Slide 1
The American Revolution
Major Carlos Rascon
Slide 2
References
Dupuy and Dupuy, The Encyclopedia of
Military History, pp. 708-725
 Fuller, A Military History of the Western
World, Vol. II, Chronicles 9, 10; ch. 9,10; pp.
271-340
 Weigley, The American Way of War, pp. 3-39

Slide 3
Learning Objectives
Know the U.S. and British strategies and
objectives, and how they changed.
 Be familiar with key campaigns and the
policies that contributed to their success.
 Describe the factors that contributed to the
British losses.
 Describe how the intervention of the French
assisted the U.S.
 Understand the changes in warfare
precipitated by the American Revolution.

Slide 4
Causes of the War

British defeat French in French/Indian War
– Defeat of Indians removes colonists’ perceived
need for British protection
– War costly for Brits and need add’l income
Stamp, Navigation, and Revenue Act force
colonists to pay for protection
 1770 Boston Massacre – 5 dead after
protesting taxation w/o representation

Slide 5
Causes of the War (cont.)

Quartering Act

Real Causes
– Colonists forced to house British troops
– 3rd Amendment of the Constitution
– Colonists had intellectual differences with British
gov’t
– Spirit of independence brought about by frontier
life
– Belief in democracy over oligarchy
Slide 6
Colonial Strategy
Partisan warfare through local militia
 Strategy of attrition

– Gradual wear down or weakening
– Long lines of comm/supply for English
– English resolve is weak
– English has enemies in Europe

Colonialists split 1/3 rebel, loyalist, and
indifferent causing civil war
Slide 7
British Strategy

Break colonies in half at NYC

Economic warfare

England’s Royal Navy
– Break lines of communication and supply
– Separate passion from provision
– Blockade
– Counterfeiting
– Able to move freely along long coastal strip
– No critical points to maneuver against
Slide 8
Battle of Lexington
19 Apr 1775
•Brits send 700 troops to destroy arms stash in Concord
•“Minute Men” meet Brits at Lexington
•Eight colonists dead, 10 wounded – American Revolution begins
•Buys time to remove arms
•Public sentiment becomes strongly anti-British
Slide 9
Bunker (Breed’s) Hill
Jun 1775
New “Continental Army” takes
position on Breed’s Hill
 British conduct frontal assault

– Poor judgement – flanks/rear
exposed
– 40% casualties for Brits (1,100
dead)

Colonials repel two assaults but
run out of ammo
Slide 10
Results of Bunker Hill
Colonists convinced standing army was
unnecessary
 Showed colonial determination
 Gen Howe forever failed to press victories
 New colonial tactics:

– Simple defensive
– Hold at the Hudson
Slide 11
Saratoga
Oct 1777

Brits only hold NYC, part
of RI & Philadelphia
 Brit plan is to hold on to
major city, isolate North,
and gain southern
sentiment
 Burgoyne moves south
from Canada
– Plan to take Albany, NY
– Meeting up with Howe in
NYC to cut North from
South
Slide 12
Follies at Saratoga

Burgoyne sets off with an overbundance of
supplies/equipment
– Movement extremely slow (1 mile/day)
– Guerillas could easily stay ahead and slow
further
The success of guerillas led to more partisan
support
 Burgoyne’s forces quickly wore down
 Delays allow colonials to reinforce and win

Slide 13
Significance of Saratoga
Turning point of Revolution
 French enters war, aligning with colonists
 Brits now move focus to the South
 Spain and Holland soon join war

– British forced to protect its own borders from
aggressors
– British concerned about about long ocean supply
lines
Slide 14
Southern Campaign
Late 1778
Brits felt there were more loyalists in South
 Southern resources more valuable
 Brits win small victories but unable to pacify
countryside
 Greene vs Cornwallis

– Greene sacrificed mass for manuever
– Smaller forces more easily could live off land
– Provided add’l rally points for local militia
– Tempted Cornwallis to split his forces
Slide 15
Battle of Cowpens
17 Jan 1781

Daniel Morgan – Colonial
leader
– Very charismatic
– Expects only two good shots
before falling back
– Eliminates unseasoned troops
fleeing

Numerically equal forces but
Americans ¾ militia
 Colonials envelop Brits with
militia and cavalry
 Brits lose 9/10th of men due
to overconfidence
Slide 16
Yorktown

Cornwallis consolidates
forces
 French defeat British
ships at Battle of
Capes
 Americans to front;
French to rear
 Brits surrender 17 Oct
1781
Slide 17
British Forces

Classic 18th century European army

Loyalty suspect in England
– Linear tactics
– Well-trained soldiers
– English sympathy for colonies
– Employment of Hessians (mercenaries)
Slide 18
American Forces

Most local militia for local
defense
– Troops often under-trained
– Quick to flee under fire

Von Steuben becomes IG

Length of service impeded
tactics
– Discipline instilled – little
before his tenure
– Streamlined musket loading &
uniformity
– Standardized training – speed
and marksmanship
Slide 19
Impact of French
Anxious to regain international position
 French repeatedly help American cause:

– Loans of money
– Use of French ports by American privateers
– Protected American vessels near French waters
Made English uneasy at home
 French Navy critical at Yorktown

Slide 20
Failures of England

Initial plan could have worked

Lacked unity of command and comm
– Didn’t act with resolution
– Adequate forces were never provided
– Commanders uncertain of objective
– Lord Germain directed from England
– Indecisive and slow to act
Brits unable to exploit Royal Navy
 Focused on terrain (cities) instead of enemy

Slide 21
Weapons of the Era

UNITED STATES
– Rifle (minority)
•
•
•
•
More accurate
Longer to reload
No bayonet
Good guerilla weapon
– Musket (majority)
– Accurate fire
• Hunters
• Individual targets

BRITISH
– Brown Bess musket
• Volley fire
• No target picked

Video 4 min Brown
Bess
Slide 22
Impact on Warfare

Democratization of warfare

Changed tactics
– “Well regulated” militia
– Balanced rights with obligated military service
– Impact of “people’s army” fighting for a cause
– New concept of total war for total victory
– Rifle makes linear tactics difficult
– Brits adopt American tactics (cover and
concealment)
Slide 23
Summary
Causes for the war
 Colonial and British strategies
 Various battles and tactics
 English short-comings
 French contributions
 Weapons of the Revolution
 Impact on warfare
 Video 8min Rifleman

Slide 24
Questions?