1. The War in the Mid-Atlantic Region
Second Phase of the War
The War in the Mid-Atlantic Region

2. The British Advantage
, the British were in the best possible position to win the war
Struggle became, for the most part, a conventional war, in which the Patriots were greatly outmatched
Immediately following the Declaration and retreat from Boston the British regrouped
Sent nearly 32,000 troops to New York

3. William Howe Hoped to “awe” the troops into submission
Offered a royal pardon to opponents instead of fighting
Washington could only muster about 19,000 troops and still chose to fight none the less
Patriots refused the offer and were driven across the Delaware River and into Pennsylvania

4. British begin to lose their advantage
For most Europeans, war was a seasonal activity, and the British and Hessians began to settle for the winter
Christmas night, 1776, Washington crosses the Delaware back into enemy territory and conquers Hessian troops around Trenton
Would continue on and take Princeton
Though Washington was unable to hold either of these cities, it is an example of one of the many flaws of the British

5. British Strategy
In 1777 Howe adopted what he called a pincer’s strategy
Howe would divide the colonies along the Hudson River, disconnecting New England from the Middle and Southern Colonies
Howe was to meet General John Burgoyne, stationed to the north, in the middle of New England
However, Howe decided to attack the Patriot capital of Pennsylvania to boost his men’s own moral and crush the Patriots

6. Securing Aid from Abroad
When fighting first began in America, diplomats went abroad to enlist support
France provided minimal covert aid to the colonies, but was not convinced of a possible victory
Saratoga, along with the diplomacy of Benjamin Franklin, changed that
This caused King Louis XVI to recognize America as a sovereign nation
Sent immediate military aid to the colonies