The American Revolution

1
The American Revolution
2
Olive Branch Petition
3
Fighting Begins in the North

• Loyalists
• Remained loyal to the British Crown.
• Nearly 1/3 of the colonists remained loyal to
  the British.
• More loyalists lived in the middle colonies and
  the south than in New England.
• How were loyalists treated?

• Patriots
• Colonists that favored war were known as
  Patriots.
• Patriots believed that British rule was unfair
  and unjust.
• Nearly 1/3 of colonists were Patriots.
• What disadvantages did the colonists face?

4
The Continental Army

• Advantages
• Patriots owned their own rifles and were good
  shots.
• Army would become very loyal to General
  Washington
• Patriots were fighting for a cause that they
  believed in as well as their homes and safety.
• Many of the colonists were familiar with the
  terrain.

• Disadvantages
• Poorly organized and untrained.
• Patriots had little ammunition, cannon, etc.
• Colonists were unwilling to serve for an extended
  period of time. Why?
• No Navy
• Little money, supplies, uniforms, etc.

5
The British

• Advantages
• The British Empire was the most powerful in the
  world
• Had a powerful and well-trained army as well as
  the largest and most powerful navy.
• Supported by many colonists loyal to the empire.

• Disadvantages
• England was 3,000 miles away and news and
  supplies took a long time to reach the troops in
  America.
• Did not know the land like the Colonists travel
  was dangerous.
• The cause for fighting for many in the British
  army was monetary it was not as meaningful as
  the colonial cause.

6
1/3 of Colonists were undecided.This was an
advantage to both sides.
7
Fighting Begins at Boston

• June 16, 1775 Col. Prescott leads minuteman up
  Bunker Hill.
• Prescott orders his men to Breeds Hill.
• The British commander, General Howe attacks
  patriots.
• Over 1,000 British and 400 Americans are lost.
• Bunker Hill marks the first major battle of the
  Revolutionary War.
• Colonists use cannon captured from Fort
  Ticonderoga to siege Boston from Dorchester
  Heights.
• The British leave Boston
• George III orders a blockade of all American
  ports.
• George III also hires Mercenaries from Germany to
  fight.
• What is a Blockade?
• What are Mercenaries?

8
Bunker Hill
9
Who and What to Know?

• Olive Branch Petition
• Ethan Allen
• Green Mountain Boys
• Fort Ticonderoga
• Second Continental Congress
• Continental Army
• George Washington

• Patriots and Loyalists
• Advantages and Disadvantages in the war
• Battle of Bunker Hill
• General Howe
• Blockade
• Mercenaries

10
Questions?