1. The American Revolution
Reading: Chapter 7

2. Introduction The War Great Britain expected to win.
Americans had several advantages:
Space.
Distance.
Important International Allies.
Holland, France, and Spain.
Expected to profit from Britain’s troubles.
France would help change the path of history (Yorktown).
All Americans had to make a choice.

3. The First Two Years: Battle For Boston
British General Thomas Gage:
Located in Boston.
Royal Governor of Massachusetts.
Boston was surrounded by American encampments.
Grew following Concord and Lexington.
Did not have the equipment to drive the British from Boston.
Not even a single canon.
May 1775:
Benedict Arnold
Green Mountain Boys and Ethan Allen
Capture canons and artillery from Fort Ticonderoga (NY).

4. The First Two Years: Battle For Boston
June 1775:
General Gage issued proclamation:
Amnesty to rebels who surrendered.
Armed rebels are traitors.
Colonists expanded their fortifications outside Boston.
June 17, 1775:
British ships pounded Breed’s Hill with canon fire.
William Howe led 2,400 troops to take the hill.
Ordered frontal attack.
Near massacre of British soldiers.

5. The First Two Years: Battle For Boston
June 17, 1775, cont…
Americans ran out of ammunition.
Fled.
British charged up the hill.
Bayoneted the few remaining rebels.
British suffered more casualties than in any other battle of the American Revolution.
Battle of Bunker Hill.

6. Washington Takes Charge
June 3, 1775:
George Washington arrived at Cambridge (Mass) to take command of his “army”.
Disgusted:
No discipline.
Men fired muskets at random.
Used muskets to start fires.
Used muskets to shoot at geese.
Dirty and smelly.
Open latrines.
But not surprised.
These men were not soldiers.
Chaos created by fear, boredom, excitement, homesickness.

7. Washington Takes Charge
George Washington sets things straight:
Reorganized militia units.
Replaced incompetent officers.
Strict moral codes:
No profanity.
Worship attendance required.

8. 1776: The British Strategy Reorganizing and making plans.
Learned of Arnold’s victory at Ticonderoga.
Laid plans to evacuate Boston.
March 1776:
Thomas Gage leaves for Nova Scotia.
General William Howe takes command.
Governor of Canada assures him that Canada is loyal to the crown.
Set out to locate loyalist hotbeds in America.
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Carolinas.
Overestimated number of loyalists.
Tried to win over Americans who were undecided or wavering.
Abuses on American citizens by British and Hessian troops made this difficult.
Moved War south in 1776.

9. 1776: The British Strategy
Southern campaign goes badly for the British.
Coordinating troops and supply lines was difficult.
Early 1776:
North Carolina.
Not enough British troops could be brought in to support Loyalists.
Defeated at Battle of Moore’s Creek (Feb. 1776).
British moved to South Carolina.
Abandoning North Carolina loyalists.

10. 1776: The British Strategy June 1776: Generals:
Henry Clinton
Charles Cornwallis
Ready to attack South Carolina.
Port of Charleston.
Fleet of 50 ships and 3,000 men.
High tide stranded troops on islands.
British cannon fire could not penetrate colonial defenses.
British end southern campaign…for now.
Loyalists denounced, mobbed, imprisoned, tortured.

11. Escape from New York General William Howe:
Preparing massive invasion of New York.
July 1776:
British sailed into New York Harbor.
Largest expeditionary force of the 18th century.
30,000 troops (1/3 were Hessians).
Outnumbered population of New York.
Howe did not want to attack Americans…paused.

12. Escape from New York General George Washington: August 22, 1776:
Rushed army from Massachusetts to defend New York.
August 22, 1776:
British advance began.
Moved toward Brooklyn neck of Long Island.
Continental Army broke and disintegrated.
Retreated to Manhattan Island.
Attacked on September 15.
Retreated towards north and followed by British.
Harlem Heights:
Continental Army has a victory.
Still in retreat.
British stopped advancing.

13. Battle of Trenton General Howe (British): General Washington:
Established winter quarters in New York.
General Washington:
Too nervous to establish winter quarters.
Troop enlistments about to end.
Needed to turn things around – Needed a target.
Trenton, New Jersey.
3,000 Hessians at garrison.
December 24, 1776:
Washington and his troops crossed the icy Delaware River.

15. Battle of Trenton Battle of Trenton: Hessians not expecting trouble.
Drunk.
Early morning of December 25, 1776:
Washington attacks!
Dazed, hung over, and confused, the Hessians surrendered.
Washington did not lose one soldier.
Much needed victory.
Washington followed victory with plea to troops.
Half re-enlisted.
The Continental Army would live to fight another day.

16. Interesting, right?
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