BritainAmericans Advantages?? Disadvantages?? On the Eve of the Revolution ?

BattleDescriptionSignificance Lexington & Concord (April 1775) British commander in Boston dispatches troops to nearby Lexington & Concord to seize stores of gun powder and weapons and arrest several rebel instigators such as Samuel Adams and John Hancock. The soldiers are met at Lexington by a band of colonial “minute men.” Shots are fired. The British continue on to Concord, where they meet heavy resistance. Colonists fire from behind stone walls and trees. The British are forced to retreat back to Boston. These were the first two battles of the war. Although independence would not officially be declared until more than a year later, most historians mark these battles as the beginning of hostilities between the American colonies and Great Britain.

LoyalistStrongholds

Washington’s Headaches Only 1/3 of the colonists were in favor of a war for independence [the other third were Loyalists, and the final third were neutral]. State/colony loyalties. Congress couldn’t tax to raise money for the Continental Army. Poor training [until the arrival of Baron von Steuben.

Exports & Imports:

Military Strategies Attrition [the Brits had a long supply line]. Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war  you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down] Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies. The AmericansThe British Break the colonies in half by getting between the No. & the So. Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally. “Divide and Conquer”  use the Loyalists.

Phase I: The Northern Campaign [ ]

Bunker Hill (June, 1775) **The British suffered over 40% casualties.

Phase II: NY & PA [ ]

New York City in Flames (1776)

Washington Crossing the Delaware Painted by Emanuel Leutze, 1851

Saratoga: “Turning Point” of the War? Saratoga: “Turning Point” of the War? A modern-day re-enactment

Phase III: The Southern Strategy [ ]

Britain’s “Southern Strategy” Britain thought that there were more Loyalists in the South. Southern resources were more valuable/worth preserving. The British win a number of small victories, but cannot pacify the countryside [similar to U. S. failures in Vietnam!] Good US General: Nathanial Greene

The Battle of Yorktown (1781) Count de Rochambeau Admiral De Grasse

Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown: Painted by John Trumbull, 1797 “The World Turned Upside Down!”

North America After the Treaty of Paris, 1783