Sasso US I Bunker Hill June 1775 Charlestown MA English soldiers want to move the Minutemen off the hills surrounding Boston William Howe takes command of British forces William Prescott led ID: 574206
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Slide1
The Revolution's Early Stages and Battles, 1776-1778
Sasso
US ISlide2
Bunker Hill- June, 1775
Charlestown, MA
English soldiers want to move the Minutemen off the hills surrounding Boston
William Howe takes command of British forces
William Prescott led
the Minutemen
Howe ordered 2,200 British soldiers to advance on Breed’s Hill (battle was misnamed!)
After three attempts, the British were able to take the hill
Major casualties (England- 1,000; America- 300)Slide3
Early Stages and Battles, 1776-1778
Washington will take command of the Continental Army shortly after Bunker Hill
Immediately gets to work training his inexperienced army
There will be some minor conflicts with the British during this time
The British begin to realize that Boston probably isn't the best base of operations
By March of 1776, the British will pack up shop and head to NYCSlide4
Early Stages and Battles, 1776-1778
Even though England had to vacate Boston, they are still in a great position to end the war quickly
Still dealing with sizable advantages over the Americans
Both the British and the Americans will head down to NYCSlide5
Early Stages and Battles, 1776-1778
The British will now be lead by two brothers: General William Howe and Admiral Richard Howe
William will lead the ground troops, while Richard is responsible for naval affairs
Two different personalities: William was somewhat overconfident, while Richard was a bit more attentive to detail
Knowing that Washington and his troops had headed to NYC, the
Howes decided to launch a massive invasion of NYCSlide6
Th
e Battle for New York (Summer 1776)
NYC was not the best environment for Washington’s soldiers
Too many distractions
They are also seriously outnumbered
32,000 British soldiers
19,000 American soldiers
General Howe simply wants to “shock and awe” the American soldiers
Howe actually offers GW terms of surrender before the battle begins
GW rejects the offerSlide7
The Battle for New York (Summer 1776)
A few weeks after the reading of the Dec. of Independence, the
Howes
will begin their attack
After meeting up on Staten Island, the British begin their advance up the Hudson and East Rivers
The British will send large forces through Long Island and BrooklynThey hammer the American forces, forcing them to retreat back through Manhattan
Ultimately, GW’s forces have to retreat across the Hudson in to NJ, all the way across NJ, before finally settling down in PA
The British will give chase before settling in Central NJ for the fall and winter monthsSlide8
The Battle for New York (Summer 1776)
Not exactly the start that GW was hoping for
Total number of soldiers dwindles to about 5,000 (result of desertions and casualties)
Even bigger complication: most enlistment terms are up on 12/31/76
In order to keep the soldiers he already has, GW badly needs a victorySlide9
Trenton (December 25-26,1776)
GW decides to roll the dice on a risky move
On Christmas Night , GW crosses the Delaware River through a fierce storm
Marched his troops (2,400) 9 miles through sleet and snow to ambush a British controlled fort at Trenton
Hessian soldiers occupied the fort, but had a little too much fun on Christmas
GW and his men stormed the fort in the early morning hoursCaptured or killed nearly 1,000 Hessian soldiers
The irony is that the Hessians had been warned that GW was coming and they ignored itSlide10
HUGE VICTORY…sort of.
Important victory for GW
First of all, it’s a victory (can’t underestimate that)
The victory can be used as a propaganda piece; spread the word like the Boston Massacre
Hopefully this will be enough to encourage soldiers to reenlist or motivate new recruits
8 days later, GW will replicate the attack, only this time he will attack British soldiers at Princeton
GW can’t secure either fort, but the brief victories will be monumentally important for the Americans
GW managed to keep his main army intact, and the British were no closer to total victory than at the start of the year
After Princeton, GW will march his troops to Morristown for the rest of the winterSlide11
Philadelphia (Spring 1777)
Once the fields began to dry out in the spring, General Howe went back on the offensive
Decided to attack the American Capital of Philadelphia
Moved his troops from NYC to Philadelphia by boat
Slapped GW around at Brandywine Creek and Germantown
Took Philadelphia with almost no resistance
Continental Congress had to escape to York, PASlide12
Saratoga (Fall 1777)
“Gentleman” John Burgoyne- British General
Devises a complex strategy to isolate New England from the rest of the colonies
Calls for a multiple-front assault throughout northern and central NY
Burgoyne from Canada, Barry St. Ledger from Western NY, Howe from NYC
All three units would meet up in AlbanyPlan looks fantastic on paperSlide13
Saratoga (Fall 1777)Slide14
Saratoga (Fall 1777)
Problems
#1- Howe isn’t coming from NYC; he is in Philadelphia
He actually isn’t coming at all
#2- Interesting mix of soldiers: 4,000 British; 3,000 mercenaries; 1,000 Mohawk
#3- Burgoyne really didn’t know the territory he would be marching through going to Albany
Thought it would take three weeks; took him nearly three months
#4- Burgoyne never expected to face constant American harassment
Continually falls victim to guerilla attacks (Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys)Slide15
Saratoga (Fall 1777)
Burgoyne’s army gets worn down: tired, weakened, cut off from supply lines
Eventually head to Saratoga
Burgoyne’s army will be surrounded by American forces under the command of Horatio Gates
After several weeks of fighting, Burgoyne will be forced to surrender his army to GatesSlide16
Saratoga (Fall 1777)
Saratoga is the turning point
Greatly alters the course of the war
First time the Americans will defeat a major British regiment
They won without GW having to be there
The loss will drastically alter British war strategy
Most importantly, the victory at Saratoga will secure us a big time ally: France
The French had been secretly helping us since 1776, but now they will completely support our effortsSlide17
Valley Forge (Winter 1777-1778)
The British will settle down comfortably for the winter in Philadelphia
The Americans will have to brave it in the extreme conditions of Valley Forge
Many American soldiers lack provisions; very tough to get resources in the given economic climate
Harsh conditions and climate; Americans will lose 20% of their soldiers as a result of exposure to the elements
Two important additions to the military: Marquis de Lafayette and Friedrich von Steuben