1. Chapter 7
The American Revolution

2. The War for Independence
The British
greater resources
underestimated American capacity to fight
assumed small group of disgruntled conspirators
Struggled with geography

3. The Patriot Forces The militia: defense of their homes
fought poorly in major battles (until Valley Forge)
chronic shortages of food and pay
developed national community.

4. The Loyalists
Between a fifth and a third of population remained loyal to the Crown
Targeted by the Patriots
Approx. 50,000 fought for the king
Approx. 80,000 fled the country after war

5. Women and the War Ran the family farms and businesses
Joined their men in the military camps
On rare occasions, women played roles on the battlefields (“Molly Pitcher”)

6. The Campaign for New York and New Jersey
Washington driven out of New York City and pursued across New Jersey
Victories at Trenton and Princeton
Why is this significant?
Washington now adopts a defensive strategy

7. The Northern Campaigns of 1777
British Plan: Cut New England off from the rest of the colonies
Why is this significant?
The Three Prong Attack at Albany:
General Burgoyne marches south from Canada
General Howe marches north from PA.
General St. Ledger marches from the west

8. 3 Prong Attack

9. The Northern Campaigns of 1777
Washington loses Philadelphia!
Flees to Valley Forge
Continental Congress forced to flee, but continues to function
General Howe settles in at Philadelphia
Three Prong Attack fails:
Battle of Saratoga
Why is this significant?

10. Meanwhile, back at Valley Forge….
Approximately 11,000 men with Washington
7000 sick
2,500 die
1000 desert
50 officers resign
General Von Steuben arrives
Five months later, Washington commanded a much stronger and united army

11. A Global Conflict The victory at Saratoga:
led to an alliance with France
Provided men and resources
1779 Spain joins the war, informal alliance
wages campaigns on the Gulf Coast and in the Mississippi Valley
The war at sea was mainly fought between British and French vessels

12. Indian Peoples and the Revolution in the West
Although many Indians preferred a policy of neutrality:
fears of American expansion led many to side with Britain
Thousands of frontier civilians died at native hands

13. The War in the South
By the late 1770s, the British had shifted their focus to the South:
Captured Savannah and Charleston
Violence between Loyalists and Patriots
Patriot militias won battles at Kings Mountain and Cowpens
Lost at Camden & Guilford Courthouse
General Nathaniel Greene leads British General Cornwallis north, and into a trap

14. The Yorktown Surrender
In 1781, Washington led 16,000 French and American troops south to Virginia
The French navy trapped Cornwallis at Yorktown
After weeks of siege, the British surrendered on October 19, 1781.
King George III, reluctantly opens peace negotiations

15. Battle of Yorktown

16. The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis

17. The Toll of the War More than 25,000 Americans died in the war
About 24,000 British deaths
About 10,000 French deaths
England, America, and France all in debt (France’s debt crisis becomes a factor leading to the French Revolution)