The American Revolution

1. The American Revolution

2. British Disadvantages • Lack of supplies in the colonies • Larger span of land to fight (Canada to Florida) • Lack of British soldiers • Hessians hired • French entered war in 1778 • Fought against an American guerilla army • Assumed there would be help from Loyalists

3. The Fighting • 1775 -1776 = Most fighting in New York • Battle of Long Island • December 1776 = Washington crosses the Delaware River Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emmanuel Leutze

4. 1777 -1779: The North & West • Battle of Saratoga • British General Burgoyne • British lost or wounded 1,200 men • October 17, 1777 = Burgoyne surrenders • American victory convinces France to join

5. Valley Forge • 2,000 Americans deserted • 2,000 died from illness • Ran out of food and supplies

6. Financial Instability • Inflation in the colonies • States and U.S. printed own money • Soldiers paid in I.O.U.s & Land Certificates

7. France Ends the War • France recognized U.S. as a country • Official alliance = Feb. 1778 • Gave supplies, soldiers, naval power to block Britain from bringing supplies

8. Georgia & South Carolina • Britain moves South • Britain takes Georgia & Charleston, South Carolina • Worst battles for U.S. in South Carolina