Revolutionary War

REVOLUTIONARY WAR American Colonies declared independence in 1776 … but they had to fight a long hard battle The Declaration of Independence was one of the causes of the Revolutionary War. Background ***Patriots wanted to fight the British for independence. Loyalists did not. ***Loyalist strength was weakest in New England. ***Colonists expressed their desire for peace in the Olive Branch Petition Lexington and Concord ● King George refused to read the colonist complaints ● April 1775, Gage sends 700 troops to march to Concord and seize weapons in a surprise attack. ( a spy told Gage about the arms cache.) ● Gage had to march his troops 20 miles to get to Concord. ● Colonist had it own spies. Check for Understanding Lexington and Concord ● On April 18,1775 ● William Dawes, Paul Revere and William Prescott rode across the country side warning the colonist the British were coming. ● Only Prescott got through to Concord (others arrested) ● At Lexington a small band of minutemen ● ***The captain of the minutemen yelled, “don’t fire unless fired upon” because he wanted to defend against attack, not start a war ● Stood their ground as the British approach. ● A shot rang out and when the smoke cleared eight minutemen lay dead and another ten were wounded. ● The British soldiers cheered and moved on to Concord Lexington and Concord ● By Breakfast arrived in Concord ● The minutemen met the British soldiers at the Old North Bridge and held their ground firing back at the British. When the Minutemen faced the British Redcoats at the start of the Battle of Lexington, the captain wanted to defend against an attack not start a war. Lexington and Concord Lexington and Concord ● The British Soldiers were surprised the minutemen did not retreat but held their ground! ● British Soldiers began to retreat all the way back to Boston ● Four thousand minutemen lined the route back to Boston and opened fired on the British soldiers. ● 74 British soldiers died, 200 wounded or missing ● 49 minutemen died and 41 were wounded ● The British underestimated the American colonists. At Concord the Americans showed they would fight for the rights and freedoms. And die for them. (shot heard ‘round the world) Second Continental Congress ●***decide to handle the British by creating the Continental Army (7.2) 1. 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, uniforms; Supply shortages •Left foot prints behind • • (7.2) 2. List American Strengths: Got ships and soldiers from overseas (French – at the end of the war) • French gave them gun powder • George Washington – well respected and trained (7.3) Three British Strengths: • The British Army had 50,000 soldiers, reinforced by 30,000 Hessian mercenaries(professional soldiers hired to fight), as well as Loyalists, Native Americans, and African Americans. • British soldiers were well trained and experienced, compared to the Americans. • British forces were well supplied with food, uniforms, ammunition, and weapons. (7.3) Two 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. • Unfamiliar territory Patrick Henry • ***said, “I am not a Virginian, I am an American” • urged colonists to join forces Minority groups during the Revolution • ***The American Indians were most divided in their support of the Patriot war effort • ****Thousands of African Americans joined the British army because the British offered freedom to any slave who served with them. (7.4) Britain Almost Wins the War 1.Why did the Declaration of Independence increase Americans’ motivation to fight and win the war? • They wanted to win their freedom • Freedom was a goal worth fighting for (7.4) Britain Almost Wins the War 2. For which group of Americans did the Declaration of Independence raise hopes as well as questions? Why? • • • It raised hope for African Americans African Americans thought that “all men are created equal” applied to them They thought slavery might end (7.4) Britain Almost Wins the War 3. What factors allowed the British to almost win the war in 1776? • • Battle of New York City… Britain troops overwhelmed the inexperienced the colonial army. The greater number of troops and superior training!! (7.5) A Pep talk and Surprise Victories 1. In your own words, what was 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 Battle of Trenton ***Winning this battle was important to Washington and the Continental Army because the contracts of the soldiers were due to expire, and Washington worried they would not reenlist. This battle was an American victory that occurred after Americans crossed the icy Delaware River Christmas night and surprised the Hessians. Battles of Princeton and Trenton The victories showed that the Americans could defeat the British. Americans used effectively ambushes and guerrilla warfare in battle. (7.5) A Pep talk and Surprise Victories 2. How were the Americans able to win such can overwhelming victory at Trenton? • • Washington had the troops rowed across the Delaware River on Christmas. By surprising the Hessians while they were asleep George Washington … (7.5) A Pep talk and Surprise Victories 3. How did victories at Trenton and Princeton affect American morale (or how they feel/ their spirits)? • It gave them the confidence that they needed to fight. (7.6) The Tide Begins to Turn 1. As the was progresses, how did Washington revise his military strategy? • He was trying to avoid big battles that might wipe out his whole army. • Defensive War Tactic to tire the British out (7.6) The Tide Begins to Turn 2. Why did the American cause the look more hopeful after the Battle of Saratoga? • The colonists won the battle and now people believed that they could possibly win Why was battle of Saratoga a turning point for the Patriots? ***The Patriots gained the support of France and Spain. ***The Marquis de Lafayette (from France) was interested in the Revolution because he believed in the ideas that inspired the Revolution. European countries came to the aid of America. Progress of the war At the beginning, the Americans were outmatched, but their skills and tactics improved. Trenton, Princeton, and Saratoga All were American victories that were key in inspiring and motivating troops that had previously suffered losses. Valley Forge ***The winter at Valley Forge was difficult for the Continental Army because they lacked protection and supplies. (7.7) The War goes South page 96 How did the success of the Continental Army (the American Army) in the South contribute to the American victories? • The British were tired of fighting the colonists and eventually forced the British to retreat to Yorktown. Battle map of Yorktown (7.7) The War goes South 3. How did the French help the Americans in the Battle of Yorktown? • The French went over into the Chesapeake Bay. French troops and ships helped to win the war. 4. The teachers adds a third Blue flag. This makes it harder for the Red team to win, just like… • The Americans used hit and run tactics in the south to frustrate the British (7.8) The War Ends after the Battle of Yorktown 1. How did the British people respond to news of the Battle of Yorktown? • Most British were tired of the war. King George did not want to accept defeat. (7.8) The War Ends 2. What were the results of the Treaty of Paris? • Britain gave up land east of the Mississippi River to the Americans • Britain recognized the United States as independent • America’s borders were set • The war was officially over. • US gave rights and property from Loyalist taken during the war