The American Revolution 1776-1783

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The American Revolution1776-1783

• Chapter 7

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Continental Army

• Less than 20,000
• Militia About 230,000 served but never at one
  time.
• Low enlistment due to Short enlistments,
  desertions, time out to harvest crops.
• Allies French, African-Americans, Natives, and
  Women.

3
British Army

• About 50,000 regulars
• 30,000 hired German soldiers
• Allies Loyalists, African-Americans, Natives

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Who sided with who??

• 1/3 of the Americans supported the Revolution
• 1/3 of the colonists remained loyal British
  subjects
• 1/3 were neutral (didnt take sides!)

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American Advantages!

1. Outstanding leadership
2. Strong motivation Freedom!!
3. Fighting on home ground
4. Experienced officers
5. Superior fire arms (German made)
6. Sharp-shooters (snipers)

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American Disadvantages

• Inexperienced army/militia
• Short enlistments (3-12 months)
• Brand new navy (few ships)
• Constant shortages (food, clothing, medicine,
  arms, money)
• Near bankrupt treasury (no gold/silver to place
  value on paper money)
• Loyalist warfare (neighbor against neighbor)

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British Advantages

1. Military power (strongest in world)
2. Superior numbers
3. Indian support
4. Loyalist cooperation
5. Able to fund war and hire soldiers
6. Uniforms (took pride)

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British Disadvantages

1. Weak motivation (no cause)
2. Unaggressive officers
3. 3,000 miles from British base (poor
   communications and supply lines)
4. 1,500 enemy coastline (difficult blockade)
5. Vast land
6. Easy targets with red uniforms
7. European aid to Americans

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13 United States of Americas

• Goals 1. Preserve Continental Army
• 2. Wear down British troops until they go home
• Strategies
• Hit and run!
• Avoid battles. Avoid capture. Last battle is most
  important.

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Great Britain

• Goals 1. Force the Cont. army to surrender.
• 2. Restore British control of the 13 colonies.
• Strategies 1. Capture seaports
• 2. Divide and conquer by isolating and seizing
  1) New England 2) Middle States 3) South

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American Tactics

• Guerrilla Tactics Surprise raids, fighting in
  hiding (snipers), learned these from Natives.
• Also conventional 18th century war tactics

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British Tactics

• Conventional 18th century war tactics frontal
  attacks in close ranks.

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Battle of Trenton

• For several months, Washington and his army
  fought General Howe and his troops for control of
  New York State.
• The British forced Washington to retreat.
• The soldiers spirits were low.

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Battle of Trenton

• Washington wanted a quick victory.
• Washington decided to surprise attack a British
  force made up of Hessian mercenaries.

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Battle of Trenton

• Washington and his men crossed the Delaware
  River to New Jersey on December 25, 1776.
• The Hessians were surprised by the attack and
  not able to put up much resistance.

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George Washington and his men crossing the
Delaware river
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Outcome of the Battle of Trenton

• The Americans captured or killed more than 900
  Hessians and gained needed supplies.
• With this victory most of the army reenlisted
  and attracted new recruits!

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Battle of Saratoga

• British General Howe did not meet his other
  armies in Albany, instead he attacked
  Pennsylvania
• The Americans were able to surround the British
  and force them to surrender!!

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Battle of Saratoga

• This is the turning point in the war
• It caused European nations to think that the
  Americans might have a chance to win the war.
• Because of this several European nations agreed
  to help America

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Help from Abroad

• France wanted revenge over losing the French and
  Indian War to the British!
• King Louis XVI signed two treaties of alliance
  with the United States
• France sent aid in the form of
• 1. money
• 2. supplies
• 3. troops

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Valley Forge

• Washingtons winter camp for 1777-1778
• Signified great hardships the Americans lived
  through during the war.
• Short on supplies
• Very difficult time not enough food or warm
  clothing
• Many soldiers died from malnutrition, exposure
  to the cold, and diseases.
• Still did not quit!

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Battle of Yorktown

• Cornwallis and his 8,000 British troops were
  trapped in Yorktown, Virginia by Washingtons
  army and the French naval fleet.
• October 19, 1781 American and French forces
  bombarded the fort with cannon fire.
• General Cornwallis surrendered.
• Last major battle of the Amer. Revolution

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Why the Americans won the war

• 1. Better leadership
• 2. Foreign Aid
• 3. Knowledge of the land
• 4. Motivation

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Treaty of Paris (1783)

• Ended the American Revolution (America won)
• Six conditions
• 1. The US was independent
• 2. Boundaries would be the Mississippi R. on
  the west, Canada on the north, and Spanish
  Florida on the south

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Treaty of Paris (1783)

• 3. US got the right to fish off Canadas
  Atlantic Coast
• 4. Each would repay debts it owed the other
• 5. The British were to return any enslaved
  persons it had captured
• 6. Congress would recommend property taken from
  loyalists would be returned.

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Costs of the War

• Estimated 25,700 Americans died during the war
• Estimated 10,000 British soldiers were killed
• Debt from war about 27 million
• Thousands of loyalists left the United States.

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A New Form of Government

• Republicanism instead of a king, the people
  would rule government would obtain its
  authority from the citizens and be responsible to
  them