Presentation Transcript

1. The American Revolutionary War

2. Review French and Indian War Fought mostly on American soil Disagreements over how the war should be handled between British and Americans Quartering of British soldiers in American homes Despite winning, war nearly doubles British national debt War devastates portions of American economy, offering no immediate source of revenue
3. Review Fallout of the French and Indian War Britain raises taxes to gain needed revenue Sugar Act of 1763 Taxes sugar and sugar products Also creates new anti-smuggling laws to prevent colonial trade with other countries Stamp Act 1765 Forced colonists to buy products with official British stamp Townshend Acts Indirect tax on imports – raised price to bring products in colonies, thereby forcing sellers to raise their prices
4. Review Protests Boston Massacre of 1770 Angry mob and British soldiers engage each other 5 colonists die News spreads quickly, causing uproar Boston Tea Party New taxes on tea lead to colonial boycott In response, British Parliament passes a law to take colonial sellers out of the equation Rebels dump 18,000 pounds of tea in harbor British Anger Intolerable Acts Close Boston Harbor New Quartering Act of British soldiers Placed Massachusetts under martial law, ruled by British General Gage
5. Early Actions Lexington and Concord With Gage in control of Massachusetts, more protests lead to organized colonial militias Gage sends troops to seize rebel’s arms and ammunition in Lexington and Concord April 18, 1775: Paul Revere’s ride to warn rebels in Concord of British movement Little resistance at Lexington, British move to Concord Little to no arms discovered Minutemen resist British Army, force retreat
6. Early Actions Second Continental Congress Official ruling body of the colonies Initial meeting is to discuss defense, not make policy Battle of Bunker Hill June 1775 Fought mostly at Breed’s Hill Despite a victory, British forced to retreat out of Boston
7. Early Actions Government Protest Common Sense Pamphlet by Thomas Paine States that abuses by King and Parliament have forced Americans to act out Believed independence was inevitable and necessary Declaration of Independence Formally severed all ties between Britain and US States “All men are created equal”
8. Early Actions Loyalists vs. Patriots Loyalists Stayed devoted to British Estimated 1/3 to 1/2 of all colonists stay true in North Most were fearful of failure and punishment Patriots Mostly middle to lower class of society Business owners that had been affected by laws Immigrants with history of rivaling British
9. New York and New Jersey Campaign New York was the main port for the colonies General and Admiral Howe surround the city and lay siege Washington and the rebels kicked out of city British start “prison ships” By putting prisoners on ships, different laws applied More soldiers die of neglect and disease on ships than in battle in the entire war Morale drops in patriot camp British believe blockading ports will lead to surrender
10. New York and New Jersey Campaign Patriots retreat to Trenton, New Jersey Washington’s Leadership Becomes inspirational leader Convinces regulars to stay and steals money to pay them Crosses Delaware River on Christmas night and surprise attacks British Drives British out of Trenton and Princeton Battles of Trenton and Princeton are among the most talked about of war for bravery
11. Washington Crossing the Delaware
12. Saratoga Campaign Turning Point of War British Strategy Gen. Burgoyne wanted to capture Lake Champlain and Hudson River to divide New England from the rest of the colonies Stayed inland without naval help Americans Counter Hit-and-run tactics Introduce new rifling in guns = better accuracy Begin killing officers, leaving British soldiers unorganized and easy to defeat
13. Saratoga Campaign British Fail Too many supplies slow British movement More focused on “champagne and campaign” than the goal No help from Howe in New York Gen. Horatio Gates outmaneuvers Burgoyne Burgoyne surrender in October 1777 This convinces France to enter war Philadelphia British occupy Philadelphia, forcing Americans to stay the winter at Valley Forge
14. Valley Forge Little to no housing Exposure to cold and disease kill approx. ¼ of the US Army Baron von Steuben of Prussia enters camp on behalf of Americans Exiled from Prussia because he was gay Retrains Americans with Prussian techniques Washington again convinces regulars to stay
15. Conditions at Valley Forge
16. Southern Campaign 1778-1781 British decide to go South to take Americans away from main areas of strength Loyalist support help British gain military victories British Army wearing down and sustaining heavy losses Howe cedes control to Cornwallis After Battle of the Cowpens, British retreat to Yorktown in 1781
17. Yorktown Situated between James and York rivers Restricted movement Close to original Jamestown settlement British Cornwallis is waiting on reinforcements and help from Clinton Americans Arrival of 6,000 French troops help boost numbers and morale Lay siege to Yorktown, cut off communication, leave Cornwallis all alone and vulnerable
18. Yorktown Siege Begets Victory Engagement at sea blocks help from Britain British armies too spread out to help Cornwallis Washington moves in from outer edges Cornwallis is unable to break through, surrenders to halt losses Colonists win Fighting continues until 1783 with other areas unaware of the end of war
19. Surrendering Ceremonies at Yorktown
20. End of War With Cornwallis surrendering… King is forced to accept American independence Washington is elevated to near godlike status Treaty of Paris ends war in 1783 New government formed: Articles of Confederation