• American colonists who were determined to fight the British until American independence was won

• Colonists who chose to side with the British
• Did not think unfair taxes were a good reason for rebellion
• Strongest loyalist support was in the Carolinas and Georgia
• Weakest loyalist support was in New England
• Many fled the colonies for England

• Taking no side in a conflict

• Most powerful Navy in the world
• Huge population advantage
• More experienced military
• Plenty of financial support

• Fighting on land they knew very well
• Were eager to defend their land
• British had to ship soldiers and supplies thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean
• British depended heavily on mercenaries

• Hired soldiers

• What the Americans called the British mercenaries.
• Name comes from the region in Germany most of them were from
• Main goal for winning the war was money

• Enlist

• Followed husband when he joined the
Continental Army.
• Took his place on the battlefield when he was killed

Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley
“Molly Pitcher”
• Followed husband when he joined the
Continental Army
• Became known as “Molly Pitcher” for carrying water pitchers around the battlefield for soldiers

• Disguised herself as a man and joined the army to fight

• Wrote Common Sense prior to the war
– The issue was freedom not taxes
• Wrote The American Crisis early in the war
– “These are the times that try men’s souls”
– “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph”

• Teacher from Connecticut
• Hero at the battle of Long Island despite the
American defeat
• Spied on the British as a Dutch schoolteacher
• Discovered by British and hung
• Last words were “I only regret that I have one life to lose for my country”

• Many fought with the British after being offered freedom to fight against the Patriots
• General George Washington asked to have free
African Americans enlisted
• Southern states feared a revolt from armed
African Americans because of their large slave population
• Rhode Island was the first state to have an all
African American regiment
• Every state eventually state enlisted African
Americans except South Carolina

• British soldiers were taking a break from fighting because of the harsh winter.
• Washington led his men across an icy
Delaware River and attacked a group of
Hessian soldiers.
• Americans used momentum from this victory to defeat the British again at Princeton

• Led the Americans to victory in Albany

• Americans, led by General Horatio Gates, defeated the British, led by General John
Burgoyne, forcing them to surrender
• Showed European powers that the Americans might win and led to support from other nations who hated Britain

• Originally only gave money secretly to the
Americans.
• After the Battle of Saratoga they officially supported the Americans.
• Began to send money as well as equipment to assist the Americans.

• Did not officially recognize America as a nation until after the Revolutionary War.
• Sent troops to fight the British
• Forced the British to pay attention to two enemies.
• Defeated the British in the Mississippi Valley and along the Gulf of Mexico

• Declared war with Britain
• Loaned money to the Americans

• Winter camp for George Washington and the
Continental Army in the winter of 1778
• Army suffered because of a lack of food, clothing, blankets, shelter and shoes
• Washington’s wife Martha helped by making clothes for the troops and caring for the sick
• Greatest challenge was keeping the army together
• Many men deserted the army

• To leave without permission

• French nobleman who joined the Continental
Army after reading the Declaration of
Independence
• Spent the winter at Valley Forge with the
Continental Army
• Became a trusted advisor to General
Washington

• Former German officer who helped turn the
Continental Army into an effective fighting unit.
• Drilled the Continental Army in proper military technique during the winter at Valley Forge

Causes of French-American Alliance
• Longstanding hostility between Britain and
France
• Conflict between Britain and France during the French and Indian War
• Victory at Saratoga boosts French confidence in Patriots

• France signed a treaty of alliance with the
United States in 1778
• France lends money to the Continental
Congress
• France sends soldiers and ships to help
American forces
• Americans win indepedence

• A continuous rise in the price of goods and services
• Caused Congress to stop issuing paper money

• The British called him the Swamp Fox
• Led a small group of expert fighters from
South Carolina
• They lived off the land and continually surprised attack the British
• Him and his men hid in the swamps between attacks

• Hit and run technique of fighting

• Mostly fought against the Americans
• Felt the British were less of a threat to their land

• to cut off an area by means of troops or warships to stop supplies or people from coming in or going out
• British blockade prevented supplies and reinforcements from reaching the Continental
Army

• Privately owned warships
• Captured several British ships to assist the weak American Navy

• Successful American privateer commander
• Famously said “I have not yet begun to fight.”
• Captured the British ship Serapis despite his ship the Bonhomme Richard’s severe damage
• The Bonhomme Richard sank shortly after the battle

• Location of the worst defeat for Americans during the American Revolution
• British captured thousands of prisoners

• Commanded the British forces in the south
• Won the Battle of Camden
• Surrendered at the Battle of Yorktown after being defeated by American and French forces

• Commanded American forces in the south
• Lost the battle of Camden due to several bad decisions

• a hit and run technique used in fighting a war, using small bands of warriors using tactics such as sudden ambushes

• Led a unit of French soldiers, who were originally trapped by the British in Newport,
Rhode Island, to Yorktown to assist General
Washington and his men.

• French admiral who prevented the British from escaping at the battle of Yorktown

• Battle that finally showed the British that the war was to costly.

• Officially ended the American Revolutionary
War on September 3, 1783
• American representatives at the meetings were Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and
John Jay
• Britain promised to withdraw all troops from
American territory
• Great Britain officially recognized the United
States as a nation

• A fixed amount of money paid at regular intervals for past services.

• Potential revolt by the soldiers of the
Continental Army over Congress’ original refusal to pay their pension.

• Resigned his command of the Continental
Army on December 4, 1783
• Returned to his home in Mount Vernon in time for Christmas