Fighting for Independence

BritishStrengths and Weaknesses (favorite)

Strengths*Military was the strongest in the world*50K Loyalists in America*freedom to slaves who helped*Native Americas*Mercenaries/Hessians-foreign soldiers who fought for pay.

Weaknesses•War not that popular in Britain•Brit. Troops had to fight in foreign territory•War tactics not conventional

AmericansStrengths & Weaknesses (underdogs)

Strengths*Home court advantage*Guerrilla Warfare-hide behind trees & walls them ambush British

Weaknesses*lacked supplies*insufficient fighting force*Hard to plan strategy with inconsistent fighting force*CC lacked power to tax

Leadership

British Strategy

• In order to win the British had to convince the Americans the war was hopeless.

• Gen Howe strategy had 2 parts1. Build up huge military presence

to intimidate the Americans2. Invite delegates from CC to a

peace congress

Fighting in the North

• GW troops showed their inexperience by fleeing when the British arrived on Long Island fall 1776.

• British moved slow allowing the colonists to escape to Manhattan Island.

• Brit. Captured NYC – HQ for rest of the war.

• Leaders forced to head to Philly

Nathan Hale

• Disguised as a teacher, American captain Nathan Hale was spent to spy on the British. He was caught and hanged. “I only regret that I have but only one life to lose for my country.

Battles in New York

• Battle of Long Island

Thomas Paine-The Crisis

• THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis,

shrink from the service of their country; but he that

stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we

have this consolation with us, that the harder the

conflict, the more glorious the triumph

Desperate times call for desperate measures…Battle of Trenton

• GW plans unexpected winter attacks against the British at Trenton & Princeton, New Jersey.

• Christmas night 1776 GW leaves his camp in Penn crosses the Delaware Rv. & surprises the enemy.

Battle of Trenton

• Surprise attack on Princeton.

• Once again GW is successful.

OK, Time Out

• Review…• Losses-Long Island and NYC…British

make NYC their HQ for remainder of war

• Wins-Trenton and Princeton• Needed-increased organization of the

Continental Army• A decisive victory to gain support from

foreign powers

Battle of Bradywine

• In a battle just outside Philadelphia on Sept 11, 77 Gen Howe defeats GW & captures Philadelphia. CC forced to flee the city.

• Key-Howe was unable to capture the Continental Army

Americans Regroup-Valley Forge

• Brutal conditions did not stop GW from training the army. European military officers, Marquis de Lafayette from France and baron Friedriech von Steuben from Prussia, helped GW increase morale and improve discipline in the Continental Army

Back to the War…British Strategy turns the tide

• King George III approves a plan developed by Gen. John Burgoyne to isolate New England from the other states The British however did not coordinate their efforts…

The TURNING POINT

• Once again the momentum of the war shifted with the British victory at Brandywine Creek. The American had lost two major cities, spent the winter at Valley Forge. The colonists were in need of something BIG. It was to happen at Saratoga.

Battle of Saratoga

• British led by Gen Burgoyne

• British strategy move south through NY in 3 separate columns & meet in Albany.

• Initially things looked good for the British with victories

The Battle of Saratoga" September 19, 1777

• Americans led by Gen Horatio Gates defeat Br. Gen Burgoyne after nearly a month a intense fighting in upstate New York.

British surrender at Saratoga October 17, 1777

• This battle proved to the world that the fledgling American army was an effective fighting force capable of defeating the highly trained British forces in a major confrontation. As a result of this successful battle, the European powers, particularly the French, took interest in the cause of the Americans and began to support them.

Review

• Time line*Battle of Long Island*Retreat from NY*Battle of Trenton & Princeton (crossing the Delaware River)*Battle of Bradywine Cr. CC flees Philly*Winter at Valley Forge (low point)*Battle of Saratoga

Review

• Who’s Who• George Washington• General Howe• Nathanial Hale• Marquis de Lafayette• Gen Burgoyne• Horatio Gates

Where do we go from here?

• The Colonists have declared independence!

• Momentum has shifted to the colonists with the victory at Saratoga!

• How are the colonists going to finance the war?

• Still plenty of fighting up ahead in the west and south.

• There would not be peace until 1783.