American Revolution
I can compare the advantages and
disadvantages of both the British
and Continental Army
British Advantages/ Disadvantages
• Strengths
• More soldiers-50,000
men plus 30,000
Hessians as well as
loyalists, slaves, Indians
• Well trained and
experienced
• Well supplied with
weapons, food, uniforms,
etc.
• Weakness
• Distance made sending
troops slow and costly
• The British were not
passionate about
defeating the rebels
• Poor leadership
American Strengths/ Weaknesses
• Strengths
• Aide from the French
• George Washington a
great leader who
inspired confidence
•
•
•
•
Weaknesses
Undersized army
Poorly trained
Poorly supplied with
weapons, food,
uniforms, etc.
__ I can Identify major engagements of the
war in the North
___ New York
___ Trenton and Princeton
___ Saratoga
___ Valley Forge
___ Monmouth
___ Crisis (Pamphlet)
New York
• America sets up to
defend New York
• British arrive and
defeat the
Americans- greater
numbers and
training
• British fail to seal the
deal, Washington
escapes- but is
chased, many
defeats
• Patriots question if
the war can be won
The “Crisis”- Thomas Paine
• Pamphlet written to gain
support for the cause
• These are the times that try
men’s souls. The summer
soldier and the sunshine
patriot will, in this crisis,
shrink from the service of
their country; but he that
stands it now, deserves the
love and thanks of man and
woman.
Trenton and Princeton
• Trenton- Washington crosses the Delaware and
surprises the Hessians – Victory
• Princeton- Washington defeats British
• Patriot’s believe in the cause once again
• New strategy – tire
out the British
• Burgoyne marches
his army down from
Canada through the
wilderness
• Militia troops swarm
in and defeat
Burgoyne- Guerilla
warfare
• France joins in by
sending money,
weapons and troops
• Spain also declares
war on Britain
Saratoga
Valley Forge
• Winter camp- hunger
and sickness
• Washington trains his
men to keep their
minds off of the
misery ( Baron
Friedrich von
Steuben)
• Marquis de Lafayette
joins the causebecomes
Washington’s closet
advisor
Monmouth
• Washington
chases the British
back to New York
• After two years
they are back to
where they started
• The war in the
North is over
___ I can summarize the position of the
Continental Army in regards to:
___ Success
___ Failure
___ Sickness
___ Desertion
___ Leadership
Success and Failure
• The Continental Army lost
most of their battles
because they were
unable to execute basic
tactics and were usually
outnumbered
• The Continental Army
was able to have
reasonable success after
Washington refuses to
put his army at risk. He
would only attack if he
had a distinct advantage.
Tire out the British. Play
Defense and frustrate the
British army and people
Sickness/Desertion
• Due to disease, the Continental Army is
going to lose more men to sickness than
British bullets. Poor supplies kept
conditions unbearable
• Desertion was a major problem. Soldiers
had to have great resolve to stay in the
army. No pay and bad conditions made
many soldiers desert
Leadership
• George Washington was
an excellent leader. He
could not match the
British in tactics but he
did know how to get an
advantage. Washington
was able to give his men
confidence and hold his
army together.
I can summarize the shift of the war to the
South and the success led to the end of the war
___Guerrilla Warfare
___ Yorktown
___ Treaty of Paris
The War goes South
• British try a new strategy – the British army
would go south since there are many loyalist
• British quickly take Georgia and the
Carolinas
Guerrilla Warfare
• Guerrillas used hit
and run tactics to
harass the British
• The army led the
British on a chase
through the SouthHit and retreat
• The British army
was exhaustedwent Yorktown to
rest
Yorktown
• Washington links
up with the French
army and navy
• The British are
surrounded by
French and
American armyand the French
navy keeps the
British from
escaping
• After several days
the battles is wonAmerica wins
Treaty of Paris
• The United States
would be recognized
as an independent
country
• British gave up all land
claims from the east
coast to the Mississippi
except for Canada
• Loyalist would get all
rights and property
back
I can summarize the impact of French
involvement in the War
Impact of the French
• French provided much needed supplies for
the Continental Army
• They provided men and also a navy
• They also were able to attack other British
colonies around the world which spread
the British military.
• The war would take longer and cost more
for the British
I can explain the
development of
State
Constitutions in
the war
State Constitutions
• Once independence was declared
England was no longer in charge
• Each state had to rewrite it’s constitutiona plan of government
• Many ideas from these constitutions will
be put in the U.S. Constitution
___ Summarize the impact of the war on
___ Women
___ African Americans
___ American Indians
Impact on Women
• Women would not gain the same
freedoms as men. They still can not vote,
but they earn more respect with in the
country
Impact on African Americans
• Many African
Americans fought for
the British because
they would be given
their freedom
• African Americans
were used in the
Continental army
towards the end of the
war. About 15%
• Many states will adopt
measures to end
slavery during the war
Impact on American Indians
• With the loss of the
British support,
Indians will not be
able to survive the
onslaught of
western migration
after the war
• They will lose their
land