Slide 1

The American RevolutionThe American Revolution

Major Carlos Rascon

Slide 2

ReferencesReferences

Dupuy and Dupuy, Dupuy and Dupuy, The Encyclopedia of The Encyclopedia of Military HistoryMilitary History, pp. 708-725, pp. 708-725

Fuller, Fuller, A Military History of the Western A Military History of the Western WorldWorld, Vol. II, Chronicles 9, 10; ch. 9,10; pp. , Vol. II, Chronicles 9, 10; ch. 9,10; pp. 271-340271-340

Weigley, Weigley, The American Way of WarThe American Way of War, pp. 3-39, pp. 3-39

Slide 3

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Know the U.S. and British strategies and Know the U.S. and British strategies and objectives, and how they changed.objectives, and how they changed.

Be familiar with key campaigns and the Be familiar with key campaigns and the policies that contributed to their success.policies that contributed to their success.

Describe the factors that contributed to the Describe the factors that contributed to the British losses.British losses.

Describe how the intervention of the French Describe how the intervention of the French assisted the U.S.assisted the U.S.

Understand the changes in warfare Understand the changes in warfare precipitated by the American Revolution.precipitated by the American Revolution.

Slide 4

Causes of the WarCauses of the War

British defeat French in French/Indian WarBritish defeat French in French/Indian War– Defeat of Indians removes colonists’ perceived Defeat of Indians removes colonists’ perceived

need for British protectionneed for British protection– War costly for Brits and need add’l incomeWar costly for Brits and need add’l income

Stamp, Navigation, and Revenue Act force Stamp, Navigation, and Revenue Act force colonists to pay for protectioncolonists to pay for protection

1770 Boston Massacre – 5 dead after 1770 Boston Massacre – 5 dead after protesting taxation w/o representationprotesting taxation w/o representation

Slide 5

Causes of the War (cont.)Causes of the War (cont.)

Quartering ActQuartering Act– Colonists forced to house British troopsColonists forced to house British troops– 33rdrd Amendment of the Constitution Amendment of the Constitution

Real CausesReal Causes– Colonists had intellectual differences with British Colonists had intellectual differences with British

gov’tgov’t– Spirit of independence brought about by frontier Spirit of independence brought about by frontier

lifelife– Belief in democracy over oligarchyBelief in democracy over oligarchy

Slide 6

Colonial StrategyColonial Strategy

Partisan warfare through local militiaPartisan warfare through local militiaStrategy of attritionStrategy of attrition

– Gradual wear down or weakeningGradual wear down or weakening– Long lines of comm/supply for EnglishLong lines of comm/supply for English– English resolve is weakEnglish resolve is weak– English has enemies in EuropeEnglish has enemies in Europe

Colonialists split 1/3 rebel, loyalist, and Colonialists split 1/3 rebel, loyalist, and indifferent causing civil warindifferent causing civil war

Slide 7

British StrategyBritish Strategy

Break colonies in half at NYCBreak colonies in half at NYC– Break lines of communication and supplyBreak lines of communication and supply– Separate passion from provisionSeparate passion from provision

Economic warfareEconomic warfare– BlockadeBlockade– CounterfeitingCounterfeiting

England’s Royal NavyEngland’s Royal Navy– Able to move freely along long coastal stripAble to move freely along long coastal strip– No critical points to maneuver againstNo critical points to maneuver against

Slide 8

Battle of LexingtonBattle of Lexington19 Apr 177519 Apr 1775

•Brits send 700 troops to destroy arms stash in Concord

•“Minute Men” meet Brits at Lexington

•Eight colonists dead, 10 wounded – American Revolution begins

•Buys time to remove arms

•Public sentiment becomes strongly anti-British

Slide 9

Bunker (Breed’s) HillBunker (Breed’s) HillJun 1775Jun 1775

New “Continental Army” takes New “Continental Army” takes position on Breed’s Hillposition on Breed’s Hill

British conduct frontal assaultBritish conduct frontal assault– Poor judgement – flanks/rear Poor judgement – flanks/rear

exposedexposed– 40% casualties for Brits (1,100 40% casualties for Brits (1,100

dead)dead) Colonials repel two assaults but Colonials repel two assaults but

run out of ammorun out of ammo

Slide 10

Results of Bunker HillResults of Bunker Hill

Colonists convinced standing army was Colonists convinced standing army was unnecessaryunnecessary

Showed colonial determinationShowed colonial determinationGen Howe forever failed to press victoriesGen Howe forever failed to press victoriesNew colonial tactics:New colonial tactics:

– Simple defensiveSimple defensive– Hold at the HudsonHold at the Hudson

Slide 11

SaratogaSaratogaOct 1777Oct 1777

Brits only hold NYC, part Brits only hold NYC, part of RI & Philadelphiaof RI & Philadelphia

Brit plan is to hold on to Brit plan is to hold on to major city, isolate North, major city, isolate North, and gain southern and gain southern sentimentsentiment

Burgoyne moves south Burgoyne moves south from Canadafrom Canada– Plan to take Albany, NYPlan to take Albany, NY– Meeting up with Howe in Meeting up with Howe in

NYC to cut North from NYC to cut North from SouthSouth

Slide 12

Follies at SaratogaFollies at Saratoga

Burgoyne sets off with an overbundance of Burgoyne sets off with an overbundance of supplies/equipmentsupplies/equipment– Movement extremely slow (1 mile/day)Movement extremely slow (1 mile/day)– Guerillas could easily stay ahead and slow Guerillas could easily stay ahead and slow

furtherfurtherThe success of guerillas led to more partisan The success of guerillas led to more partisan

supportsupportBurgoyne’s forces quickly wore downBurgoyne’s forces quickly wore downDelays allow colonials to reinforce and winDelays allow colonials to reinforce and win

Slide 13

Significance of SaratogaSignificance of Saratoga

Turning point of RevolutionTurning point of RevolutionFrench enters war, aligning with colonistsFrench enters war, aligning with colonistsBrits now move focus to the SouthBrits now move focus to the SouthSpain and Holland soon join warSpain and Holland soon join war

– British forced to protect its own borders from British forced to protect its own borders from aggressorsaggressors

– British concerned about about long ocean supply British concerned about about long ocean supply lineslines

Slide 14

Southern CampaignSouthern CampaignLate 1778Late 1778

Brits felt there were more loyalists in SouthBrits felt there were more loyalists in SouthSouthern resources more valuableSouthern resources more valuableBrits win small victories but unable to pacify Brits win small victories but unable to pacify

countrysidecountrysideGreene vs CornwallisGreene vs Cornwallis

– Greene sacrificed mass for manueverGreene sacrificed mass for manuever– Smaller forces more easily could live off landSmaller forces more easily could live off land– Provided add’l rally points for local militiaProvided add’l rally points for local militia– Tempted Cornwallis to split his forcesTempted Cornwallis to split his forces

Slide 15

Battle of CowpensBattle of Cowpens17 Jan 178117 Jan 1781

Daniel Morgan – Colonial Daniel Morgan – Colonial leaderleader– Very charismaticVery charismatic– Expects only two good shots Expects only two good shots

before falling backbefore falling back– Eliminates unseasoned troops Eliminates unseasoned troops

fleeingfleeing Numerically equal forces but Numerically equal forces but

Americans ¾ militiaAmericans ¾ militia Colonials envelop Brits with Colonials envelop Brits with

militia and cavalrymilitia and cavalry Brits lose 9/10Brits lose 9/10thth of men due of men due

to overconfidenceto overconfidence

Slide 16

YorktownYorktown

Cornwallis consolidates Cornwallis consolidates forcesforces

French defeat British French defeat British ships at Battle of ships at Battle of CapesCapes

Americans to front; Americans to front; French to rearFrench to rear

Brits surrender 17 Oct Brits surrender 17 Oct 17811781

Slide 17

British ForcesBritish Forces

Classic 18Classic 18thth century European army century European army– Linear tacticsLinear tactics– Well-trained soldiersWell-trained soldiers

Loyalty suspect in EnglandLoyalty suspect in England– English sympathy for coloniesEnglish sympathy for colonies– Employment of Hessians (mercenaries)Employment of Hessians (mercenaries)

Slide 18

American ForcesAmerican Forces

Most local militia for local Most local militia for local defensedefense– Troops often under-trainedTroops often under-trained– Quick to flee under fireQuick to flee under fire

Von Steuben becomes IGVon Steuben becomes IG– Discipline instilled – little Discipline instilled – little

before his tenurebefore his tenure– Streamlined musket loading & Streamlined musket loading &

uniformityuniformity– Standardized training – speed Standardized training – speed

and marksmanshipand marksmanship Length of service impeded Length of service impeded

tacticstactics

Slide 19

Impact of FrenchImpact of French

Anxious to regain international positionAnxious to regain international positionFrench repeatedly help American cause:French repeatedly help American cause:

– Loans of moneyLoans of money– Use of French ports by American privateersUse of French ports by American privateers– Protected American vessels near French watersProtected American vessels near French waters

Made English uneasy at homeMade English uneasy at homeFrench Navy critical at YorktownFrench Navy critical at Yorktown

Slide 20

Failures of EnglandFailures of England

Initial plan could have workedInitial plan could have worked– Didn’t act with resolutionDidn’t act with resolution– Adequate forces were never providedAdequate forces were never provided

Lacked unity of command and commLacked unity of command and comm– Commanders uncertain of objectiveCommanders uncertain of objective– Lord Germain directed from EnglandLord Germain directed from England– Indecisive and slow to actIndecisive and slow to act

Brits unable to exploit Royal NavyBrits unable to exploit Royal NavyFocused on terrain (cities) instead of enemyFocused on terrain (cities) instead of enemy

Slide 21

Weapons of the EraWeapons of the Era

UNITED STATESUNITED STATES– Rifle (minority)Rifle (minority)

• More accurateMore accurate• Longer to reloadLonger to reload• No bayonetNo bayonet• Good guerilla weaponGood guerilla weapon

– Musket (majority)Musket (majority)– Accurate fireAccurate fire

• HuntersHunters• Individual targetsIndividual targets

BRITISHBRITISH– Brown Bess musketBrown Bess musket

• Volley fireVolley fire• No target pickedNo target picked

Video 4 min Brown Video 4 min Brown BessBess

Slide 22

Impact on WarfareImpact on Warfare

Democratization of warfareDemocratization of warfare– ““Well regulated” militiaWell regulated” militia– Balanced rights with obligated military serviceBalanced rights with obligated military service– Impact of “people’s army” fighting for a causeImpact of “people’s army” fighting for a cause– New concept of total war for total victoryNew concept of total war for total victory

Changed tacticsChanged tactics– Rifle makes linear tactics difficultRifle makes linear tactics difficult– Brits adopt American tactics (cover and Brits adopt American tactics (cover and

concealment)concealment)

Slide 23

SummarySummary

Causes for the warCauses for the warColonial and British strategiesColonial and British strategiesVarious battles and tacticsVarious battles and tacticsEnglish short-comingsEnglish short-comingsFrench contributionsFrench contributionsWeapons of the RevolutionWeapons of the Revolution Impact on warfareImpact on warfareVideo 8min RiflemanVideo 8min Rifleman

Slide 24

Questions?Questions?