Steps to load & fire a musket P ull to half-cocked H andle cartridge Soldiers on both sides used flintlock muskets

Prime w/ powder About Draw ramrod Ram down the cartridge Present Fire

Vermont Militia First Continental Navy Flag Sons of Liberty John Paul Jones Serapis’ Flag George Washington’s HQ Flag

Seize the Hudson River Seize the Hudson River Valley Cut off New England Cut off New England from other colonies Hope was to keep fighting centralized Hope was to keep fighting centralized Saratoga ended this Saratoga ended this strategy

Britain in the South Britain saw it would be difficult to unite the American colonies back into the British empire Britain saw it would be difficult to unite the American colonies back into the British empire British efforts concentrated in the South British efforts concentrated in the South –Large population of Loyalists –Slave population –Close to West Indies Took over Charleston, S.C. Took over Charleston, S.C. – Worst defeat for Americans General Cornwallis stayed & had victory at Camden, S.C. General Cornwallis stayed & had victory at Camden, S.C.

Patriot Strategy Guerrilla Warfare Guerrilla Warfare –Hiding in the brush –Hit & run technique –Caught British off guard Francis Marion –Most successful guerrilla leader –Known as “Swamp Fox”

War at Sea Navy was near non-existentAmerican Navy was near non-existent –Disadvantage in the Revolutionary –Private ships asked to attack British merchant ships –Privateers took profit from British John Paul JonesJohn Paul Jones –Commander of the Bonhomme Richard –Captured the Serapis success against the powerful British navy –Had great success against the powerful British navy

Captain John Parker Thomas Gage Lexington Colonial “Minutemen” (militia) led by Captain John Parker met British soldiers lead by Thomas Gage on the Lexington common (town square) After tense stand off a shot rang out and the fighting started 8 minutemen were killed British marched on to Concord

Concord Minutemen met British at Concord on the North Bridge British took heavy losses in short battle Colonists chased British back to Boston Colonists hid behind trees and fired at soldiers along the road first battles of the American Revolutionary War Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the American Revolutionary War

General Horatio Gates leads patriot victory Europe now believes Americans can win Most of Europe now believes Americans can win Frenchalliance French form alliance in 1778 Spain declares war on Britain Spain declares war on Britain the next year Turning point of the Revolution

Washington marched his army to Valley Forge (southeast Penn) place one year after victories at Trenton & Princeton Takes place one year after victories at Trenton & Princeton Army was short of supplies Some soldiers deserted example of great hardship Valley Forge became an example of great hardship endured during the War “The unfortunate soldiers were in want of everything; they had neither coats, nor hats, nor shirts; 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

Cornwallis sets up camp at Yorktown Cornwallis sets up camp at Yorktown Washington sends Lafayette south to Yorktown & plans a complex attack of Yorktown Washington sends Lafayette south to Yorktown & plans a complex attack of Yorktown –Originally was to attack New York –General Clinton of Britain was expecting attacks at New York Washington learns of French navy heading to Chesapeake Bay Washington learns of French navy heading to Chesapeake Bay

3 groups head south to Virginia 3 groups head south to Virginia –Lafayette’s troops –Washington & a French army led by Comte de Rochambeau –French fleet under de Grasse Yorktown (continued)

British officers were unaware of the American strategy –14,000 American/French –7,500 British/Hessians trapped –French naval fleet blockaded the bay October 9, 1781 –American/French bombard Yorktown October 19, 1781 October 19, 1781 –Cornwallis surrenders

Patriots claimed victory at Yorktown Patriots claimed victory at Yorktown Britain thought war was too costly to continue Britain thought war was too costly to continue British begin talking secretly with Ben Franklin to end the war

Treaty of Paris (1783) Congress creates a preliminary treaty Congress creates a preliminary treaty Main Terms Main Terms recognize U.S. as independent nation –Britain recognize U.S. as independent nation –U.S. extends to Mississippi River in the west…Canada in north...Spanish FL in south –British withdraw all troops and open coast of Canada –British merchants can collect U.S. debts –Loyalists properties that were taken would be returned