Key Battles of the American Revolution Copy these notes onto outline

America – Ready to fight? American strengths Great leader – George Washington Fighting for homes and freedom Used to hardships Financial and military aid from foreign countries Used to guns Gained experience in F & I War Fighting on own land American weaknesses 1/3 of citizens opposed the rebellion Inadequate financial resources No factories Shortage of supplies and ammunition Continuous turnover of men in army Not used to military discipline Lacked a strong navy

Britain – Always Ready British strengths Well-equipped and well-trained forces Professional military leadership Able to hire foreign soldiers Had the money and factories to supply needed materials Had support of American loyalists British weaknesses Unaccustomed to wilderness warfare Leaders underestimated America’s military ability Separated from battlefronts by 3,000 miles; took months to send reinforcements and war orders Hired soldiers had nothing at stake except pay Attention divided between other conflicts Some British leaders sympathized with American cause

Major battles and results 1775 Battle of Lexington and Concord – British attempted to rob American arsenal (storehouse for weapons) at Concord; Americans found out and met British at Lexington and skirmished again at Concord; British had 273 casualties while the Patriots had 93; known as the shot heard ‘round the world and as the beginning of the Revolution.

1776 British increased number of forces to 32,000 troops. Summer and Fall – Washington commanded colonial troops in Battle of Long Island. Patriots were defeated and retreated to Manhattan. By late Nov., Patriots had lost New Jersey and retreated into Pennsylvania

1776 – cont. Battle of Trenton (NJ) Huge Patriot victory; Washington crossed the Delaware River Christmas night into New Jersey and surprised British troops; captured 900 Hessians (paid German soldiers)

1777 British planned to push further into New York state with a 3-pronged attack ending in Albany, NY. American troops surrounded British troops and defeated them at Saratoga – this is considered the turning point of the war for the Americans. British captured Philadelphia – American capital -

1778 France openly allies themselves with America. Many European countries had been sending supplies to America in secret but the French alliance was the first in the open. Benjamin Franklin traveled to France to secure the alliance.

Winter at Valley Forge After British captured Philadelphia, Washington chose Valley Forge as the site for the Continental Army to spend the winter of More than 2,000 soldiers died of disease and starvation. Many soldiers thought about leaving due to the hardships. Maintaining the morale of the troops was considered one of Washington’s biggest challenges at this time.

War turns south With no clear upper hand in the New England and middle colonies, Britain turned its focus south by capturing the region’s 2 major ports - Savannah in 1778 and Charleston in 1780.

War turns South 1780 – Patriot sharpshooters forced British loyalists to retreat at Kings Mtn., NC; victory brought new support for Revolution into the south Other southern battles included Cowpens, SC and Guilford Courthouse in NC Southern campaign was headed up by Nathaniel Greene

1781 – The end approaches Lord Cornwallis (British commander) retreated into Virginia after abandoning the Carolina campaign Washington secretly sent more troops to Virginia after learning of French reinforcements coming toward Chesapeake Bay 17,000 American and French troops surrounded Cornwallis’ 8,000 British and Hessians on the Yorktown peninsula, forcing Cornwallis’ eventual surrender on Oct. 19, 1781

Key Georgia events 1778 – British captured key cities of Savannah, Sunbury, and Augusta Feb – Battle of Kettle Creek; Georgia militia with Col. Elijah Clarke defeated more than 800 British troops; lifted spirits of Georgia troops and gave them weapons and horses from defeated British troops

Siege of Savannah Sept –The French began a 3-week bombardment of Savannah. After the British wouldn’t surrender, the Allies tried to take over the city by force. The Battle of Savannah was the 2 nd bloodiest battle of Revolution

Key Georgians Austin Dabney freeborn mulatto who took the place of his owner in the Georgia militia Wounded at Battle of Kettle Creek Most patriots were promised land in return for their service but many did not want Dabney – a man of color- to receive his land Ultimately, he got land in Madison County and died on that property in 1834.

Key Georgians Nancy Hart Legendary war woman who hanged a number of Tory soldiers Hart county is named after her – the only county named after a woman Elijah Clarke Started out as a Loyalist (Tory) but took up the Patriot cause and led a number of battles; most famous for leading the militia attack at the Battle of Kettle Creek Clarke Co. is named after him

Key Georgians Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton Georgia’s signers of the Declaration of Independence All have counties named for them

End of the war? Even though the British surrendered, small battles were still fought. The treaty to end the war took two years to write. The Treaty of Paris (1783) ended the American Revolution.