Aim: Was it inevitable that the colonists were to win the American Revolution or was it a miracle?
Do Now: Use your knowledge of American History & Government & the cartoon below to answer the following question:
On May 9, 1754, Join, or Die, considered the first American political cartoon, was printed in The
Pennsylvania Gazette. The impetus for the cartoon, which is believed to have been devised by Benjamin
Franklin, was concern about increasing French pressure along the western frontier of the colonies.
Why is this colonial cartoon asking the colonies to join, or die?
Homework: Read pgs. 134-141, define the Terms and People on pg 134 and
answer # 5 on pg. 141.
Aim: Was it inevitable that the colonists were to win the American Revolution or was it a miracle?
American Revolution
 Loyalists (Tories) – Americans who remained loyal to Britain.
 Patriots – Colonists who fought for independence.
Punishing loyalists
Benjamin Franklin
Aim: Was it inevitable that the colonists were to win the American Revolution or was it a miracle?
Strengths
Britain
Colonists
Well-trained and
equipped army
Familiarity of territory
Strong central
government with a
strong economy
Capable leadership of
Washington and other
generals
Support of Loyalists
and some Native
Americans
A common cause—
fighting for
independence
Weaknesses
Britain
Colonists
Distance from homeland
Many soldiers
untrained and
uneducated in military
tactics
Troops unfamiliar with
terrain
Shortages of food and
ammunition
Weak military leaders
No central government
to enforce wartime
laws
No common cause to
rally army or British
people
Inferior navy
Aim: Was it inevitable that the colonists were to win the American Revolution or was it a miracle?
The Patriot
As we watch the video on the Revolutionary War answer the
following questions. We will use these questions to create class notes for
today’s lesson.
Chapter 2:
1) After listening to the arguments, would you have been in favor of a war
for independence, or would you have been against it? Why?
Chapters 5 & 6:
2) If you were a slave would you side with the British to win your freedom?
Chapter 8:
3) Would it have been possible for the colonists to defeat their enemy
playing by the British rules of war?
Aim: Was it inevitable that the colonists were to win the American Revolution or was it a miracle?