The Revolutionary War

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The Revolutionary War
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Students will analyze key events of the American
Revolution in order to evaluate their impact on
the outcome of the war.

• Students will describe the military advantages
  and strategies of the British and Americans
• Students will examine key battles
• Students will analyze contributions of various
  leaders
• Students will evaluate the impact of the end of
  the War.

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Vocabulary

• Redcoats British soldiers
• Minutemen American colonial militia
• Militia Army of citizens
• Continental Army Colonial Army

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Lexington - Concord

• colonists, warned that the British were coming,
  were waiting in Lexington when the British
  arrived the next morning.
• To this day no one knows for sure who fired
  first, but a shot rang out. The British soldiers
  fired a volley into the colonial militia, killing
  eight men and wounding 10.
• The British then moved on to Concord where
  minutemen drove back three British infantry units
  guarding Concords North Bridge.
• On their retreat back to Boston they were
  peppered by patriot snipers. By the time the
  redcoats reached Boston, they had suffered 273
  casualties compared with fewer than 100 for the
  patriots.
• Shot Heard Around the World

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• Engravings (pictures) in local newspapers
  incorrectly reported that the British, after
  attacking Lexington and Concord, raided and
  pillaged (robbed) property all the way back to
  Boston.
• That news enraged patriots throughout the
  colonies. Within 48 hours, militiamen from
  Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts
  gathered in and around Cambridge, Massachusetts
  across the Charles River from Boston.
• The many differences that had separated the
  various colonies, including different religions,
  systems of government, and lifestyles, were
  forgotten for a greater cause.

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• Slowly the different colonial armies placed
  themselves under Massachusetts command and
  became a New England army. By mid-June 1775,
  approximately 7,600 troops were camped in and
  around Cambridge, Mass.
• While the patriots were mobilizing, British
  General Gage tried to decide how best to deploy
  his 5,000 British regulars. He realized that
  whichever side could take control of the high
  ground around Boston would have the advantage in
  a battle. The British army set forth a plan to
  occupy the hills around Boston by late June.
• Fortunately for the patriots their leaders
  learned of the British plan and resolved that the
  colonial army should beat the British to the high
  ground by fortifying the hills of Charlestown.

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American Strengths and Weaknesses

• The colonists are fighting for independence
• George Washington can inspire his men to fight
• France will aide the colonies with weapons,
  supplies and their navy

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American Strengths and Weaknesses

• The colonists are not a trained army
• Colonists enlist for months instead of years
• Short on money, weapons and supplies to fight a
  war

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British Strengths and Weaknesses

• The British have an experienced professional
  army
• Outnumber the Continental Army
• The British army is well supplied with equipment
  and weapons

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British Strengths and Weaknesses

• The British are not fighting for a cause
• British officers are careless and poor leaders
• The British have a to cross the Atlantic Ocean to
  send men and supplies for the war
• The support at home is rather weak

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The Strategy of War

• American Colonies
• Keep the Colonial Army together
• Washington seeks to stretch the British army away
  from supply lines
• Harass the enemy, defeat the British in a major
  battle
• Get allies to help win!

• Britain
• Seeks to destroy the Colonial Army
• Regain control of the colonies by region
• Take the fight to the Colonial Army using
  European war tactics
• Use loyalists support against the colonies

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The Strategy of War
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George Washington

• Founding father. Member of the Continental
  Congress, commander-in-chief of the Continental
  Army, presiding officer of the Constitutional
  Convention, first President of the United States.

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People in the Revolution
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Charles Cornwallis

• British general and colonial governor, served
  with distinction in American Revolution, won
  battle of Brandywine, captured Philadelphia in
  1777 and Charleston in 1780, forced to surrender
  to Washington at Yorktown in 1781 ending the war.
  

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Marquis de Lafayette

• French citizen who joined Continental Army during
  Revolutionary War, ardent supporter of American
  Revolution, voted Major General by Continental
  Congress, commanded light division in Battle of
  Yorktown, close associate of George Washington.

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Henry Knox

• Major figure in American Independence, first
  Secretary of War, General in Continental Army,
  principal founder of U.S. Military Academy,
  co-founder of U.S. Navy.

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Nathanael Greene

• Revolutionary War General, studied law under
  Thomas Jefferson, led American forces in major
  battles, supreme commander of Continental Army in
  Sept., 1780 his battlefield strategy forced
  Cornwallis to Yorktown.

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African American in the War

• During the revolutionary period in America, the
  word "liberty" was everywhere the liberty tree,
  the Sons and Daughters of Liberty, and slogans
  such as "give me liberty or give me death." The
  concept of liberty was everywhere, but its
  reality was limited. Much of the American economy
  was based on the complete opposite of liberty,
  slavery. African Americans used the Revolution to
  try to obtain their personal freedom.

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African Americans in the War

• 5,000 black men served in the Continental Army,
  and hundreds more served on the sea.
• African American Patriots fought in every major
  battle of the Revolutionary War.
• When the American Revolution ended, most African
  Americans were denied the promises of liberty
  that were written in the Declaration.

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Native Americans in the War

• Native Americans were in a difficult position
  during the American Revolution. It was ironic to
  Native Americans that the colonists and British
  were waging a war over land that the indigenous
  people considered theirs.
• Indians knew that the Revolution was a contest
  for Indian land as well as for colonial liberty.
  At first, Native Americans remained uninvolved in
  the conflict between the British and colonists.
  As one Iroquois stated, It is true I am tall and
  strong but I will reserve my strength to strike
  those who injure me. However, Native Americans
  were drawn into the fighting.

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Women during in the War

• The role and status of women underwent a dramatic
  change during the Revolution. Women, whose
  husbands went off to war, had to assume the
  responsibilities that had formerly belonged to
  men. Jobs such as farming, bookkeeping and trade
  became womans work while the men were off
  battling for independence. Not all women were
  satisfied by taking up the chores of men some
  wanted to fight.

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Women in the War

• When John Corbin joined the army, his wife,
  Margaret Cochran Corbin, followed him to war.
  Wives of the soldiers often cooked for the men,
  washed their laundry and nursed wounded soldiers.
  During a battle, her husband was in charge of the
  cannon. He was killed during the battle. Margaret
  continued loading and firing the cannon by
  herself until she was wounded. She was the first
  woman to receive pension from the United States
  government as a disabled soldier
• Deborah Samson fought disguised as a man named,
  Robert Shirtliffe in the Continental Army.
  Deborah served for three years and was awarded a
  pension for her military service.
• Despite their contributions to Americas war of
  independence, once the war was over, women were
  relegated to their usual role and their
  contributions to the war were many times ignored.

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At every house women and children are making
cartridges, running bulletsand at the same time
encouraging their husbands and sons to fights.

• According to the quote, was the revolution
  important to the colonial families?
• Do you believe that all races, genders, and
  ethnic groups shared this belief in the war
  effort?

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Key Battles of the American Revolution
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Battle of Bunker Hill

• American troops are dug in along the high ground
  of Breed's Hill (the actual location) and are
  attacked by a frontal assault of over 2000
  British soldiers who storm up the hill.
• The Americans are ordered not to fire until they
  can see "the whites of their eyes." As the
  British get within 15 paces, the Americans let
  loose a deadly volley of rifle fire and halt the
  British advance.
• The British then regroup and attack 30 minutes
  later with the same result.
• A third attack, however, succeeds as the
  Americans run out of ammunition and are left only
  with bayonets and stones to defend themselves.
• The British succeed in taking the hill, but at a
  loss of half their force, over a thousand
  casualties, with the Americans losing about 400,
  including important colonial leader, General
  Joseph Warren.

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Battle of Trenton

• The Battle of Trenton began on Christmas Day,
  December 1776, when General Washington's army was
  in a pitiful condition, and growing weaker.
  Troops were deserting, it was bitter cold and
  they lacked food, shoes and blankets.
• It was under these conditions that Washington
  made his famous crossing of the Delaware river.
  He had heard from a scout that the Hessians,
  (German mercenaries) were spending the evening
  relaxing and enjoying food and wine.
• Washington decided to cross at night and surprise
  them in the morning. So while the Hessians were
  enjoying their wine and song, the Continental
  Army was preparing to attack. The army silently
  advanced to the Delaware River. They crossed the
  icy Delaware eight miles north of Trenton and
  nine hours later 2400 men gathered around
  Washington to hear the order for the assault on
  Trenton.

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The famous crossing Washington and his army
cross the Delaware River at night to attack the
Hessian mercenaries at Trenton.
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• The Hessians were sleeping at 800 a.m. when the
  Americans entered the City. Minutes later,
  Washington's army attacked - killing five Hessian
  officers, one non commissioned officer, and
  sixteen privates. There were 918 prisoners taken
  to Newtown, Pennsylvania. Of the American losses,
  two soldiers supposedly froze to death, one or
  two American privates were wounded, and three
  officers were wounded, (including future
  president Lt. James Monroe).

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The Battle of Saratoga, August- October 1777

• The British are harassed by colonial guerilla
  forces and end up stretching their supply lines.
• The British will surrender to the Colonial forces
  led by General Horatio Gates
• Saratoga is important because it is a major
  defeat for the British and shows the French that
  the colonies may be able to win the war

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Battle of Saratoga

• The first major American victory of the
  Revolutionary War,
• inflicting 600 British casualties. American
  losses are only 150.
• October 17, 1777 - After long negotiations, Gen.
  Burgoyne officially surrendered his 5700 man army
  on October 17. He was sent back to England in
  disgrace, and was never given another command.
• In Paris the victory is celebrated as if it had
  been a French victory.
• France recognizes the independence of America and
  enters the war on the side of the patriots.
• Money and supplies flowed to the American cause,
  providing Washington's Continental Army with the
  support necessary to continue its fight against
  Great Britain.

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Victory at Saratoga !!
Britain's loss at Saratoga proved disastrous, in
that it signaled to the European powers that the
rebels were capable of defeating the English on
their own. More than any other single event, it
would prove decisive in determining the eventual
outcome of the War.
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The End is near !!- Yorktown

• August 1, 1781 - British Gen. Cornwallis and his
  10,000 tired soldiers seek rest at the port of
  Yorktown, Virginia.
• August 14, 1781 - Gen. Washington abruptly
  changes plans in favor of Yorktown after
  receiving a letter indicating a 29-ship French
  fleet with 3000 soldiers is now heading for the
  Chesapeake Bay near Cornwallis.
• Gen. Washington and Gen. Rochambeau rush their
  best troops south to Virginia to destroy the
  British position in Yorktown.

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The Battle of Yorktown, October 1781

• The French are helping the Continental Army with
  men, weapons and warships
• The Americans and the French will corner the
  British on a small peninsula and bombard them
  with cannon fire.
• The British will surrender and end the American
  Revolution.
• The colonists will win the American Revolution
  with this victory.

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• September 28, 1781 - Gen. Washington, with 17,000
  men, begins the siege of Yorktown. French cannons
  bombard Gen. Cornwallis and his 9000 men day and
  night while the Allied lines slowly advance and
  encircle them. British supplies run dangerously
  low.
• October 17, 1781 - As Yorktown is about to be
  taken, the British send out a flag of truce and
  surrender.
• October 19, 1781 - As their band plays the tune,
  "The world turned upside down," the British army
  marches out in formation and surrenders. Hopes
  for a British victory in the war against America
  are gone. In the English Parliament, there will
  soon be calls to bring this long costly war to an
  end.
• October 24, 1781 Ships with 7000 British
  reinforcements arrive but turn back on hearing of
  the surrender at Yorktown.

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Battle of Yorktown
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The British surrender!!!
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The Treaty of Paris, 1783

• THE WAR ENDS WITH THESE CONDITIONS
• free, sovereign and independent states
• British must remove all troops from forts
• Boundary for United States is the Mississippi
• Loyalist would have rights and property protected
• captured slaves must be returned to owners