Fighting of the American Revolution

Loyalists vs. Patriots

Loyalists

Disagree with independence

Support England/Crown

Judges, governors

Lived far from cities, not exposed to taxes/acts

Thought the British were going to win

Thought England would better protect their interests

Patriots

Supporters of Independence

People saw economic opportunity in an independent America

Farmers, artisans, merchants, landowners, elected officials

About half of the population

Advantages/Disadvantages

Familiarity of the land

Strong, well-trained army

Leadership of George Washington

Fighting for a cause-Independence

Guerilla warfare

Strong central government

Troops unfamiliar with the land

Had money/banks

Soldiers are untrained/undisciplined

Support of Native Americans/loyalists

Not fighting for a cause

Shortage of food and ammunition

Inferior/no navy

No central government

No Bank

Weak leadership

Large distance to ship troops/weapons

Fought in straight lines/red uniforms

Had support of the French

British vs. AmericansBritish

Strong, well-trained army Strong central government Troops unfamiliar with the

land Had money/banks Support of Native

Americans/loyalists Not fighting for a cause Weak leadership Large distance to ship

troops/weapons Fought in straight lines/red

uniforms

Americans Familiarity of the land Leadership of George

Washington Fighting for a cause-

Independence Guerilla warfare Soldiers are

untrained/undisciplined Shortage of food and

ammunition Inferior/no navy No central government No Bank Had support of the French

Knowing the Sides

British

Loyalists

Red Coats

Lobster Backs

English

Tory

Americans

Patriots

Rebels

Continentals

Minutemen

First Phase

British tried to take New England- were unsuccessful at Lexington & Concord

Sullivan’s Island- reason the British focus on the North

Decided to move the Middle Atlantic States to stop the rebellion by isolating New England

Wanted to take Saratoga

Phase Two Battle of Trenton

Americans were in a bad situation- fewer than 8,000 men remained and many were very sick

Needed a victory to improve morale and get foreign aid Washington decided to risk everything on Christmas

night, 1776 Despite a storm, Washington and his 2,400 men crossed

the Delaware River to launch a surprise attack on Trenton, NJ

By 8:00 Washington and his men had marched 9 miles in the snow to Trenton

In the surprise attack, the Americans killed 30 and took 918 captive

After this attack, the Americans won again in Princeton These victories boosted morale and helped Washington

regroup

Battle of Saratoga British General: Burgoyne

His plan was to lead an army down from Canada to Albany where he would meet British General Howe from NYC

The two generals would join forces and cut off New England

British had 4,000 Red Coats, 3,000 Hessians, and 1,000 Indians

American General: Horatio Gates Gathered militiamen and soldiers from all over NY

and New England Americans surrounded Burgoyne, and continued

attacking British surrendered October 17, 1777

Effects of Saratoga British changed their war strategy- stayed close

to the coast where they could easily get reinforcements

TURNING POINT: French were still angry from the French & Indian War, so once they saw America could win after Saratoga, the French agreed to help America France agreed to give Americans support- TREATY

OF ALLIANCE OF 1778 Ben Franklin negotiated it with the French

Recognized American independence Agreed not to make peace with Britain unless

England recognized American independence

Led to British turning their attention to the South

Phase 3- The South

Britain thought that there were more Loyalists in the South.

Southern resources were more valuable/worth preserving.

The British win a number of small victories, but could not overcome the countryside Fighters in the countryside used guerilla

warfare, were committed to winning

Phase 3- The Carolinas

Battle of Charleston British took over the city- biggest defeat of the

Patriots

Battle of Camden Major mistakes of the Americans, led to their defeat

Battle of Kings Mountain Americans vs. Americans Defeat of the loyalists, gives Americans confidence

Battle of Cowpens Best planned battle of the war Huge defeat of the British

Phase 3- End of the War

Defeats in Carolina led the British to retreat back north

Cornwallis decided to take his men on boats from VA back to NY

Washington found out about this plan and changed his own plan Leads to Battle of Yorktown

Phase 3- Battle of Yorktown

Leading up to the battle Washington left NY to

surround Cornwallis at Yorktown, VA

Kept the plan secret so the British wouldn’t know Washington was on the move

Washington would surround the British on the west, and the French would arrive off the coast to keep the British from leaving on their boats, and from receiving aid/reinforcements

Battle of YorktownOctober 19, 1781

Yorktown

1. Cornwallis retreated from Carolinas to New York and waited for help from Clinton and British navy in Yorktown.

2. French fleet blocked York River and harbor so British navy could not reach and help Cornwallis.

3. Washington shelled British army for 3 weeks.

Yorktown – 1781

4. 17,000 Americans were fighting. Washington and French leaders surrounded the British troops – right and left.

5. Last desperate attempt to stop Americans – sent runaway slaves to infect with small pox over to infect American and French troops.

6. British surrounded and Cornwallis surrenders

RESULTS

1. Official papers were signed on the 19th, making the war officially over.

[While papers signed, British band played song “The World Turned Upside Down”.]

Treaty of Paris -1783

Treaty of Paris - 1783

• Peace treaty did the following:

1. Formally recognized The United States of America as a separate country

2. Boundaries of U.S. from Mississippi River to Atlantic Ocean.

Problems Facing the New Nation

1. U.S. lost main trading partner.

2. U.S. now had to create document to govern 13 states that considered states more important than a national government.

Map of United States of America - 1783