THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE Blows Must Decide

FOCUS QUESTION: In times of trouble, when does one know that it is time to change what one is doing and try something else?

Preparations Both sides prepared for a struggle  More British regiments sent to the colonies  Colonies revitalized militia None knew what would happen or when Passage of the Intolerable (Coercive) Acts

Initial Blows Massachusetts laid in the center  Arguably most vocal colony  Intolerable Acts issued against Massachusetts British troops sent to confiscate colonial arms  Sent to seize depots at Concord  Led to initial skirmish

Advantages and Disadvantages Identify two advantages and two disadvantages held by the British during the war. Identify two advantages and two disadvantages held by the Colonists during the war. (see pages )

British Strategies Divide and Conquer 1 st stage: Seize Boston ( )  Isolate New England and end the conflict 2 nd stage: Seize Middle Colonies ( )  Capture Colonial “capitol”  Isolate New England 3 rd stage: Seize Southern Colonies ( )  Capture wealthiest colonies  Draw support from the North

Colonial Strategies Outlast the British  Makes the war expensive  Makes it more difficult to fight Outlast the British  Maintain Continental Army  Shadow the British  Gain foreign support

End of the War Victory at Yorktown was the effective end of the war  British government collapsed  Peace talks began War continued for two years  New York remained occupied  Raids continued

Treaty of Paris 1783 Independence of the U.S. recognized  U.S. borders set  West: Mississippi River  North: Great Lakes  South: Florida (returned to Spain) U.S. fisherman could fish off Canadian coast U.S. citizens to repay British Merchants U.S. to repay Loyalists for lost property