Robert Lusby
Patriotism
Secret French Aid
George Washington was an experienced
military leader who inspired courage &
confidence.
Army was small & always short of soldiers.
Few Americans were trained for battle.
Shortages of guns, gunpowder, food, & uniforms
Army had 50,000 soldiers, 30,000 Hessians,
Loyalists, Native Americans, & African Americans.
Soldiers were well trained & experienced.
Forces were well supplied with food, ammunition,
uniforms, & weapons.
Sending troops and supplies from Great Britain
to America was slow and costly.
The British were not passionate about defeating
the rebels and had poor military leadership.
The DOI increased Americans’ motivation to
fight & win the war as they believed freedom &
the chance to create their own country were
goals worth fighting for.
The DOI raised questions for African Americans as
they wondered if the words, “all men are created
equal” applied to them & whether independence
would bring an end to slavery.
The British, with their greater numbers and superior
training, overwhelmed the inexperienced Americans at
New York & other battles in 1776.
Lack of food & proper supplies caused many soldiers to
head home.
Soldiers whose enlistment ended warned others that
volunteering in the Continental Army was a horrible idea
George Washington used “The Crisis” to
motivate his troops.
Thomas Paine reminded Americans that REAL
patriots hold onto their beliefs, even in difficult
times.
Gen. Washington had his troops cross the Delaware
River on 12/25/1776 night & took the Hessians by
surprise. Captured 868 prisoners without losing a man.
The Americans captured 300 troops a week later at
Princeton.
The victories showed the Americans could defeat the
British, greatly boosted their morale & showed allies the
Americans were a force.
Gen. Washington notified Congress he would
avoid large battles that might put his army at
risk
The Continental Army would now be
“defensive” and attempt to tire the British out.
George Germain
Divide the rebels by taking control of New York’s Hudson
River Valley.
Controlling the waterway would allow the British to cut
New England off from the remaining colonies.
Germain reasoned that without supplies & men from
New England, the Continental Army would surely
collapse.
General John Burgoyne was slow to reach Saratoga
Springs & was greeted by swarms of militia.
Gen. Burgoyne repeatedly attacked, but was driven
back by the rebels…surrendered 10/17/1777.
This victory convinced the French & Spain to become
an American ally & join the war. The French sent
money, troops, weapons & warships to the Americans.
Continental Army arrived 12/19/1777.
The troops lacked food, water, supplies, huts, etc.
Disease was rampant (typhoid, dysentery, pneumonia) and
contributed to the death of over 2,500 soldiers.
American farmers preferred to sell food to the British, were
paid in gold, not paper money
Merchants raised prices for items sky-high. Washington was
furious at the desire for profits at the army’s expense.
Baron Friedrich von Steuben of Prussia continually
drilled the American soldiers at Valley Forge. It
raised soldiers spirit & improved military discipline.
Marquis de Lafayette of France used his own money
to buy warm clothes for the soldiers. He was a
strong supporter of Gen. Washington & assisted in
many American victories.
The British shifted their focus to the South, believing
thousands of Loyalists were waiting to join the king’s
cause.
The Americans used guerrilla tactics (led by Francis
Marion), like hit-and-run raids against the British.
The Rebels mentally & physically tired the British out &
eventually forced them to retreat to Yorktown.
French troops (8,000)& warships (29) helped the Americans
trap the British army at Yorktown.
The French & American troops surrounded the British (Gen.
Charles Cornwallis) on land. The French warships sealed off
the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay.
The trap was sprung on 10/6/1781 as American & French
gunners opened fire on Yorktown. Cornwallis surrendered &
on 10/19/1781 the British laid down their arms.
King George III initially refused to consider surrendering.
The British citizens were sick & tired of the war.
The Treaty of Paris (1783) was signed.
1) Britain recognized the U.S. as an independent country.
2) Britain handed over territory from Atlantic to Mississippi
River.
3) U.S. agreed to return all rights & property taken from
loyalists during the war
6,200 Americans were killed in combat, 10,000 died
in camp of diseases, 8,500 died as British prisoners.
Helped inspire revolts against European rule
throughout South America.
Influenced the French Revolution.