The American Revolution

1775-1781

Farmers and Shop Keepers defeat and Empire

How did they Compare?

British Supporters were called Loyalists

The Continental Army was Formed

Initially many volunteered

An enlistment lasted 1 year

Pay was often delayed until the war was over

Leadership and Desire The British had better training

and equipment… but no desire. Whether the British won or lost

made little difference to many British Soldiers

They had to hire German mercenaries called Hessians to assist in the war

Some compare it to Vietnam for the British

The Colonists had both! Americans rallied behind

Washington Women supported the war

and in some cases even fought

To lose meant complete destruction of a way of life

Most Battles took place in the North

The American Victory at Saratoga was a turning point

Saratoga September 1777 Outmaneuvered by

American forces The British were cut off

from their supplies They surrendered to Gen.

Gates France now openly allied

with the United States

Valley Forge Washington’s Winter

Headquarters 1777-1778 Harsh conditions Little food, clothing, or shelter Some deserted Many questioned their ability

to defeat the British Tom Paine publishes The

Crisis

Cornwallis Surrenders October 19, 1781

What happened? Over 16,000 American and British Troops

converged on Cornwallis at Yorktown, Va. The French Navy Blocaded the harbor Cornwallis had 8,000 troops Bewildered and astonished, Cornwallis

surrendered The British still controlled New York and few

realized it was the end of the war

The American Revolution

What factors led to an American Victory? Why were the British soldiers indifferent? What were the terms of the Peace of Paris? How long did the war last? What would the next task be for the newly

independent nation?

The British Concede

Lord North Resigns Lord Rockingham favors

granting American Independence

Parliament withdraws its support for the war

King George was forced to accept defeat

Farmers and shop keepers had defeated and empire

The Treaty of Paris

September 3, 1783 The U.S. was a “free and sovereign” nation The U.S. gave up its’ claim to Canada The U.S. Boundaries: The Mississippi in the west,

The Great Lakes in the North, Florida in the South

And Now What…..?

All we need is a plan for government.

See the U.S. Constitution presentation for more details!