Revolutionary War Notes

1. Revolutionary War Notes

2. A Country Divided • 2/5th - Patriots • Mostly in New England and VA

3. A Country Divided • 1/5th- Loyalits= Tories • Mostly in NY and South

4. Colonies Divided • Native Americans • African Americans • Have to decide which side will treat them best if they win

5. Americans- Disadvantages • Had to start Army/Navy from Scratch • No formal government to make decisions • Scarce supplies: money, clothing, food, guns, ammo

6. Americans-Advantages • Better leadership-Washington • “Home Field Advantage” • Tactics/Strategy-guerilla warfare • Foreign Aid- France as an ally • Motivated to save own land

7. British Disadvantages • Far away from Britain, sending orders, getting news takes 2 months • Fought using old strategies-unwilling to change • Has a worldwide empire to worry about

8. British Advantages • Best Army and Navy in the world • Also 30,000 hired mercenaries • Controlled major cities (NY and Boston) • Richest nation in the world • Strong and organized government

9. Early Strategies-American • Score early victories to show they were for real • Drum up support-gain more patriots • Gain foreign allies-France, Spain

10. Early Strategies-British • Occupy major coastal cities-take advantage of better Navy • Drum up Loyalist support • Crush the Continental Army before it has a chance to gain momentum

11. War in the North • Patriots drive British from Boston, NYC • Britain gets serious about war, sends huge amount of troops, ships, supplies • Britain kicks patriots out of NYC • Begins a year of defeats for Washington and Continentals

12. Trenton • Dec. 25, 1776 • Continentals are in bad shape after many losses, casualties, few supplies • Most soldiers enlistments ending • If Washington does not take immediate action the revolution is likely over

13. Trenton • Washington’s bold plan- cross Delaware River on Christmas night • Surprise attack on German Hessians • Result: 30 Hessians killed, 918 Captured • Result: Only 4 Colonists killed • Result: Many guns, ammo captured • Result: Major morale boost for Washington and Continental Army

14. Princeton • Jan. 3, 1777 • Washington builds on success, attacks 1200 British and captures or kills 1/3 • Only 40 Continental casualties

15. 3 Reasons Trenton and Princeton were major victories • 1. Boosted Patriot morale • 2. Britain left New Jersey- remains in Patriot hands the rest of the war • 3. Continental Army gains much needed supplies and weapons

16. Saratoga • Oct. 17, 1777 • Part of British Army went to Canada to attack from the North • They were to meet up with main British Army in NYC • The Continentals defeated the British in several battles around Saratoga

17. Saratoga • British surrendered 5800 men, supplies • Is a major turning point in war towards a Patriot victory • France sees success, becomes an ally, sending troops and $$ • Later Spain becomes ally also

18. Foreign Officers Arrive • Marquis de Lafayette – french officer become Washington’s Aide. Used his own money to provide warm clothes for his men. • Persuaded France to send 6,000 troops • German Baron Von Stueben – Trains the Continental Army at Valley Forge. Turns Army into a stronger fighting machine.

19. Valley Forge • In late 1777, British force Continentals out of Philadelphia • They set up a winter camp at Valley Forge, PA • Awful conditions- few supplies, food, improper clothing for winter • 1/4 died from starvation, cold, disease

21. American Armed Forces • Continental Army • Inexperienced • 1 year enlistment • Later for whole war • 231,771 total

22. Militia 164,087 Total 3,6,9 month enlistment close to home Designed to protect local resources

23. African Americans • Washington, Continental Congress opposed enlistment • 5,000 troops

24. Women • Martha Washington • Molly Pitcher- Mary Hays • Usually had to fight in disguise

25. Spies • Worked for both sides • Often switched sides

26. Desertions • Common- 18.2% of all troops • Reasons: • Homesick • Money • Starvation • Punishment

27. Uniforms- Beginning • Farm clothes • Buckskins • Boots/shoes scarce

28. Uniforms-Officers/Regulars

29. Weapons-smoothbore musketsFlintlock firing mechanism

30. Muskets- range of 100 yardsBullets- poured from hot lead

31. Cannons- inaccurate, heavy, usually captured, tendency to explode

32. Rations • Scarce • Beef • Pork • Salt Fish • Bread • Rice • Beans • Milk

33. Army Pay • Washington- $500/month • Major Generals- $162/month • Privates- $6.67/month • Often didn’t arrive on time or sometimes at all- led to mutinies

34. Medical Care • Individual doctors-soldiers paid • Army Hospital • Lacked: medicine, beds, blankets

35. American Navy • Built from scratch- few in numbers • Bounties- 1/2 of profits from British warships • Helped greatly when France and Spain join the fight

36. Privateers • A privately owned ship that a wartime government gives permission to attack an enemy’s merchant ships • 1,000 in Revolutionary war • Captured 606 British ships • Claimed $18,000,000 in goods • Accomplished most American victories at sea

38. Taking the War to England • Privateer John Paul Jones sails along the British coast attacking ships. • “I have not yet begun to fight”, Bonhomme Richard v Serapis.

39. British Armed Forces • Organization • Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery • Grenadiers, Light Artillery • Discipline Severe • Recruiting Problems

40. Weapons • Tower musket • 3 shots a minute • Inaccurate • Bayonets

41. Supplies • Knapsack • Clothing • Blanket • Provisions for 4 days • Share of Tent • 60 rounds of gunpowder and bullets

42. Rations • Food from Britain • Inferior to Patriots • Delayed, slow deliveries • Often raided farms, homes to get food and live off of the land • Supported by loyalists

43. Navy • Controlled seas • Kept most American ports closed • Hard to recruit experienced sailors

44. War on Frontier • George Rogers Clark- 24 yr old • Travels through PA, OH, IN, IL • Recruits soldiers along the way • Captures British forts at Kaskaskea, Vincennes • Gave a huge amount of land to the Americans

45. War in the South- W. vs. T. • Whigs: loyal to the Continental Congress • Tories: loyal to England- many in the South • Much violence between W. and T. in the South • British strategy- move war to the South where there were more loyalists, slaves (Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation), tire out Patriots • British Army was successful- captured Savannah and Charlestown

46. Camden- S.C. • 1780- Worst American Defeat of war • British General Cornwallis defeats Patriot General Gates • British drew Patriots into a European style battle • 1,000 Patriots killed • 1,000 Captured

47. Swamp Fox- Altered Strategy • Francis Marion- led a small band patriots on horseback • Used guerrilla tactics • Cut British supply lines, communications • Nathaniel Greene replaces Gates • Americans lead British on chase all through South, wasting British time and money

48. Final Battle Royal- Yorktown • Oct. 19, 1781 • Cornwallis sets up a base on a peninsula at Yorktown, VA • Patriots+French surround British by land and sea- begin massive siege • Cornwallis surrenders 8,000 British troops- war effectively over • See animation from classzone.com

49. Casualties • Inaccurate records • 25,000 Patriots/10,000 British killed • 6000+ wounded • Does not count those dying from disease, starvation, freezing

50. Financing the War • Huge problem for Americans • No money in treasury • No authority to tax • America left deeply in debt after war- • $27 million