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Lesson 8 The American Revolutionary War. Lesson Objective.
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Lesson 8 The American Revolutionary War
Lesson Objective • Understand the characteristics of 18th century warfare as exhibited in the American Revolutionary War. • Be able to discuss and analyze the strategies of both sides in the American Revolutionary War. • Understand the ways in which technology shaped the campaigns and tactics of the Revolutionary War. • Build a foundation for further discussion of the issues in integrating regular and volunteer (militia) forces in U.S. military history.
19th Century Warfare Characteristics • Linear Warfare • Maneuverability through rigid drill • Musket & bayonet primary weapons • Stationary artillery • Cavalry in support
Causes of the Revolution • French & Indian War (1754-1763) • Taxes to cover cost of British troops • Quartering of troops • Differing views of the colonial status • Colonists: English citizens • British: colonies to be economically exploited • British control of local officials
Acts of Defiance • Boston massacre (1770) • British revenue cutter Gaspee burned (1772) • Boston Tea Party (1773) • First Continental Congress Meets (1774) • Lexington & Concord (April 19, 1775)
American Revolution What were the two most important battles of the American Revolutionary War?
American Revolution What were the two most important battles of the American Revolutionary War? What was the American strategy? What was the British strategy?
Lexington Campaign • Colonials had foiled a British attempt to capture Patriot supplies at Salem, MA in February 1775 • British learned of another Patriot weapons cache at Concord and planned a raid for April 1775 • Night of April 18-19, British force under Lt Colonel Smith left Boston across Charles River • Light Infantry & grenadiers (800-900 troops) • Patriots had advanced warning of attack • Paul Revere, William Dawes, Samuel Prescott spread the word
Road to and From Concord Lexington & Concord, 19 April 1775 US Military Academy, Department of History http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/web03/atlases/atlas%20home.htm
Minute Man Don Troiani http://www.pf-militarygallery.com/images/troiani/Minute-Man-lg.jpg
Lexington "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon. But, if they want to have a war, let it begin here.“ Capt. John Parker Commander Lexington Company Middlesex Brigade Massachusetts Militia April 19, 1775 “Stand Your Ground” Don Troiani National Guard Bureau http://www.ngb.army.mil/gallery/heritage/
Lexington Campaign • Parker had 77 men on his rolls. Likely 40-50 responded to the call on April 19th. • Reports vary as to what happened, who fired first. • American casualties: 8 dead, 10 wounded (?) • Americans withdrew • British moved on to Concord
Concord North Bridge • Larger American force • Better organized • Small British detachment driven back from bridge “Concord North Bridge” Worcester Polytechnic Institute ROTC http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/MilSci/BTSI/Lexcon/open.html
Concord North Bridge Contemporary Illustration The Battle of Lexington and Concord 1775 http://www.britishbattles.com/concord-lexington.htm
British At Concord Contemporary Illustration The Battle of Lexington and Concord 1775 http://www.britishbattles.com/concord-lexington.htm
Return to Boston “Returning to Boston Under Fire” National Park Service http://www.nps.gov/mima/brvc/mural.htm
British Skirmishers “Returning to Boston Under Fire” National Park Service http://www.nps.gov/mima/brvc/mural.htm
Loading Under Fire “Returning to Boston Under Fire” National Park Service http://www.nps.gov/mima/brvc/mural.htm
British Strategy • Divide colonies • Destroy rebel army Our Atlases US Military Academy, Department of History http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/web03/atlases/atlas%20home.htm
British Strategy • Divide colonies • Destroy rebel army Problem: Could not decide between reconciliation & repression Our Atlases US Military Academy, Department of History http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/web03/atlases/atlas%20home.htm
American Strategy • Control the countryside • Isolate the British in the cities • Wear them down, by battle if necessary, until they grew weary of war and withdrew
American Strategy • Control the countryside • Isolate the British in the cities • Wear them down, by battle if necessary, until they grew weary of war and withdrew • After 1777: • Maintain the integrity of the army, but … • Avoid pitched battles • Not lose
Bunker Hill June 17, 1775 • American army surrounded Boston after Lexington & Concord • British Gen. Gage wanted to seize Charlestown peninsula • Patriots got wind of the plan • Occupied, fortified Breed’s Hill night of June 16th • 1,500 militiamen • British landed 2,500 on 17th • Three attempts to dislodge Americans
Bunker Hill June 17, 1775 Bunker Hill Don Troiani
Bunker Hill June 17, 1775 US Military Academy, Department of History http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/web03/atlases/american%20revolution/american%20revolution%20index.htm
Bunker Hill June 17, 1775 US Military Academy, Department of History http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/web03/atlases/american%20revolution/american%20revolution%20index.htm
Bunker Hill June 17, 1775 Battle of Bunker Hillby Howard Pyle, 1898
Bunker Hill June 17, 1775 BritishBattles.com http://www.britishbattles.com/bunker-hill.htm
Bunker Hill June 17, 1775 BritishBattles.com http://www.britishbattles.com/bunker-hill.htm
Bunker Hill June 17, 1775 US Military Academy, Department of History http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/web03/atlases/american%20revolution/american%20revolution%20index.htm
Bunker Hill June 17, 1775 The Battle of Bunker Hill http://www.britishbattles.com
Bunker Hill June 17, 1775 • Third British assault succeeded in overrunning American redoubt • Americans ran out of ammunition • Losses • British: ~1,150 killed & wounded (of 2,500) • American: ~450 killed & wounded (of 1,500) • Lessons: • British: Frontal assaults aren’t good ideas • Americans: Supply will be a continuing problem
Review The American Revolutionary War
British Strategy • Divide colonies • Destroy rebel army Our Atlases US Military Academy, Department of History http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/web03/atlases/atlas%20home.htm
Phases of the Revolutionary War • Boston Campaign (1775-1776) • Mid-Atlantic Campaigns (1776-1778) • Northern Campaigns (1775-1777) • Southern Campaign (1778-1781)
Boston Campaign 1775-1776 Battles of Lexington & Concord April 19, 1775 Siege of Boston begins
Boston Campaign 1775-1776
Boston Campaign 1775-1776 Battles of Lexington & Concord April 19, 1775 Siege of Boston begins June 14, 1775 Continental Congress creates Continental Army June 17, 1775 Battle of “Bunker Hill” Washington assumes command of the army July 5, 1775 Captured guns from Fort Ticonderoga arrive January 17, 1776
Boston Campaign 1775-1776 Battles of Lexington & Concord April 19, 1775 Siege of Boston begins June 14, 1775 Continental Congress creates Continental Army June 17, 1775 Battle of “Bunker Hill” Washington assumes command of the army July 5, 1775 Captured guns from Fort Ticonderoga arrive January 17, 1776 British withdraw to Halifax NS March 17, 1776 April 1776 Washington Moves Continental Army to New York
Raising An Army How did the Continental Congress raise an army? Continental Army State militias Why was this arrangement used? What problems did Congress face raising an army?
New York Campaign 1776 Battle of Long Island August 27, 1776 Battle of Harlem Heights September 16, 1776 Battle of White Plains October 28, 1776 Arrived in Pennsylvania Early December 1776
Mid-Atlantic Campaigns 1776 - 1778
Battle of Trenton December 26, 1776 • Washington crossed Delaware River Christmas night, surprised British in early hours of 26th Washington Crossing the Delaware Emmanuel Leutze • Held by many to be one of the two most brilliant battles in American history ( Other: Inchon, Korea, 1950)
Battle of Trenton December 26, 1776 US Military Academy, Department of History http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/web03/atlases/american%20revolution/american%20revolution%20index.htm
Battle of Trenton December 26, 1776 US Army Center for Military History • American losses: 4 wounded • British (Hessian) losses: 20 KIA, ~100 WIA, ~1,000 POW • Victory major boost to American morale after NY disasters
Timeline 1776-1777 Battle of Trenton December 26, 1776 Battle of Princeton January 3, 1777
Washington’s 1777 Campaign The Campaign of 1777 National Park Service http://www.nps.gov/vafo/HISTORY/DEFAULT.HTM
Timeline 1776-1777 Battle of Trenton December 26, 1776 Battle of Princeton January 3, 1777 Battle of Brandywine September 11, 1777 British Gen. Howe occupies Philadelphia September 28, 1777 October 17, 1777 British Gen. Burgoyne surrenders at Saratoga Washington enters winter quarters at Valley Forge December 1777