1. The American Revolution

2. Loyalists/Tories Patriots
People who opposed independence for religious, political, or financial reasons.
Many of these in North Carolina
Patriots
Many supported the war because they had a lack of any tie with Great Britain.

3. I. Advantages/Disadvantages
A. Patriots
+Home Field advantage, they knew the land
+Emotional Advantage, they were fighting for freedom
+Leadership of George Washington
-Shortage of Supplies
-No Navy
-Weak Government

4. I. Advantages/Disadvantages
B. British
+Great navy and experienced Army
+More Money
+More Population
-Distance from supplies
-Weak leadership

5. I. Advantages/Disadvantages
Who should win? Why?
What chance do the colonists have?
If the colonists lose, what will happen to them?
If the colonists win, what will happen to them?
Will we be able to survive without the British?
What kind of government will we use?

6. I. Advantages/Disadvantages
Who should win? Why?
What chance do the colonists have?
If the colonists lose, what will happen to them?
If the colonists win, what will happen to them?
Will we be able to survive without the British?
What kind of government will we use?

7. II. Early Years of the War
A. Lexington and Concord-April 1775
-First shots fired by minutemen who attacked British troops on their way to destroy supplies of the militia. 73 British soldiers killed as they returned from destroying the supplies.
-Showed that colonists would put up a fight.

8. II. Early Years of the War
B. Bunker Hill-June 16, 1775
-Actually occurred on Breed’s Hill outside of Boston.
-2200 redcoats charged up the hill numerous times to drive away 1200 minutemen.
-British won the hill, but lost over casualties.
-British are eventually driven from Boston, Charles Town, and Montreal.

9. II. Early Years of the War
C Low Point
-Continental Army had been defeated in New York and during the winter, many troops felt that the war was lost because they lacked supplies and morale was low.
-Solutions:
1. Thomas Paine’s Crisis was read to inspire them. “These are the times that try men’s souls.”

10. II. Early Years of the War
C Low Point
-Solutions:
2. George Washington surprised 900 British troops by crossing the Delaware River on Christmas. This victory encouraged Americans to continue.

11. II. Early Years of the War
D. British Plan for Victory
-Goal: Take Albany, separating New England and the Middle Colonies.
“Cut off the head of the snake”
-3 groups of British troops were to converge on the city, but they failed to communicate.

12. II. Early Years of the War
E. Battle of Saratoga-Oct. 17, 1777
**Turning Point of the War**
-British surrendered 5700 troops to General Horatio Gates.
-Importance: Convinced European nations that America could win.
France formed an alliance with America and Spain and the Netherlands declared war on Britain.

13. III. End of the Revolution
British General Charles Cornwallis was driven from the South and set up camp with 8000 troops near Yorktown, Virginia.
Yorktown is on a peninsula.

14. III. End of the Revolution
A. Battle of Yorktown
Combined effort between American and French forces.
Patriot ground forces led by Washington trapped Cornwallis on the peninsula while the French fleet kept them from escaping by sea.
Oct. 19, 1781-British surrendered 8000 troops, ending the war.

15. III. End of the Revolution
B. Treaty of Paris of 1783
Ben Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay represented the U.S. in peace talks.
Provisions:
1. Britain recognized our independence
2. Borders set at Canada and Mississippi River
3. Americans given rights to Canadian fishing waters

16. III. End of the Revolution
C. Effects of the Revolution
-Economic life changed very little
-Great slavery debate still raged on
-Churches lost influence in government
-Set a standard for other revolutions worldwide

17. IV. Independence A. New Government
1. States wrote their own constitutions
2. Articles of Confederation
Created a “loose union” of states with a legislature called the Confederation Congress. Each state had 1 vote. Ratified in 1781.