The American Revolution Sizing Up The Armies The Strategy of War “A World Turned Upside Down”

The American The American RevolutionRevolution

Sizing Up The ArmiesSizing Up The Armies

The Strategy of WarThe Strategy of War

““A World Turned Upside Down”A World Turned Upside Down”

American Strengths and American Strengths and WeaknessesWeaknesses

The colonists are The colonists are fighting for fighting for independenceindependence

George Washington George Washington can inspire his men to can inspire his men to fightfight

France will aide the France will aide the colonies with colonies with weapons, supplies weapons, supplies and their navyand their navy

Patriots and LoyalistsPatriots and Loyalists

Patriots were colonists Patriots were colonists who supported the who supported the break from England.break from England.

Loyalists are colonials Loyalists are colonials support the England.support the England.

Colonists are divided Colonists are divided as to whether or not as to whether or not they should rebel they should rebel against England!against England!

American Strengths and American Strengths and WeaknessesWeaknesses

The colonists are The colonists are not a trained armynot a trained army

Colonists enlist Colonists enlist for months for months instead of yearsinstead of years

Short on money, Short on money, weapons and weapons and supplies to fight a supplies to fight a warwar

British Strengths and British Strengths and WeaknessesWeaknesses

The British have an The British have an experienced experienced professional armyprofessional army

Outnumber the Outnumber the Continental Army Continental Army

The British army is The British army is well supplied with well supplied with equipment and equipment and weaponsweapons

British Strengths and British Strengths and WeaknessesWeaknesses

The British are not fighting for a causeThe British are not fighting for a cause British officers are careless and poor British officers are careless and poor

leadersleaders The British have a to cross the Atlantic The British have a to cross the Atlantic

Ocean to send men and supplies for the Ocean to send men and supplies for the warwar

The support at homes is rather weakThe support at homes is rather weak

The Strategy of WarThe Strategy of War

American ColoniesAmerican Colonies Keep the Colonial Keep the Colonial

Army togetherArmy together Washington seeks to Washington seeks to

stretch the British stretch the British army away from army away from supply lines supply lines

Harass the enemy, Harass the enemy, defeat the British in a defeat the British in a major battle – “War of major battle – “War of

Attrition.Attrition. Get allies to help win!Get allies to help win!

BritainBritain Seeks to destroy the Seeks to destroy the

Colonial ArmyColonial Army Regain control of the Regain control of the

colonies by region – colonies by region – Break NE off from the Break NE off from the rest of the colonies.rest of the colonies.

Take the fight to the Take the fight to the Colonial Army using Colonial Army using European war tacticsEuropean war tactics

Use loyalists support Use loyalists support against the coloniesagainst the colonies

The Strategy of WarThe Strategy of War

Lexington and ConcordLexington and Concord, April 1777, April 1777

British attempt to capture Samuel Adams British attempt to capture Samuel Adams and weapons stockpile around Concordand weapons stockpile around Concord

The colonists are warned by Paul Revere The colonists are warned by Paul Revere and 40 other riders that “British are and 40 other riders that “British are coming”coming”

4,000 colonial “militia men” exchange fire 4,000 colonial “militia men” exchange fire with British troops along the main roadwith British troops along the main road

This battle This battle is considered the beginning of is considered the beginning of the American Revolution the American Revolution

A personal view of the American A personal view of the American RevolutionRevolution

“ “ The men that was wounded in the thigh or leg, they The men that was wounded in the thigh or leg, they dashed out their brains with their muskets and run dashed out their brains with their muskets and run them through with their bayonets, made them like them through with their bayonets, made them like sieves. This was barbarity to the utmost.”sieves. This was barbarity to the utmost.”

Sergeant New Jersey Regiment, 1778 Sergeant New Jersey Regiment, 1778

Fort TiconderogaFort Ticonderoga Ethan AllenEthan Allen, a blacksmith, , a blacksmith,

leads the leads the Green Mountain Green Mountain boys boys of Vermont against the of Vermont against the fort which had many fort which had many cannon.cannon.

There was one guard and the There was one guard and the officers were sleeping.officers were sleeping.

The commander had to turn The commander had to turn over 100 cannon and over 100 cannon and gunpowder.gunpowder.

Bunker (Breed’s) HillBunker (Breed’s) HillJun 1775Jun 1775

New “Continental Army” takes position on New “Continental Army” takes position on Breed’s HillBreed’s Hill

They are told, They are told, ““Don’t shoot until you see the Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes!”whites of their eyes!” because they have only because they have only a small amount of gunpowdera small amount of gunpowder

British conduct frontal assaultBritish conduct frontal assault Poor judgment – flanks/rear exposedPoor judgment – flanks/rear exposed 40% casualties for Brits (1,100 dead)40% casualties for Brits (1,100 dead)

Colonials repel two assaults but run out of Colonials repel two assaults but run out of ammunition.ammunition.

The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill by John Trumbull

Brits Leave BostonBrits Leave Boston

By January 1776, the Continental By January 1776, the Continental Army surrounded Boston.Army surrounded Boston.

The The cannon captured at Ticonderoga cannon captured at Ticonderoga were placed on a hill overlooking were placed on a hill overlooking Boston and its harborBoston and its harbor..

Seeing that they were trapped, Seeing that they were trapped, General Howe ordered his troops to General Howe ordered his troops to go to Halifax, Canada.go to Halifax, Canada.

New YorkNew York GGen. Howe (Brit) heads to New York City.en. Howe (Brit) heads to New York City. Washington takes the Continental Army to defend the Washington takes the Continental Army to defend the

city.city. Howe has 34,000 troops, 10,000 sailors, 30 warships Howe has 34,000 troops, 10,000 sailors, 30 warships

and 400 smaller boats.and 400 smaller boats. Washington has 20,000 men and no navy.Washington has 20,000 men and no navy. Losing the battles for New York, the Continentals retreat Losing the battles for New York, the Continentals retreat

to New Jersey.to New Jersey. Nathan Hale, a young Connecticut spy is captured Nathan Hale, a young Connecticut spy is captured

behind British lines.behind British lines. ““I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my

country”country” were his last words… were his last words…

New York City in FlamesNew York City in Flames(1776)(1776)

Trenton and the CrossingTrenton and the Crossing Discouraged with losing, the Continentals are cold, Discouraged with losing, the Continentals are cold,

hungry, deserting and many are due for re-enlistmenthungry, deserting and many are due for re-enlistment A victory is badly needed.A victory is badly needed. Washington plans a surprise attack on Washington plans a surprise attack on Hessian troops Hessian troops

(German mercenaries) (German mercenaries) in Trenton , New Jersey.in Trenton , New Jersey. He gets his troops across the frozen Delaware River in He gets his troops across the frozen Delaware River in

the dead of night on Christmas.the dead of night on Christmas. On On Dec. 26, the Continental Army takes over 1400 Dec. 26, the Continental Army takes over 1400

Hessians prisoner Hessians prisoner without losing a single soldier!without losing a single soldier!

The Crossing – The BattleThe Crossing – The Battle

The full video is called The Crossing and The full video is called The Crossing and stars Jeff Daniels (Dumb and Dumber). It stars Jeff Daniels (Dumb and Dumber). It is really good and can be found here and is really good and can be found here and on my website. It is in installments though.on my website. It is in installments though.