Essential Idea Though victory was unlikely America won the Revolutionary War with key victories at the Battles of Saratoga Kings Mountain and Yorktown British Advantages British Advantages Much larger population ID: 815477
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Slide1
The American Revolution
Unit 2, Lesson 3
Slide2Essential Idea
Though victory was unlikely, America won the Revolutionary War with key victories at the Battles of Saratoga, Kings Mountain, and Yorktown.
Slide3British Advantages
British Advantages:
Much larger population
Stronger government to conduct war
Stronger economy and more money
Strongest and most disciplined military in the world
Slide4British Disadvantages
British Disadvantages:
Overextended, trying to control too much of the world at once
English support for war was weak
Slide5British Disadvantages
Fighting
offensive war, no “home field” advantage
America was a large area, hard to control
Slide6Colonial Advantages
Colonial Advantages:
Superior military leadership
Fighting defensive war, had “home field”
Patriots’ support was high, felt they were fighting for their rights
Slide7Colonial Advantages
Guerrilla warfare-
sometimes fought
with
hidden ambushes
, not lining up like the BritishFrance eventually helped
America
Did not have to win,
just
outlast Britain until they were tired of the war
Slide8Colonial Disadvantages
Much weaker, less organized military
Weak government and economy that struggled to support military
On paper, Britain should have won
Slide9Fighting in the North
Battle of Long Island:
Washington’s army was defeated and forced to retreat
British General William Howe captured New York City
The Continental Army’s morale was low and Washington needed a way to boost it
Slide10Washington Crosses the Delaware
On Christmas of 1776, Washington led troops secretly across the Delaware River into New Jersey
Slide11Boosted Morale
Washington won two victories in the Battles of Trenton and Princeton
Washington Crosses the Delaware
Washington’s leadership
kept morale
up (for now) and kept soldiers from quitting
Slide12Britain’s Strategy to Win the War
Initial British strategy:
Cut New England off from the rest of the colonies
T
roops under John Burgoyne in British-owned Canada would move south
Troops under Howe in New York City would move north to meet Burgoyne They would meet in Albany and then invade New England
Why New England?
Most colonists and Patriots that wanted independence lived here and would be isolated
The Northern Strategy
Why it failed:
Howe decided to capture Philadelphia instead
Burgoyne was stopped at the Battle of Saratoga
Slide13Britain Takes Philadelphia
Howe in Philadelphia:
Howe’s troops moved to Philadelphia to capture the Congress
Howe thought the revolution would fall apart without its government
Washington failed to stop Howe, but the Congress escaped and survived
Howe occupied Philadelphia and took the winter off to enjoy the city
Slide14Winter Sets In
Washington in Valley Forge:
Endured the harsh winter outside Philadelphia in Valley Forge
Slide15Valley Forge
Washington and other officers drilled and disciplined the soldiers to boost morale
After the winter, Washington’s men were stronger and able to win the Battle of Yorktown
Valley Forge
Slide16Battle of Saratoga
Battle of Saratoga:
This battle was the turning point in the North
American forces stopped Burgoyne, ending Britain’s campaign to cut off New England
This helped convince France to join America against Britain, providing vital help
Battle of Saratoga
Slide17Fighting in the South
Britain’s New Strategy:
F
ocus on controlling the South, where most loyalists were
Britain wanted to at least keep the South
and maybe use it to invade the North
Slide18Charles Town (Charleston)
Fighting in the Carolinas:
Britain captured Charleston and brutally invaded South Carolina
British
General Charles
Cornwallis was put in charge of conquering the Carolinas’ countrysideBritish troops freed many slaves, making the South unstable
Britain Invades the South
Slide19Battle of Kings Mountain
Battle of Kings Mountain
This battle was the turning point in the South
Patriots (the “
overmountain
men”) marched out of the Appalachian Mountains to stop the British at Kings MountainThis
stopped
the British invasion of North Carolina and
boosted
southern Patriots
Slide20The “Fighting Quaker”
Nathanael
Greene:
American General Nathanael Greene wanted to
turn southern support against Britain
Greene baited Cornwallis’ troops to chase his men across the countryside using “hit and run” attacksLow on supplies, Cornwallis’ troops plundered southern homes
Slide21Britain Loses the Southern Population
Greene lost every battle, but won because he turned the South against Britain and wore out Cornwallis’ troops
Britain only controlled a few major cities in the South but could not control the vast countryside in between
America’s Southern Strategy: Lose Battles but Win the War
Slide22Battle of Yorktown
Cornwallis marched to Yorktown, on the coast of Virginia, to wait for resupply from the British navy
Cornwallis assumed Britain’s strong navy still controlled the ocean
Washington rushed his army
south to capture
the land around Yorktown
T
he French navy captured the coast at Yorktown, preventing Cornwallis’ resupply and escape
Slide23Cornwallis Surrenders
Surrounded,
Cornwallis and his 8,000 troops surrendered
The Battle of Yorktown caused Britain to declare the war over
Slide24Slide25Treaty of Paris (1783)
The War Ends
Treaty:
Treaty of Paris of 1783
Terms:
Ended the American RevolutionBritain recognized the United States as a new nationBattle of Yorktown and
Independence
The United States owned land all the way
west to
the Mississippi River
Slide26