13 Original Colonies vs. Great Britain 1775-1783

1. Revolutionary War 13 Original Colonies vs. Great Britain1775-1783 Articles of Confederation 1781-1789s Student made

2. Advantages/Disadvantages/Strategy • Both Great Britain and the Thirteen Original Colonies had many advantages and disadvantages • Britain’s plan: • Their goal was to force the Americans to surrendor and take back control of the colonies • Their strategy was to capture seaports and split up and conquer • They used old 18th century tactics • Thirteen Colonies’ (Continental army) plan: • Their goal was to preserve their army and wear down the Brits until they get tired • Their strategy was to hit and run. The only victory that mattered was the last one • They used guerilla tactics and some 18th century ones as well

3. Military Leaders and Major Battles • Continental army: General George Washington • General Benedict Arnold • General Horatio Gates • General Nathaniel Greene • General Henry Knox • General Charles Lee • General Benjamin Lincoln • Great Britain army: General William Howe and Henry Clinton • General Charles Cornwallis • General John Gentleman Johnny Burgouyne • Admiral Richard Howe

4. Major Battles • Lexington and Concord (April 1775) • Fort Ticonderoga (May 1775) • Battle of Bunker Hill (June 1775) • Saratoga (Oct. 1775) • Yorktown (Oct. 1781)

5. Declaration of Independence • Continental Congress tired of standing by • Thomas Jefferson with committee formed wrote it • Signed July 4th, 1776- very risky • Now United States of America • 1781- General Cornwallis surrenders to General George Washington at the Battle or Yorktown • Treaty of Paris- 1783- outcome of Revolutionary War • Economy down • States very separate with different $$ • Needed to unite as a nation USA Victory Impact

6. The Articles of the Confederation • 1781-1789 • Articles created by Congress • 9/13 states had to approve of the articles to make it a law • Articles of the Confederation created a weak central government • Period known as the “critical period”