1. The American Revolution Chapter 7
E.Q. Describe the events that led to the Americans winning their independence.

2. 1.Comparing American & British Armies

3. a. List American Weaknesses:
Soldiers only enlisted for a short period of time
Not well trained and Shortage of men
Lacked the power to be able to raise money
Low on food, supplies, uniforms
Left bloody footprints behind
Gunpowder shortage

4. b. List American Strengths:
Got ships and soldiers from overseas (French – at the end of the war)
French gave them gunpowder
George Washington – well respected and trained
Patriotism

5. Table Talk Compare/Contrast American Strengths and Weakness.
Sentence Starters:
I believe….
One reason Americans should have won…
One reason Americans should have lost...

6. c. Three British Strengths:
The British Army had 50,000 soldiers,
reinforced by 30,000 Hessian mercenaries (professional soldiers hired to fight)
Loyalists
Native Americans
African Americans
British soldiers were well trained and experienced, compared to the Americans
British forces were well supplied
food, uniforms, ammunition, and weapons.

7. d. British Weaknesses:
Sending troops and supplies from Britain to America was slow and costly.
The British were scared of stories of cannibalistic colonists.
The British were not passionate about defeating the rebels.
They had poor military leadership.

8. A - B Partner Talk
Compare/Contrast the British Strengths and Weaknesses.
Sentence Starters:
I believe…
One reason the British should have won was..
One reason the British should have lost was...

9. 2. Britain Winning the War
SKIP 5 Lines in your notes (this is where you will write your GIST sentence for Section 1

10. a. American Motivation Colonists were motivated to win the war.
They wanted to win their freedom
Freedom → a goal worth fighting for
Was a message they could stand behind

11. b. African American Motivation
One group more than the others had high hopes for the Declaration of Independence.
African Americans fought for the cause
G. Washington worried that escaped slaves may hide in Continental Army
It raised hope for African Americans
African Americans thought that “all men are created equal” applied to them
They thought slavery might end

12. Table Talk
Explain the motivations for fighting in the war for the Americans and Africans.
Sentence Starters:
Both Americans and Africans were fighting for..
Africans had more motivation because….
Americans had more motivation because...

13. c. Battle of New York Americans began energetic
Battle of New York City… Britain troops overwhelmed the inexperienced the colonial army.
Number of British troops and superior training!!
Troops lost – British -377 / Americans -1407

14. d. The Crisis by Thomas Paine
These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and women…
What do you think is the meaning of this?

15. d. The Crisis by Thomas Paine
The message of Thomas Paine’s pamphlet The Crisis
It was written to motivate the Americans to fight for what they believed in, even though they are in hard times or struggling.

16. 3. Turning Points in the War
SKIP 5 Lines in your Notes (this is where you will write your GIST sentence for Section 2.)

17. The Americans won an overwhelming victory at Trenton
a. Battle of Trenton
The Americans won an overwhelming victory at Trenton
Washington had the troops rowed across the icy Delaware River on Christmas.
By surprising the Hessians while they were asleep

18. George Washington …

19. b. Victories for Americans
victories at Trenton and Princeton affected American morale
It gave them the confidence that they needed to fight.

20. c. American Military Strategy
As the war progressed, Washington revised his military strategy
He was trying to avoid big battles that might wipe out his whole army.
Chose to fight small battles
Defensive War Tactic
Let the British come to them

21. d. Battle of Saratoga
The American cause looked more hopeful after the Battle of Saratoga
The colonists won the battle and now people believed that they could possibly win
France entered the war by supplying troops and weapons
Washington saying he was going to fight a defensive war – attempting to tire out the British

22. e. The War goes South
The Americans used tactics successfully against the British in the Southern Colonies
Defensive Strategy or Guerilla Tactics (like hit and run raids)
Used the swampy areas to hide and attack

23. 4. Battle of Yorktown/War’s End

24. a. Battle of Yorktown
The British were tired of fighting the colonists and eventually retreated to Yorktown.
American and French troops converged onto Yorktown, blocking British escape.
The French ships sailed into the Chesapeake Bay.
American troops surrounded Yorktown by land.
Forced the surrender of General Cornwallis and the British Army

25. b. Treaty of Paris 1783 The Treaty of Paris 1783 ended the war
Most British were tired of the war.
The Treaty of Paris 1783 ended the war
Britain recognized the United States as independent
Britain gave up land from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River

26. Ticket Out the Door
Comprehension Quiz