Transcript Review over Important Events of the American Revolution

The American
Revolution
Sizing Up The Armies
The Strategy of War
“A World Turned Upside Down”
American Strengths and
Weaknesses

The colonists are
fighting for
independence
 George Washington
can inspire his men
to fight
 France will aide the
colonies with
weapons, supplies
and their navy
Patriots and Loyalists

Patriots were colonists
who supported the
break from England.
 Loyalists are colonials
support the England.
 Colonists are divided
as to whether or not
they should rebel
against England!
American Strengths and
Weaknesses

The colonists are
not a trained army
 Colonists enlist
for months
instead of years
 Short on money,
weapons and
supplies to fight a
war
British Strengths and
Weaknesses

The British have an
experienced
professional army
 Outnumber the
Continental Army
 The British army is
well supplied with
equipment and
weapons
British Strengths and
Weaknesses

The British are not fighting for a cause
 British officers are careless and poor
leaders
 The British have a to cross the Atlantic
Ocean to send men and supplies for the
war
 The support at homes is rather weak
The Strategy of War

American Colonies




Keep the Colonial
Army together
Washington seeks to
stretch the British
army away from
supply lines
Harass the enemy,
defeat the British in a
major battle – “War of
Attrition.
Get allies to help win!

Britain




Seeks to destroy the
Colonial Army
Regain control of the
colonies by region –
Break NE off from the
rest of the colonies.
Take the fight to the
Colonial Army using
European war tactics
Use loyalists support
against the colonies
The Strategy of War
Lexington and Concord, April 1777
 British
attempt to capture Samuel Adams
and weapons stockpile around Concord
 The colonists are warned by Paul Revere
and 40 other riders that “British are
coming”
 4,000 colonial “militia men” exchange fire
with British troops along the main road
 This battle is considered the beginning of
the American Revolution
A personal view of the American
Revolution
“ The men that was wounded in the thigh or
leg, they dashed out their brains with their
muskets and run them through with their
bayonets, made them like sieves. This
was barbarity to the utmost.”
Sergeant New Jersey Regiment, 1778
Fort Ticonderoga

Ethan Allen, a blacksmith,
leads the Green Mountain
boys of Vermont against the
fort which had many cannon.
 There was one guard and
the officers were sleeping.
 The commander had to turn
over 100 cannon and
gunpowder.
Bunker (Breed’s) Hill
Jun 1775
New “Continental Army” takes position on
Breed’s Hill
 They are told, “Don’t shoot until you see the
whites of their eyes!” because they have only
a small amount of gunpowder
 British conduct frontal assault




Poor judgment – flanks/rear exposed
40% casualties for Brits (1,100 dead)
Colonials repel two assaults but run out of
ammunition.
The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill by John Trumbull
Brits Leave Boston
 By
January 1776, the Continental
Army surrounded Boston.
 The cannon captured at Ticonderoga
were placed on a hill overlooking
Boston and its harbor.
 Seeing that they were trapped,
General Howe ordered his troops to
go to Halifax, Canada.
New York
 Gen. Howe (Brit) heads to New York City.






Washington takes the Continental Army to
defend the city.
Howe has 34,000 troops, 10,000 sailors, 30
warships and 400 smaller boats.
Washington has 20,000 men and no navy.
Losing the battles for New York, the
Continentals retreat to New Jersey.
Nathan Hale, a young Connecticut spy is
captured behind British lines.
“I only regret that I have but one life to lose
for my country” were his last words…
New York City in Flames
(1776)
Trenton and the Crossing





Discouraged with losing, the Continentals are cold,
hungry, deserting and many are due for reenlistment
A victory is badly needed.
Washington plans a surprise attack on Hessian
troops (German mercenaries) in Trenton , New
Jersey.
He gets his troops across the frozen Delaware
River in the dead of night on Christmas.
On Dec. 26, the Continental Army takes over 1400
Hessians prisoner without losing a single soldier!
The Crossing – The Battle
 The
full video is called The Crossing and
stars Jeff Daniels (Dumb and Dumber). It
is really good and can be found here and
on my website. It is in installments though.