Chapter 3, Section 3
Did You Know? When the British
surrendered after the Battle of Yorktown, a
band played "Yankee Doodle"—a song that
may have begun in southern Europe in the
Middle Ages. The words of "Yankee Doodle,"
known in the United States, were written by
an English army surgeon. The words were
meant to make fun of the inexperienced and
poorly trained American troops during the
French and Indian War. The American troops,
however, liked the song so much that it was
sung by American troops during the
Revolutionary War.
I. The Opposing Sides (pages 94-95)
A. General William Howe was the commander of a disciplined, well-trained, and
wellequipped British Army. The Continental army was inexperienced, poorly equipped,
and had difficulty keeping soldiers.
B. The Continental army lacked the power to tax, so it had a difficult time paying for the
war. A wealthy Pennsylvania merchant, Robert Morris, pledged large sums of money to
the war effort.
C. The British forces had to fight both the Continental army and local militias. These
militias often used guerrilla warfare, where they hid among trees and behind walls and
then ambushed the British troops.
D. The British needed to win the war quickly or opinion in Parliament might shift to oppose
the war. The United States did not have to defeat Britain, but only survive until the
British became tired of paying for the war.
Discussion Question
What disadvantages did the British forces and the Continental army face in the war? (The British
forces had to fight the Continental army and local militias. These militias often used guerrilla
warfare, which was difficult to defeat. The British were not united at home and needed to win the
war quickly and cheaply or opinion in Parliament might shift to oppose the war. The Continental
army was inexperienced, poorly equipped, and had difficulty enlisting and keeping soldiers. The
Continental army lacked the power to tax, so it had a difficult time paying for the war.)
II. The Northern Campaign (pages 95-97)
A. In order to win, the British had to convince Americans that the war was a hopeless cause
and to make it safe for them to surrender. General Howe's strategy had two parts—to
build up a massive military to intimidate the Americans and to invite delegates from the
Continental Congress to a peace conference. The Americans realized that Howe was only
interested in negotiating a surrender, so they quit the talks.
B. George Washington's troops showed their inexperience by fleeing when British troops
captured New York City in 1776. American troops escaped from Manhattan Island to
White Plains, New York.
C. George Washington planned unexpected winter attacks against the British troops at
Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey. Washington and his troops won these attacks and
then headed into the hills of northern New Jersey for the remainder of winter.
D. In 1777 General John Burgoyne developed a plan to isolate New England from the other
American states. The British, however, did not coordinate their efforts.
E. In 1777 British General Howe's troops defeated Washington at the Battle of Brandywine
Creek and captured Philadelphia. However, the Continental Congress, which he had
hoped to capture, had escaped. Howe had failed to destroy the Continental army.
F. General Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga, and over 5,000 British troops were taken
prisoner. The American victory was a turning point because it improved American
morale and convinced France to send troops to the American cause.
G. In February 1778, Americans signed two treaties with France. As a result of the treaties,
France became the first country to recognize the United States as an independent nation,
and United States and France formed an alliance.
Discussion Question
Why was the British surrender at Saratoga a turning point in the war for the Americans? (The
American victory was a turning point because it improved American morale and convinced
France to send troops to the American cause.)
III. Other Fronts (pages 97-98)
A. By February 1779, the British in the West surrendered to Patriot George Rogers Clark,
giving the United States control of the region.
B. In the summer of 1779, American troops defeated the British and Iroquois forces in
western New York.
C. American warships attacked British merchant ships to disrupt trade. Congress began
issuing letters of marque, or licenses, to private ship owners authorizing them to attack
British merchant ships. The cargo seized by privateers seriously hurt Britain's trade and
economy.
D. American naval officer John Paul Jones was involved in the most famous naval battle of
the war. Jones's ship almost sank when it was heavily damaged by the British. Instead of
surrendering, Jones attached his ship to the British ship, boarded it, and after a three-hour
battle the British surrendered.
E. After being defeated at Saratoga, the British focused their attention to the south where
they felt they had the strongest Loyalist support.
F. In December 1778, British troops captured Savannah, Georgia, and returned Georgia to
British power.
G. British General Clinton attacked Charles Town, South Carolina. It became the greatest
American defeat as British troops surrounded the town, trapping the American forces.
General Charles Cornwallis was left in command.
H. Loyalist troops in the South were known for brutal tactics. The Loyalists troops went too
far when they tried subduing people in the Appalachian Mountains. Americans in this
region formed a militia force. The militia intercepted the Loyalist forces at the Battle of
Kings Mountain. The militia destroyed the Loyalist army. This battle was a turning point
in the South. Southern farmers began organizing their own militia forces.
I. American commander General Nathaniel Greene organized the militia in the South into
small units to carry out hit-and-run raids against British camps and supply wagons.
"Swamp Fox" Francis Marion led the most famous of these units.
Discussion Question
How did Americans attack the British at sea? (Instead of attacking the British fleet directly,
American warships attacked British merchant ships to destroy their trade and economy.)
IV. The War Is Won (pages 98-99)
A. In the spring of 1781, the British invaded Virginia hoping to keep control of the South.
British General Cornwallis and his forces linked up with British commander Benedict
Arnold (formerly an American commander) and his forces to conquer Virginia. George
Washington quickly dispatched the Marquis de Lafayette and General Anthony Wayne to
defend Virginia. British General Clinton ordered Cornwallis to secure a naval base on the
coast, and Cornwallis headed to the coastal town of Yorktown.
B. On September 28, 1781, American and French troops surrounded Yorktown. On October
14, Alexander Hamilton led an attack to capture key British defenses. On October 19,
1781, British troops surrendered.
C. After learning of the surrender, Parliament voted to end the war. The Treaty of Paris
was signed on September 3, 1783. In the treaty, the British recognized the United States
as a new nation with the Mississippi River as its western border. Britain kept Canada but
gave Florida back to Spain in a separate treaty. The French received back their former
colonies in Africa and the Caribbean.
Discussion Question
What were the boundaries of the United States after the Treaty of Paris was signed? (The United
States was bordered by Canada on the north, Florida on the south, and the Mississippi River to
the west.)