1. The American Revolution

2. Learning Goal Chapter 6 Students will be able to:
Identify the opposing sides in the Revolution
Compare and contrast the advantages of each side
Identify and evaluate the Patriot defeats and victories
Analyze and evaluate the British plan for victory
Analyze how the Americans gained allies
Describe life on the home front during the Revolutionary war
Identify and evaluate events and elements of war
Analyze victory at Yorktown
Identify and analyze what helped the Patriots win independence.

3. Essential Question
Why does conflict develop?

4. The British vs. the Patriots
British Advantages Most powerful Army and Navy in the World Military Supplies Wealth Disadvantages Slow and cost to move supplies and troops Hessians Size of territory to conquer
Patriot Advantages Will to Fight Fighting on home ground Washington and others Disadvantages Began war with no navy or army Shortage of weapons, money, supplies and men

5. March 4, 1776
The city of Boston is surrounded by Patriots so the British soldiers rather than risk a bombardment decide to evacuate the two.
Two weeks later the entire British army along with 1,000 loyalists leave for Canada.
Patriots now turned against anyone suspected of siding with Britain: pelted with eggs, tar and feathered, and forced on their knees

6. Summer of 1776 Battle of Long Island
British landed 32,000 soldiers on Staten Island led by General Howe
Washington’s 19,000 ill-trained soldiers were no match for the British and the Hessians
Teacher Nathan Hale was captured and hung as a spy
The Continental Army was driven to New Jersey
As the weather turned cold and early hopes faded the Continental Army ‘melted’ away to only 3,000

7. December 24, 1776 George Washington reads Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” to troops
Washington knew that he had to do something quickly or the revolution would fall apart.
On December 23, 1776 he gathered his remaining troops together for a reading of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
The words inspired the troops and Washington revealed a plan to attack the British and Hessians at their winter camp

8. December 25, 1776 George Washington leads troops across the Delaware River
While the Hessians were celebrating Christmas with drinking and food Washington led his troops during the late night across the Delaware in small boats and then by foot on icy dark roads toward Trenton

9. December 26, 1776 The Battle of Trenton
The Hessians awoke to find themselves under attack and after a brief and confused battle surrendered
Washington stated “This is a glorious day for our country!”

10. Early 1777 Britain’s plan to win the war
Three Parts:
1. Gain control of the Hudson River, cut off New England from Middle Colonies
General William Howe would lead his troops upriver from New York City
2. General John Burgoyne would lead 8,000 troops south from Canada to capture the upper part of the Hudson River
3. Colonel Barry St. Leger would move west from Lake Ontario

11. September 1777 General Howe Captures the Continental Capital at Philadelphia
Howe did not know about the three part plan until it was too late.
General Howe captured Philadelphia city and forced the Continental Congress to flee

12. October 1777 Battle of Saratoga
By the time General Burgoyne reached the Hudson River the British were outnumbered three to one
On October 17th Burgoyne surrendered to the Patriots
The effects of the American Victory were enormous

13. The Patriots Gain an Ally November 1777
Until the victory at Saratoga France had remained officially neutral
Because they hated the British and to stop them from being powerful, France (1777) becomes an ally

14. Spain enters November 1779
Spain did not form an alliance with the US but did declare war against Britain (1779)
They mainly fought in the South and kept many of them from reaching and fighting American soldiers

15. December 1777 Washington’s troops suffer cold and starvation at Valley Forge
After trying to dislodge Howe from Philadelphia,
The capital Washington retired with his army for the winter to Valley Forge, PA
Men lacked food, shelter, clothing and shoes due to profiteering
But even with a large amount of deserters the army made it through the winter

16. Washington’s Valley Forge Prayer

17. Spring 1778
Washington received message from his best spies: washerwomen
The British had changed their plans
With little accomplished in New England and New York the British move south

18. Contributions of Minorities in the War
Women: served as soldiers, nurses, spies, and cooks
African Americans fought for American independence with the hope of ending slavery
Native American groups choose in most cases to side with the British

19. Who had control of the South
Early 1779 General Cornwallis controlled most of the south,Georgia and the Carolinas

20. 1779-1781 Patriot Warfare in the South
General Nathanael Greene was sent by Washington to slow the British advance in the south
Rather than risk losing his outnumbered force in large battles, he harassed the British in a series of hit and run attacks
Used Guerrilla Warfare

21. Summer of 1781 Cornwallis moves his army to Yorktown, Virginia
Washington waits for French war ships outside of New York City
British General Clinton controls New York City

22. Secret Plan July- August 1781
Washington learns that the French navy is headed toward Chesapeake Bay instead of New York
Washington changed his plan to advance on the British at Yorktown
Washington and Rochambeau join armies and move in secret
Washington marched 200 miles in 15 days
They would trap Cornwallis army

24. September-October 1781 outcome
Washington’s plan worked
14,000 American and French troops had trapped Cornwallis’s 7,500 British and Hessian troops while De Grasse’s fleet kept him from escaping
On October 9th the Americans began to bombard the British.
The British ran low on supplies while many were sick or wounded.
Cornwallis realized his situation and surrendered on October 19th

25. September 3, 1783 Treaty of Paris
The battle of Yorktown did not end the war, there were a few more clashes on land and sea.
But the British realized the war was too costly to continue
Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay represented the colonies at the writing of the Treaty of Paris.
The Treaty was ratified on September 3, 1783 and the US was independent of Britain!
TERMS!The U.S. received all land east of the Mississippi River between Florida and Canada.
The US in turn, agreed to return property confiscated from loyalists during the war and allow British merchants to collect their debts.

26. Washington’s Farewell
The Newburgh Conspiracy: Payment to soldiers (uprising by soldiers because they weren’t getting paid what they thought they should)
December 4th Washington says his farewells and returns home to Mt. Vernon in time for Christmas
But he would not stay in retirement!

27. Why the Americans won! They fought on their own ground!
The Battle of Yorktown
Ambushes and guerrilla warfare
Help from France and Spain
Most Important: Spirit of the Patriots and the Revolution!