The American Revolution Farmers and Shop Keepers defeat and Empire

How did they Compare?

British Supporters were called Loyalists

The Continental Army was Formed  Initially many volunteered for promises of land and money  Indentured servants could earn freedom  An enlistment lasted 1 year  Pay was often delayed until the war was over

Leadership and Desire  The British had better training and equipment… but no desire.  Whether the British won or lost made little difference to many British Soldiers  They had to hire German mercenaries called Hessians to assist in the war  The British were occupiers, like the Americans were in Vietnam

The Colonists had both!  Americans rallied behind Washington  Women supported the war and in some cases even fought  Colonists were motivated!  To lose meant complete destruction of a way of life

Most Battles took place in the North

The American Victory at Saratoga was a turning point

Saratoga  September 1777  Outmaneuvered by American forces  The British were cut off from their supplies  They surrendered to Gen. Gates  Fearing a reconciliation between the colonists and the British - France now openly allied with the United States

Valley Forge  Washington’s Winter Headquarters  Harsh conditions  Little food, clothing, or shelter  Some deserted  Many questioned their ability to defeat the British  Tom Paine publishes The Crisis

Cornwallis Surrenders October 19, 1781

What happened?  Over 16,000 American and British Troops converged on Cornwallis at Yorktown, Va.  The French Navy Blocaded the harbor  Cornwallis had 8,000 troops  Bewildered and astonished, Cornwallis surrendered  The British still controlled New York and few realized it was the end of the war

The American Revolution  What factors led to an American Victory?  Why were the British soldiers indifferent?  What were the terms of the Peace of Paris?  How long did the war last?  What would the next task be for the newly independent nation?

The British Concede  Lord North Resigns  Lord Rockingham favors granting American Independence  Parliament withdraws its’ support for the war  King George was forced to accept defeat  Farmers and shop keepers had defeated and empire

The Treaty of Paris  September 3, 1783  The U.S. was a “free and sovereign” nation  The U.S. gave up its’ claim to Canada  The U.S. Boundaries: The Mississippi in the west, The Great Lakes in the North, Florida in the South

And Now What…..? All we need is a plan for government. See the U.S. Constitution presentation for more details!