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The American Revolution: 1775-1783. Performance Objectives. PO 2 . Describe the significance of key events of the Revolutionary War: major battles (e.g., Lexington, Saratoga, Trenton) aid from France surrender at Yorktown. More Performance Objectives.
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The American Revolution: 1775-1783
Performance Objectives • PO 2. Describe the significance of key events of the Revolutionary War: • major battles (e.g., Lexington, Saratoga, Trenton) • aid from France • surrender at Yorktown
More Performance Objectives • PO 3. Describe the impact of the following key individuals on the Revolutionary War: • Benjamin Franklin • Thomas Jefferson • George Washington • Patrick Henry • Thomas Paine • King George III
Causes of the War • British defeat French in French/Indian War • Defeat of Indians removes colonists’ perceived need for British protection • War costly for Brits and need add’l income • Stamp, Navigation, and Revenue Act force colonists to pay for protection • 1770 Boston Massacre – 5 dead after protesting taxation w/o representation
Causes of the War (cont.) • Quartering Act • Colonists forced to house British troops • 3rd Amendment of the Constitution • Real Causes • Colonists had intellectual differences with British gov’t • Spirit of independence brought about by frontier life • Belief in democracy over oligarchy
Military Strategies The Americans The British • Break the colonies in half by getting between the North & the South. • Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally. • “Divide and Conquer” use the Loyalists. • Attrition [the British had a long supply line]. • Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down] • Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies. • Rely on love of home to keep men fighting
Loyalist Strongholds
Washington’s Headaches • Only 1/3 of the colonists were in favor of a war for independence [the other third were Loyalists, and the final third were neutral]. • State/colony loyalties. • Congress couldn’t tax to raise money for the Continental Army. • Poor training [until the arrival of Baron von Steuben].
Fort Ticonderoga • Ethan Allen, a blacksmith, leads the Green Mountain boys of Vermont against the fort which had many cannon. • There was one guard and the officers were sleeping. • The commander had to turn over 100 cannon and gunpowder.
Second Continental Congress • 13 colonies send delegates to Philadelphia. • Many do not want a war. • The Olive Branch Petition is sent to King George asking him to repeal the Intolerable Acts. • The Continental Army is created with George Washington as Commander-in-Chief.
Bunker (Breed’s) HillJun 1775 • New “Continental Army” takes position on Breed’s Hill • They are told, “Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes!” because they have only a small amount of gunpowder • British conduct frontal assault • Poor judgement – flanks/rear exposed • 40% casualties for Brits (1,100 dead) • Colonials repel two assaults but run out of ammunition.
Bunker Hill (June, 1775) The British suffered over 40% casualties.
Results of Bunker Hill • Colonists convinced standing army was unnecessary • Showed colonial determination • Gen Howe forever failed to press victories • New colonial tactics: • Simple defensive • Hold at the Hudson
Brits Leave Boston • By January 1776, the Continental Army surrounded Boston. • The cannon captured at Ticonderoga were placed on a hill overlooking Boston and its harbor. • Seeing that they were trapped, General Howe ordered his troops to go to Halifax, Canada.
Common Sense • Many colonists remained loyal to Britain, even while patriots were fighting for freedom. • Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called Common Sense. • This pamphlet asked anyone to “show single advantage this continent can reap by being connected with Britain. • Hundreds of thousands of copies were sold. • Many loyalists changed their thinking because of Paine’s arguments.
Declaring Independence • Delegates to the Continental Congress came to believe that declaring independence was necessary. • Richard Henry Lee of Virginia offers a resolution that “these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.” • From that moment, delegates were considered traitors to their country. A traitor is one who betrays his or her own country.
A committee is formed to write the declaration. • John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman and Thomas Jefferson undertake this task. • Jefferson is asked to write the document explaining to the world why the colonies were taking such a drastic step. • On July 4th, 1776, the Congress voted that the 13 colonies were “free and independent States. • Fireworks were invented later
The Declaration • The first part explains the basic rights on which the nation is founded. Finish this phrase, “We hold these truths to be self-evident………………… • The second part list the wrongs committed by Britain • The last section declares that the colonies had become “the United States of America.”
Phase II: NY & PA[1777-1778]
New York • Gen. Howe (Brit) heads to New York City. • Washington takes the Continental Army to defend the city. • Howe has 34,000 troops, 10,000 sailors, 30 warships and 400 smaller boats. • Washington has 20,000 men and no navy. • Losing the battles for New York, the Continentals retreat to New Jersey. • Nathan Hale, a young Connecticut spy is captured behind British lines. • “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country” were his last words…
Trenton and the Crossing • Discouraged with losing, the Continentals are cold, hungry, deserting and many are due for re-enlistment • A victory is badly needed. • Washington plans a surprise attack on Hessian troops (German mercenaries) in Trenton , New Jersey. • He gets his troops across the frozen Delaware River in the dead of night on Christmas. • On Dec. 26, the Continental Army takes over 1400 Hessians prisoner without losing a single soldier!
Washington Crossing the Delaware Painted by Emanuel Leutze, 1851
Princeton • After the Battle of Trenton, the British send General Charles Cornwallis to retake the city. • Outside of Princeton, he sees the lights of Washington’s campfires. • “At last we have run down the old fox and we will bag him in the morning.” • Washington had fooled Cornwallis by leaving the fires burning as he marched his troops behind British lines, winning another surprise victory. • The army has new hope and confidence.
British Plan in Pennsylvania • General Burgoyne (Brit) convinces King George that if New England is cut off from the other colonies the war will end. • 3 British armies march on Albany, N.Y. from different directions. • General Howe must take Philadelphia before going to Albany. He takes too much time • General St. Leger (Brit) moves slowly due to baggage carts. • Burgoyne is surrounded in the village of Saratoga. • The 3 armies never reached Albany…
SaratogaOct 1777 • Brits only hold NYC, part of RI & Philadelphia • Brit plan is to hold on to major city, isolate North, and gain southern sentiment • Burgoyne moves south from Canada • Plan to take Albany, NY • Meeting up with Howe in NYC to cut North from South
Follies at Saratoga • Burgoyne sets off with an overbundance of supplies/equipment • Movement extremely slow (1 mile/day) • Guerillas could easily stay ahead and slow further • The success of guerillas led to more partisan support • Burgoyne’s forces quickly wore down • Delays allow colonials to reinforce and win.
Significance of Saratoga • Turning point of Revolution • French enters war, aligning with colonists • Brits now move focus to the South • Spain and Holland soon join war • British forced to protect its own borders from aggressors • British concerned about about long ocean supply lines
Saratoga: “Turning Point” of the War… A modern-day re-enactment
Southern CampaignLate 1778 • Brits felt there were more loyalists in South • Southern resources more valuable • Brits win small victories but unable to pacify countryside • Greene vs Cornwallis • Greene sacrificed mass for manuever • Smaller forces more easily could live off land • Provided add’l rally points for local militia • Tempted Cornwallis to split his forces
The Swamp Fox • In the southern battles, Americans began to employ hit and run, or guerrilla, tactics. • Francis Marion of South Carolina led a small band of men who slept by day and traveled by night. • He was known as the Swamp Fox because he appeared suddenly out of the swamps, attacked the British, and then retreated back to the swamps. • His actions kept the British off balance
Battle of Cowpens17 Jan 1781 • Daniel Morgan – Colonial leader • Very charismatic • Expects only two good shots before falling back • Eliminates unseasoned troops fleeing • Numerically equal forces but Americans ¾ militia • Colonials envelop Brits with militia and cavalry • Brits lose 9/10th of men due to overconfidence
John Paul Jones • Although the American navy remained small, Americans attacked and captured British ships at sea. • John Paul Jones, in command of the Bonhomme Richard, finds a British warship, the Serapis, guarding 39 merchant ships in the North Sea off the coast of Britain. • He attacks, even though the Serapis is larger. • When told to surrender, Jones states, “I have not yet begun to fight!” • His men board the warship and defeat the men in hand-to-hand fighting.
Tale of a Traitor • By 1780, one of Washington’s most talented and successful generals, Benedict Arnold, was in command of the American fort at West Point. • He was angry at what he felt was a lack of credit given to him for his victories. • He offered to turn the fort over to the British! • His plot almost succeeded but soldiers caught the messenger taking the offer to the British. • Arnold escaped and joined the British and, to this day, a synonym for traitor is a “Benedict Arnold.”
Yorktown • Cornwallis consolidates forces • French defeat British ships at Battle of Capes • Americans to front; French to rear • Brits surrender 17 Oct 1781
The Battle of Yorktown (1781) Count de Rochambeau AdmiralDe Grasse
Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown: “The World Turned Upside Down!” Painted by John Trumbull, 1797
Why did the British Lose???
British Forces • Classic 18th century European army • Linear tactics • Well-trained soldiers • Loyalty suspect in England • English sympathy for colonies • Employment of Hessians (mercenaries)
American Forces • Most local militia for local defense • Troops often under-trained • Quick to flee under fire • Von Steuben • Discipline instilled – little before his tenure • Streamlined musket loading & uniformity • Standardized training – speed and marksmanship • Length of service impeded tactics
Impact of French • Anxious to regain international position • French repeatedly help American cause: • Loans of money • Use of French ports by American privateers • Protected American vessels near French waters • Made English uneasy at home • French Navy critical at Yorktown
Failures of England • Initial plan could have worked • Didn’t act with resolution • Adequate forces were never provided • Lacked unity of command and comm • Commanders uncertain of objective • Lord Germain directed from England • Indecisive and slow to act • Brits unable to exploit Royal Navy • Focused on terrain (cities) instead of enemy
Weapons of the Era • UNITED STATES • Rifle (minority) • More accurate • Longer to reload • No bayonet • Good guerilla weapon • Musket (majority) • Accurate fire • Hunters • Individual targets • BRITISH • Brown Bess musket • Volley fire • No target picked
Impact on Warfare • Democratization of warfare • “Well regulated” militia • Balanced rights with obligated military service • Impact of “people’s army” fighting for a cause • New concept of total war for total victory • Changed tactics • Rifle makes linear tactics difficult • Brits adopt American tactics (cover and concealment)
