THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

Blows Must Decide

FOCUS QUESTION:

In times of trouble, when does one know that it is time to change what one is doing and try something else?

Preparations

Both sides prepared for a struggle More British regiments sent to the colonies Colonies revitalized militia

None knew what would happenor when

Passage of the Intolerable(Coercive) Acts

Initial Blows

Massachusetts laid in the center Arguably most vocal colony Intolerable Acts issued against Massachusetts

British troops sent to confiscate colonial arms Sent to seize depots at

Concord Led to initial skirmish

Advantages and Disadvantages

Identify two advantages and two disadvantages held by the British during the war.

Identify two advantages and two disadvantages held by the Colonists during the war.

(see pages 135-35)

British Strategies

Divide and Conquer1st stage: Seize Boston (1775-76)

Isolate New England and end the conflict2nd stage: Seize Middle Colonies (1776-80)

Capture Colonial “capitol” Isolate New England

3rd stage: Seize Southern Colonies (1779-81) Capture wealthiest colonies Draw support from the North

Colonial Strategies

Outlast the British Makes the war expensive Makes it more difficult to fight

Outlast the British Maintain Continental Army Shadow the British Gain foreign support

End of the War

Victory at Yorktown was the effective end of the war British government collapsed Peace talks began

War continued for two years New York remained occupied Raids continued

Treaty of Paris 1783

Independence of the U.S. recognized U.S. borders set West: Mississippi River North: Great Lakes South: Florida (returned to Spain)

U.S. fisherman could fish off Canadian coastU.S. citizens to repay British MerchantsU.S. to repay Loyalists for lost property