The American Revolution (1775-1783)
The Opposing Sides
The British:
 Unrest throughout Empire (especially Ireland).
 Whig sentiment within Parliament.
 Need for a clear victory.
 A vast colonial territory to subdue.
 However, an Empire to call upon.
The Americans:
 Badly organized.
 At times, lack of colonial unity & support.
 Lack of formal govt structure, for example State Constitutions and
Federal Constitution (will need to develop & adopt these things while
at the same time fighting a war).
 Economic problems: lack of metallic currency, fear of taxation,
worthless colonial script, limited manufacturing abilities and military
supplies, and profiteering.
Sequence: Major battles and events
Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775. The Colonial Militia.
Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775.
 Olive Branch Petition, July 5, 1775.
 Declaration of Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms, July 6,
1775.
Siege of Boston, July 1775 through March 1776 (part of larger plan to
isolate New England.)
 Common Sense, Feb 14, 1776.
Quebec, December 31, 1775 (colonial strategy to seize Canada, a defeat.)
New York, July 1776 through November 1776 (Americans defeated,
Washington and the Continental Army barely escape).
 Declaration of Independence, July 2, 1776.
Saratoga, September 19, 1777 (this American victory convinces France of
the viability and the necessity of support and alliance.)
Valley Forge, Winter of 1777-1778 (the nadir and the zenith.)
Southern Campaigns, 1778-1781 (shift in strategy.)
Yorktown, October 6-19, 1781 (Cornwallis trapped & blockaded,
surrenders.)
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Whig controlled Parliament gives generous terms.
American Diplomats (Franklin and Adams) play French and British off
against each other.
Boundaries set from Great Lakes on the North to Florida on the South.
Spain received East and West Florida under the separate Anglo-Spanish
peace agreement.
Key points as follows:
 Acknowledging the Thirteen Colonies to be free, sovereign and
independent States, and that the British Crown and all heirs and
successors relinquish claims to the Government, propriety, and
territorial rights of the same, and every part thereof;
 Establishing the boundaries between the United States and British
North America;
 Granting fishing rights to United States fishermen in the Grand
Banks, off the coast of Newfoundland and in the Gulf of Saint
Lawrence;
 Recognizing the lawful contracted debts to be paid to creditors on
either side;
 The Congress of the Confederation will "earnestly recommend" to
state legislatures to recognize the rightful owners of all confiscated
lands "provide for the restitution of all estates, rights, and properties,
which have been confiscated belonging to real British subjects
[Loyalists]";
 United States will prevent future confiscations of the property of
Loyalists;
 Prisoners of war on both sides are to be released and all property left
by the British army in the United States unmolested (including
slaves);
 Great Britain and the United States were each to be given perpetual
access to the Mississippi River;
 Territories captured by Americans subsequent to treaty will be
returned without compensation;
 Ratification of the treaty was to occur within six months from the
signing by the contracting parties.