1. The American Revolution 1775-1781 Farmers and Shop Keepers defeat and Empire

2. How did they Compare?

3. British Supporters were called Loyalists

4. The Continental Army was Formed  Initially many volunteered  An enlistment lasted 1 year  Pay was often delayed until the war was over

5. Leadership and Desire  The British had better training and equipment… but no desire.  Whether the British won or lost made little difference to many British Soldiers  They had to hire German mercenaries called Hessians to assist in the war  Some compare it to Vietnam for the British

6. The Colonists had both!  Americans rallied behind Washington  Women supported the war and in some cases even fought  To lose meant complete destruction of a way of life

7. Most Battles took place in the North

8. The American Victory at Saratoga was a turning point

9. Saratoga  September 1777  Outmaneuvered by American forces  The British were cut off from their supplies  They surrendered to Gen. Gates  France now openly allied with the United States

10. Valley Forge  Washington’s Winter Headquarters 1777-1778  Harsh conditions  Little food, clothing, or shelter  Some deserted  Many questioned their ability to defeat the British  Tom Paine publishes The Crisis

11. Cornwallis Surrenders October 19, 1781

12. What happened?  Over 16,000 American and British Troops converged on Cornwallis at Yorktown, Va.  The French Navy Blocaded the harbor  Cornwallis had 8,000 troops  Bewildered and astonished, Cornwallis surrendered  The British still controlled New York and few realized it was the end of the war

13. The American Revolution  What factors led to an American Victory?  Why were the British soldiers indifferent?  What were the terms of the Peace of Paris?  How long did the war last?  What would the next task be for the newly independent nation?

14. The British Concede  Lord North Resigns  Lord Rockingham favors granting American Independence  Parliament withdraws its support for the war  King George was forced to accept defeat  Farmers and shop keepers had defeated and empire

15. The Treaty of Paris  September 3, 1783  The U.S. was a “free and sovereign” nation  The U.S. gave up its’ claim to Canada  The U.S. Boundaries: The Mississippi in the west, The Great Lakes in the North, Florida in the South

16. And Now What…..? All we need is a plan for government. See the U.S. Constitution presentation for more details!