The War of Independence
1775-1783
You’re taking on the greatest military
power of the age…what do you do?
Hold on as long as you can!
Colonists v. Great Britain
Colonial Advantages
Colonial Disadvantages
• Need only to fight a
defensive war
• Good, creative
leaders
• “The Spirit of ’76” –
fighting for a cause
• Alliances with other
nations
• Small, poorly trained
militias
• Lack of supplies
• No credit, no national
bank
• No existing government
Colonists v. Great Britain
British Advantages
• An effective and
organized army
• Huge financial
resources
• Stable and
functioning
government
• Naval superiority
until 1778
British Disadvantages
• Distance = long supply
lines.
• Cost of a long war >
benefit from tax revenues.
• Need to defeat rebels, yet
do so without alienating
the public.
• Must divide forces to
defend holdings in other
parts of the world.
• Unpopular war at home.
The War of Independence
• The “Big Picture”
– War lasts for 8 years…
– Americans will lose most of the battles
but will win the war…
– The war becomes a “world” war for
Britain when France, Spain, and other
European nations support the US…
– US could not have won the war without
foreign aid…
Major Military Engagements
• 1775
– Lexington and Concord
• First shots of the Revolution
• Illustrates the danger of a population in revolution.
– Ft. Ticonderoga
• Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen
• Seize British fort on the Hudson River
• No shots fired.
– Bunker Hill
•
•
•
•
Britain attempts to dislodge colonists on Breed’s Hill
“Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”
Britain loses over 1000 men…
A “Pyrrhic victory”
Major Military Engagements
• 1775
– Lexington and Concord
• First shots of the Revolution
• Illustrates the danger of a population in revolution.
– Ft. Ticonderoga
•
•
•
•
Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen
Seize British fort on the Hudson River
No shots fired.
Artillery from Ticonderoga would be used to
liberate Boston in 1776
– Bunker Hill
•
•
•
•
Britain attempts to dislodge colonists on Breed’s Hill
“Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”
Britain loses over 1000 men…
A “Pyrrhic victory”
1776
– Evacuation of Boston
• Britain withdraws from
Boston after cannon from
Ticonderoga are put into
place on Dorchester
Heights.
• Henry Knox transported
59 cannon (weighing 1 ton
each)
1776
June
– Battle of Long
Island
• GB sends largest
force ever…32,000
men, Hessians,
and navy
• Washington routed
and barely escapes
– Retreat!
• Washington forced
to abandon
Manhattan and
retreat into NJ
• Keeps most of the
Contintental Army
intact
Defeat and Retreat
December 1776
• Battle of Trenton
– Troop enlistments will run out Dec 31.
– Surprise attack against Hessians at Trenton.
– GW crosses the Delaware River on Christmas
eve and attacks Christmas morning.
– Captures 1200 Hessians.
– Militarily insignificant, but a huge morale boost
for the Patriots.
– Follows up with a victory against the British in
Princeton, NJ…helps secure NJ for Patriots.
Battle of Trenton
Significance of Trenton
Major Military Engagements
• 1777
– Philadelphia falls…occupied by the
British.
– Loss of capital  does not mean loss of
war
– GW winters at Valley
Forge.
• Hunger, disease,
depression
• 11,000 men winter;
2,500 die from exposure
and disease
• Businessmen refuse to
sell supplies for
American money –
“Continentals”
• Baron von Steuben –
Prussian general put in
charge of drilling
troops. Americans will
be better prepared for
future battles.
• Battle of Saratoga
– October 1777
– Britain’s Northern
Strategy
• separate New England
by invading from
Canada…
• General “Gentleman
Johnny” Burgoyne sails
down Lake Champlain
to the Hudson River…
• General Howe will come
north from Philadelphia
• Both forces will meet at
Albany, NY
– Burgoyne
recaptures Ft.
Ticonderoga
– Burgoyne marches
to the Hudson
• Huge military – over
8000 men, 2000
women, Iroquois
guides, wagons, etc.
• Colonial militia slow
Burgoyne down by
chopping down trees,
destroying bridges,
etc.
Significance of Saratoga
– Surrender at
Saratoga = turning
point: France
official recognizes
the US and gives
aid.
Franklin in France