) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 2-10

Life on the Home Front Women often took over the duties of men while the men were in the military.  Some women questioned their place in society, and some fought for women’s interests. (pages 175–176) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 2-12

Life on the Home Front (cont.) The Loyalists in the colonies faced hard times.  Those who actively helped the British by spying and informing on the Patriots could be arrested and tried as traitors.  Some were victims of mob violence or ignored by their neighbors.  Many fled to Britain, to Spanish-owned Florida, or to the frontier. (pages 175–176) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 2-13

Life on the Home Front (cont.) The issue of slavery was questioned, especially in light of the ideals of freedom for which people went to war.  African Americans fought as soldiers in the Revolutionary War.  They hoped that they would soon see the day when slavery would be abolished. (pages 175–176) Section 2-14

War in the West The war in the West took place along the frontier, west of the Appalachian Mountains, and involved Native Americans.  They often helped the British by raiding American settlements. (pages 177–178) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 3-5

War in the West (cont.) George Rogers Clark went west to end the attacks.  In July 1778, he and 175 soldiers took the British post at Kaskaskia in present-day Illinois and then captured the town of Vincennes in present-day Indiana. (pages 177–178) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 3-6

War in the West (cont.) The British recaptured Vincennes under Henry Hamilton in December.  In February Clark and his troops surprised the British and forced Hamilton to surrender.  This victory helped strengthen the western position. (pages 177–178) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 3-7

Glory at Sea The British had a powerful navy and thus were able to wage battles at sea.  They blockaded American harbors, preventing ships from entering or leaving ports.  This effectively cut off supplies and reinforcements from getting to the troops. (pages 178–179) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 3-9

Glory at Sea (cont.) The American Navy was too weak to fight the British, so they used privateers.  Privateers were privately owned merchant ships with weapons.  The privateers attacked the British ships.  Congress authorized approximately 2,000 ships to sail as privateers. (pages 178–179) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 3-10

Glory at Sea (cont.) John Paul Jones became a naval hero as a result of his battle near the coast of Great Britain in September 1779.  The battle involved his ship, the Bonhomme Richard, and the British warship Serapis.  After more than three hours of battle, the Serapis surrendered.  The Bonhomme Richard sank because it was so badly damaged. (pages 178–179) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 3-11

Struggles in the South By 1778 the British saw that it would be difficult to unite the American colonies back into their empire.  They concentrated their efforts in the South, which had many Loyalists. (pages 179–182) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 3-13

Struggles in the South (cont.) In late 1778 the British occupied Savannah, Georgia, and took over most of the state.  In 1780 General Henry Clinton himself went to attack Charles Town, South Carolina.  In May Charles Town surrendered.  It was the worst defeat for the Americans during the war. (pages 179–182) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 3-14

Struggles in the South (cont.) General Charles Cornwallis remained in the South as commander of the British forces.  The British scored another victory at Camden, South Carolina, in August 1780. (pages 179–182) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 3-15

Struggles in the South (cont.) The Patriots used guerrilla warfare to catch the British off guard.  Frances Marion was one of the successful guerrilla leaders of eastern South Carolina. (pages 179–182) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 3-16

Struggles in the South (cont.) The Patriots were victorious at Kings Mountain in central North Carolina in September 1780.  They forced the British to retreat. (pages 179–182) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 3-17

Struggles in the South (cont.) Another battle at Cowpens, South Carolina, saw the British defeated in January 1781.  In March the Continental commander Nathaniel Greene met General Cornwallis’s army at Guilford Courthouse in present-day Greensboro, North Carolina.  Greene’s army retreated, and even Cornwallis’s troops ended the battle.  They suffered many losses, so Cornwallis abandoned the campaign to take North Carolina. (pages 179–182) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 3-18

Struggles in the South (cont.) In April 1781, the Cornwallis troops decided to march north to Virginia, carrying out raids and nearly capturing Governor Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia legislature in June.  Cornwallis set up camp at Yorktown, Virginia. (pages 179–182) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 3-19

Struggles in the South (cont.) George Washington sent Lafayette and General Anthony Wayne to fight Cornwallis.  The battle for the South was almost over, but the war was at a point where each side needed a victory to win. (pages 179–182) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 3-20

Victory at Yorktown Washington planned a complex and secretive takeover at Yorktown, Virginia, in hopes of surprising Cornwallis.  Washington was originally going to attack New York City because he was expecting a French fleet to arrive there to help.  The French fleet never reached New York City because the British fleet trapped them in Newport. (pages 183–185) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 4-5

Victory at Yorktown (cont.) Washington planned an attack on Yorktown instead.  He knew the British expected him at New York City, so this change would surprise and confuse them.  He learned that a second French fleet was to arrive near Chesapeake Bay, and he hoped that they would meet at Yorktown. (pages 183–185) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 4-6

Victory at Yorktown (cont.) The Yorktown plan was kept secret.  Three groups were to meet there and surprise the British.  In August 1781, Admiral François de Grasse’s fleet was to land along the Virginia coast near Yorktown.  In July the first French fleet that was trapped in Newport would meet Washington’s troops and march south to Yorktown.  Their commander was General Rochambeau.  A third group from the west under Anthony Wayne was to march toward Yorktown, Virginia. (pages 183–185) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 4-7

Victory at Yorktown (cont.) The plan worked.  By the end of September, 14,000 American and French troops trapped Cornwallis’s 7,500 troops.  The British troops could not escape by sea because de Grasse’s troops blocked them.  The rest of the British Army was in New York under General Clinton, unable to help Cornwallis in the South. (pages 183–185) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 4-8

Victory at Yorktown (cont.) On October 9, American and French troops bombarded the British.  On October 19, Cornwallis surrendered.  The Patriots had won the Battle of Yorktown. (pages 183–185) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 4-9

Independence Fighting continued after the Battle of Yorktown, but the British realized that the war was too costly to continue.  Delegates from both sides met in Paris.  After a preliminary treaty was ratified in April 1783, the final Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783. (pages 185–187) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 4-11

Independence (cont.) It said that:  Britain recognized the United States as an independent nation  the United States territory extended from the Atlantic Ocean west to the Mississippi River and from Canada in the north to Spanish Florida in the south  the British promised to withdraw all troops and agreed to give Americans the right to fish off the coast of Canada  the United States agreed that British merchants could collect on debts owed by Americans  property taken from Loyalists would be returned to them (pages 185–187) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 4-12

Independence (cont.) George Washington gave up his command and on December 4 gave his farewell speech.  Two weeks later, he formally resigned and returned home to Mount Vernon. (pages 185–187) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 4-13

Independence (cont.) America won the war against the world’s strongest power.  Americans fought on their own land.  Americans controlled the countryside, where they knew the local terrain, even though Britain captured the cities.  Help from other nations contributed to the victory.  Mostly, the people fought the battles with determination and belief in their ideals. (pages 185–187) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 4-14