The American Revolution Unit 2, Lesson 3 - PowerPoint Presentation

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The American Revolution

Unit 2, Lesson 3

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Essential Idea

Though victory was unlikely, America won the Revolutionary War with key victories at the Battles of Saratoga, Kings Mountain, and Yorktown.

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British Advantages

British Advantages:

Much larger population

Stronger government to conduct war

Stronger economy and more money

Strongest and most disciplined military in the world

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British Disadvantages

British Disadvantages:

Overextended, trying to control too much of the world at once

English support for war was weak

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British Disadvantages

Fighting

offensive war, no “home field” advantage

America was a large area, hard to control

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Colonial Advantages

Colonial Advantages:

Superior military leadership

Fighting defensive war, had “home field”

Patriots’ support was high, felt they were fighting for their rights

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Colonial 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

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Colonial Disadvantages

Much weaker, less organized military

Weak government and economy that struggled to support military

On paper, Britain should have won

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Fighting 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

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Washington Crosses the Delaware

On Christmas of 1776, Washington led troops secretly across the Delaware River into New Jersey

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Boosted 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

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Britain’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

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Britain 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

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Winter Sets In

Washington in Valley Forge:

Endured the harsh winter outside Philadelphia in Valley Forge

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Valley 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

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Battle 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

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Fighting 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

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Charles 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

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Battle 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

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The “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

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Britain 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

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Battle 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

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he French navy captured the coast at Yorktown, preventing Cornwallis’ resupply and escape

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Cornwallis Surrenders

Surrounded,

Cornwallis and his 8,000 troops surrendered

The Battle of Yorktown caused Britain to declare the war over

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Treaty 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

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