Revolutionary War Strengths British Strengths o o WellDisciplined

Revolutionary War Strengths British Strengths o o Well-Disciplined Well-Equipped Well-Trained Help from Loyalists, African Americans, Native Americans, and Mercenaries o World Strongest Navy Colonial Strengths o Fighting on Own Territory o Fighting Techniques

Revolutionary War Weaknesses British Weaknesses o War Not Popular in Britain o Had to Fight in Hostile Conditions o British Commanders Would Not Adapt Fighting Techniques to American Environment Colonial Weaknesses o o Poorly Equipped Less Stable Fighting Force Poorly Disciplined Division Within Colonies

Lord Dunmore’s Offer African Americans of the American Revolution -Lord Dunmore: Royal governor of Virginia -November 1775: Issued proclamation promising freedom to defecting, able-bodied slaves who would fight for Britain -1778: 30, 000 black Virginians defected from slavery -Used only for manual labor -Not fed and clothed well -Washington made same offer, with 5, 000 becoming Patriots

Early Defeats -British capture all major colonial cities New York Philadelphia Boston Charleston -Washington’s army in retreat and many desert

Patriot Victories -A few victories helped keep morale up -Dec. 26, 1776 at Trenton - Washington crosses Delaware into New Jersey Washington Crossing the Delaware River - Surprise attack on 2400 German mercenaries - Raised morale of the Patriots and put Washington on offensive Jan. 1777 at Princeton - Left campfires burning to fool British - Slipped away, attacked British, and gained supplies Surrender of the Hessians at Trenton

“Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and show the whole world that a Freeman, contending for liberty on his own ground, is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth. ” George Washington

Turning Point -Large British force defeated at Saratoga Oct. 1777 - Colonials led by Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold - First decisive colonial victory -Kept British near the coastline -Helped colonists get French help in the war effort -Wanted to weaken Britain -Had been secretly giving America weapons and money since beginning of war -After Saratoga, open ally -Turning point of the war

Valley Forge -Camp site of Washington’s army during winter of 1777 -78. -British forces occupied nearby cities -Many soldiers died of cold and starvation -Congress struggled to gain supplies for the army -lack of central gov’t

“To see men without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lay on, without shoes…. marching through frost and snow…and submitting to it without a murmur, is a mark of patience and obedience which in my opinion can scarcely be paralleled. ” George Washington at Valley Forge “Thousands were without blankets, and were obliged to warm themselves over fires all night…It was not uncommon to track the march of the men over ice and frozen ground by the blood from their naked feet. ” Colonial Soldier, 1777

Civilian Life -Inflation -Shortage of goods -Women took over the work of men - Betsy Ross: Sews 13 star flag -Some women helped the military effort Nurses, Uniforms, Flags Betsy Ross: Sews 13 star flag

Foreign Help -Foreign military leaders offered professional training for the army “The moment I knew she was fighting for freedom, I burnt with the desire of bleeding for her. ” Marquis de Lafayette -Marquis de Lafayette led volunteer army from France -Friedrich von Steuben Prussian officer who trained patriot soldiers

He arrived at the camp on February 23, 1778. One soldier’s first impression of the Baron was “of the ancient fabled God of War … he seemed to me a perfect personification of Mars. The trappings of his horse, the enormous holsters of his pistols, his large size, and his strikingly martial aspect, all seemed to favor the idea. ”

Southern Campaign -British strategy changed to splitting the colonies - Focused attention on the South because of high loyalist population -Charleston (SC) Captured by Cornwallis -Kings Mountain (NC) Patriot Victory Patriots v. Loyalists -Cowpens (SC) Patriot Victory

Benedict Arnold “Traitor” Giving British information on troop movements and supplies Gained command of West Point, which guarded Hudson River and New York Caught giving layout of fort to British Escapes to Britain before found guilty of treason

War’s End -Guilford Courthouse costly British victory - Nathaniel Greene v. Lord Cornwallis - Over 2, 300 men killed or wounded total -retreat to Yorktown -surrounded by French and Americans French navy blocks Cornwallis in Virginia Washington blocks him on land Cornwallis surrenders Oct, 1781

The World Turned Upside Down If buttercups buzz'd after the bee, If boats were on land, churches on sea, If ponies rode men and if grass ate the cows, And cats should be chased into holes by the mouse, If the mamas sold their babies To the gypsies for half a crown; If summer were spring and the other way round, Then all the world would be upside down.

Treaty of Paris -Treaty of Paris 1783 -recognized U. S. independence -set boundaries to the Mississippi -some provisions of the treaty will lead to trouble later "Thus the great and hazardous enterprise we have been engaged in is, God be praised, happily completed. A few years of peace will improve, will restore and increase our strength; but our future will depend on our union and our virtue. Let us, therefore, beware of being lulled into a dangerous security; and of being both enervated and impoverished by luxury; of being weakened by internal contentions and divisions. " Benjamin Franklin, from Paris, 1784, just after signing the Peace Treaty

America after the Treaty of Paris

Symbol to the World A Symbol for the World -liberty -freedom -equality -opportunity -belief in a greater cause -set a precedent for the American future