The American The American RevolutionRevolution

““A World Turned Upside A World Turned Upside Down”Down”

Britain and Its American ColoniesBritain and Its American Colonies

The American Colonies GrowThe American Colonies Grow American colonies grow large and American colonies grow large and

populous during the 1600s and 1700spopulous during the 1600s and 1700s Colonies thrive economically through Colonies thrive economically through

trade with Europetrade with Europe•Britain’s Navigation Act restricts that Britain’s Navigation Act restricts that trade (1651)trade (1651)

•Other trade laws add restrictions and Other trade laws add restrictions and taxestaxes

Colonists identify less and less as British Colonists identify less and less as British subjectssubjects

British-Colonial Tensions British-Colonial Tensions AriseArise

Britain and American colonies win Britain and American colonies win the French and Indian War in 1763the French and Indian War in 1763Britain taxes colonists to help pay Britain taxes colonists to help pay the war debtsthe war debtsColonists argue that British cannot Colonists argue that British cannot tax them without their consent:tax them without their consent:

Secret protest societies“No taxation without

representation”

Growing Hostility Leads to Growing Hostility Leads to WarWar

Colonists protest tea tax with “Boston Colonists protest tea tax with “Boston Tea Party” in 1773Tea Party” in 1773

Colonists meet in Philadelphia to Colonists meet in Philadelphia to address British policies (1774)address British policies (1774)British and Americans exchange fire at British and Americans exchange fire at Lexington and Concord in 1775Lexington and Concord in 1775

American Strengths and American Strengths and WeaknessesWeaknesses

The colonists are The colonists are fighting for fighting for independenceindependence

George Washington George Washington can inspire his men can inspire his men to fightto fight

France will aide the France will aide the colonies with colonies with weapons, supplies weapons, supplies and their navyand their navy

Patriots and LoyalistsPatriots and Loyalists

Patriots were Patriots were colonists who colonists who supported the break supported the break from England.from England.

Loyalists are Loyalists are colonials support the colonials support the England.England.

Colonists are divided Colonists are divided as to whether or not as to whether or not they should rebel they should rebel against England!against England!

American Strengths and American Strengths and WeaknessesWeaknesses

The colonists are The colonists are not a trained not a trained armyarmy

Colonists enlist Colonists enlist for months for months instead of yearsinstead of years

Short on money, Short on money, weapons and weapons and supplies to fight supplies to fight a wara war

British Strengths and British Strengths and WeaknessesWeaknesses

The British have The British have an experienced an experienced professional armyprofessional army

Outnumber the Outnumber the Continental Army Continental Army

The British army The British army is well supplied is well supplied with equipment with equipment and weaponsand weapons

British Strengths and British Strengths and WeaknessesWeaknesses

The British are not fighting for a The British are not fighting for a causecause

British officers are careless and British officers are careless and poor leaderspoor leaders

The British have a to cross the The British have a to cross the Atlantic Ocean to send men and Atlantic Ocean to send men and supplies for the warsupplies for the war

The support at homes is rather The support at homes is rather weakweak

Washington’s HeadachesWashington’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.

The Strategy of WarThe Strategy of War

American American ColoniesColonies

Keep the Colonial Keep the Colonial Army togetherArmy together

Washington seeks Washington seeks to stretch the to stretch the British army away British army away from supply linesfrom supply lines

Harass the enemy, Harass the enemy, defeat the British defeat the British in a major battlein a major battle

BritainBritain Seeks to destroy Seeks to destroy

the Colonial Armythe Colonial Army Regain control of Regain control of

the colonies by the colonies by regionregion

Take the fight to Take the fight to the Colonial Army the Colonial Army using European war using European war tacticstactics

Use loyalists Use loyalists support against the support against the coloniescolonies

American Colonies vs BritainsAmerican Colonies vs Britains

Military StrategiesMilitary Strategies

Attrition [the Attrition [the Brits had a long Brits had a long supply line].supply line].

Guerilla tactics Guerilla tactics [fight an [fight an insurgent war; insurgent war; you don’t have to you don’t have to win a battle, just win a battle, just wear the British wear the British down]down]

Make an alliance Make an alliance with one of with one of Britain’s enemies.Britain’s enemies.

American ColoniesAmerican Colonies BritainBritain Break the Break the

colonies in half colonies in half by getting by getting between the No. between the No. & the So.& the So.

Blockade the Blockade the ports to prevent ports to prevent the flow of the flow of goods and goods and supplies from an supplies from an ally.ally.

““Divide and Divide and Conquer” Conquer” use use the Loyalists.the Loyalists.

Lexington and Concord, April Lexington and Concord, April 17771777

British attempt to capture Samuel Adams British attempt to capture Samuel Adams and weapons stockpile around Concordand weapons stockpile around Concord

The colonists are warned by Paul Revere The colonists are warned by Paul Revere and 40 other riders that and 40 other riders that “The British are “The British are coming”coming”

4,000 colonial “militia men” exchange 4,000 colonial “militia men” exchange fire with British troops along the main fire with British troops along the main roadroad

This battle is considered the beginning of This battle is considered the beginning of the American Revolution the American Revolution

A personal view of the A personal view of the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

“ “ The men that was wounded in the thigh or The men that was wounded in the thigh or leg, they dashed out their brains with their leg, they dashed out their brains with their muskets and run them through with their muskets and run them through with their bayonets, made them like sieves. This was bayonets, made them like sieves. This was barbarity to the utmost.”barbarity to the utmost.”

Sergeant New Jersey Regiment, 1778 Sergeant New Jersey Regiment, 1778