The Colonial Army
Strengths:
 Their cause – fighting for freedom on their
own land.
 Had to transport supplies a short distance
 Had good military leaders like Washington
 Familiar with terrain and used guerilla
warfare learned from the natives.
 Defensive strategy = hang on!
"There! His Majesty can now read my name
without glasses. And he can double the
reward on my head!" -- John Hancock
British Army
Strengths
 Well trained and disciplined
professional army
 400% larger army
 More $$
 Best Navy in the world
 Manufacturing
Strategy
Colonial Army

Outlast
Defend and drag war out
2. Guerilla tactics learned
from natives
3. Need alliance : France
4. Don’t surrender
1.
British Army

Divide and Conquer
Use loyalists, take land,
encourage slave revolts
2. Split the North and
South
3. Blockade = no trade
1.
George Washington
The American Symbol
1. Build an army from
militias
2. Build and maintain
support
3. Recruit volunteers

“Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes
small numbers formidable; procures
success to the weak, and esteem to all”
- George Washington
Crossing the Delaware


From 1776 -1777, most of the battles ended in British
victory
In need of victory, Washington decided to attack the
Hessian army at Trenton, New Jersey Christmas night.
– If a victory was not met it was very possible the revolution
would end that year in failure. Contracts from the soldiers were
almost up and moral was down.
 It was stormy and cold that night, but he and 2,400 men
successfully crossed
the icy Delaware river.
 At 8am the next
morning, Washington
and his men led a
surprise attack
securing victory at the
Battle of Trenton!
1777 - The Year of the Hangman

The British started the year
by mounting a major effort
to end the rebellion. Their
strategy was to bring troops
from Canada to join forces
with General Howe in New
York. From there, this
British army, commanded
by John Burgoyne, would
isolate the important region
of New England from the
rest of the colonies.
5,000 British and 3,000 German Mercenaries assembled
in Canada during the winter of 1776 -1777. They
became ravaged by disease and couldn’t even bury their
own men in the frozen ground.
 Burgoyne led his men towards New York at a slow pace
(2-3 miles a day at times) because Colonials cut down
trees in their path and attacked them along the way. By
October 1777, Burgoyne’s army was down to less than
6,000 men.
 Part of Burgoyne’s plan would failed when
General Howe failed to meet him in New
York. He was preoccupied conquering
Philadelphia.

Gaining France’s Aid
Gaining the aid of France was essential for the
US in their war for independence
– Finances, navy, weapons …
 With the help of two men and the need for
revenge, France
would eventually join
the war.

Benjamin Franklin
gains the help of France


In 1776 Benjamin Franklin
went to France as America’s
first ambassador.
– His goal was to gain their
aid in the war against
England
Franklin was very popular in
France. He learned their
language quickly, dressed
modestly, and was very
adept at politics and
persuasion.
Marquis de Lafayette
A French aristocrat. He left
France against the king’s
orders to help the Americans.
 Inspired by America’s cause,
he volunteered to help the
army without pay. He
became a great, respected
commander in the field.
 Served with Washington and
became friends.
 Help persuaded French
government to send aid and
eventually troops to America.

Battle of Saratoga




As Burgoyne is moving
south from Canada towards
New York they became
intercepted by the Colonial
Army commanded by Gates.
Colonial Army – 12,000 men
Surrounding them at the
battle of Saratoga
Burgoyne surrendered to
Gates on October 17, 1777
The battle of Saratoga was important turning
point in the war.
 By winning the battle it helped convince the
French to join our side as an ally. The French
were eager to strike back at their longtime
enemy, the British.

The French Join the War




Before officially entering the war, the French secretly
gave weapons to the Americans.
After the victory at Saratoga, the French decided to
officially enter the war on the side of the Colonials.
They signed a commercial treaty and military alliance
with the U.S. on Feb 6, 1778. Both sides agreed to not
end military action until Britain officially recognized
America’s independence.
France’s goal was to get revenge on the British for the
Seven Years War and weaken them.



The French provided naval support to the Colonists. This navy
not only engaged British ships but also helped protect American
trade abroad.
French entry in the war emboldened other countries to
challenge Britain for trade rights in America. Russia, Denmark,
Sweden, Austria, Portugal, Prussia, and Sicily joined the League
of Armed Neutrality to protect their trade rights in America.
Many historians believe that America’s independence would not
have been possible without the help of France.
Winter at Valley Forge


While Burgoyne was making his way towards New York,
British general William Howe moved his army towards
Philadelphia to destroy Washington’s army. (Remember
Howe is supposed to meet Burgoyne in New York)
Washington’s army met the British, fought hard but lost
and retreated with 1,200 soldiers killed or injured. In
comparison, the British lost about 600 men.
The British Conquered Philadelphia and settled
in comfortable winter quarters.
 Congress fled to York, Pennsylvania and the
Continental Army established winter quarters
outside Philadelphia at Valley forge.

That winter was particularly cold. 2,500 of Washington’s
men died from cold, disease, or starvation. Another 2,000
deserted. Many of the men didn’t have shoes and left bloody
footprints as they marched through the snow. The army
seemed as though it was on the brink of total collapse.

"If the army does not get help soon, in all likelihood it
will disband." – General George Washington
General Charles Cornwallis
British General, second in command. Won many victories in
the South
 In 1780 he invaded North Carolina and attempted to control the
south. In 1781, he marched North to seek a decisive battle in
Virginia and to cut off supplies going to the Carolinas.
 Lack of loyalist support made it difficult for him to conquer
Virginia. General Clinton ordered Cornwallis to take a fort at
Yorktown. Cornwallis followed
orders and waited there for
reinforcements.

Battle of Yorktown
This was the last major battle of the war.
 The battle was fought from September 28 - October
19, 1781

The situation
The British
 Cornwallis and his army
of 8,000 men waited at
Yorktown, building
defensive positions.
 Waiting for
reinforcements.
 Had to secure access to
the sea for supplies and
possible escape.
The French and Americans:
 The French landed an
army of 7,800 men. A
large French fleet had
also arrived.
 Seeing an opportunity to
take advantage of the
British situation at
Yorktown, the allies
(France and America)
devised a plan.
Washington faked preparations to attack British
controlled New York. Meanwhile, he secretly
sent an army to Yorktown.
 The French Navy moves in and defeats the
British navy thus cutting off Cornwallis from the
sea.

Washington’s Army of 8,800 Americans met with
Marquis de Lafayette’s army of 7,800 French.
 Cornwallis’ army of 8,000 men were cut off and
surrounded.

Cornwallis had nowhere to go and the British
army in New York could not reinforce him fast
enough.
 Outnumbered, outgunned, and surrounded…
Cornwallis eventually surrendered on October
19, 1781.

“Oh god, It’s all over.” – Lord North, British prime minister
Treaty of Paris 1783
The surrender at Yorktown
marked the end of major
fighting but skirmishes
continued for another year.
 King George III wanted to
continue the war but most
of parliament felt that
enough men and money
had been invested in
keeping America in the
empire.

King George III
The Peace negotiations took place in Paris.
Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay
represented on behalf of America.
 The peace treaty was singed by all parties on
September 3, 1783. In the deal, the negotiators
got most of everything they hoped for, except for
Canada. Britain also restricted American access to
the Gulf of Mexico, a source of diplomatic friction
for years.
 John Jay hoped to end the slave trade in the treaty
but nothing was said about it.

New boundaries
created by the Treaty
of Paris.
 Keep in mind…
nobody consulted the
many Indian tribes
about these
boundaries.
