The War for Independence

The War for Independence

• Originally entitled Yankee Doodle

• painted by A. M. Willard• came to be known as The

Spirit of '76• it is a familiar symbol of

American patriotism

War for Independence

• The shot heard ‘round the world has been fired

• The first battle, The Battle of Bunker Hill, has taken place

• Independence has been declared

The British Strategy• The British dispatched to America the

largest force Great Britain had ever assembled anywhere– Such a large force would mean a quick

victory• Capture major American cities

– New York City – Capture the capital, Philadelphia

• Isolate New England colonies/divide the colonies

• Blockade the coast• Win a big military victory in one battle

– A clear cut military victory would bring about regaining colonial allegiance

The Patriot Plan• Only fight when could/had a

good chance to inflict damage• Use Native American attack

method for fighting– Hit and run

• Take out the Native American scouts– Wouldn’t know the land

• Start targeting British officers– Leave the foot soldiers leaderless

• Fight a war of attrition

The American Army• Young single and footloose

enlisted for long periods of time• Farmers with families enlisted for

short periods of time• Northern states turned to blacks

(free and slaves) – Most slaves in the north won their

freedom• Women followed the camps are

cooks, nurses, launderers– Mary Hays = Molly Pitcher

• At home women run the farms and shops so that the men could fight

Mary “Molly Pitcher” at the battle of Monmouth

American Strengths

• Washington’s leadership– No all out major battle– lost most of his battles

BUT leadership saved his army to fight anther day

• Fighting on home ground

• Inspiring cause• Help from other nations

– France (navy)

The British problems• Defeats on the battlefield did not lead to the

abandonment of colonial political aim of Independence• Only 5% of the population lived in the cities captured

by the British• The Americans would not fight a conventional

European war – they were trained in open battlefield• Did not take the Patriots seriously • Hessians

– Relied too heavily on them– No real reason to fight – except $$$– Colonist hated them for their brutal reputation

• Long distance from home/supplies• Unfamiliar with land• Weak military leadership

British General Howe

Fighting in the New England• British Attack New York

– Largest invasion fleet at that time (D-day)

– Biggest attack on New York (until 9/11) – Washington losses New York

• Surprise Battle of Trenton– Crossing the Delaware River – On Christmas night/day– Surprised garrison of Hessians– Modest victory raised the sprits of

the troops

Washington Crossing the Delaware

Fighting in the Middle Colonies

• Battle of Princeton– Washington inflicted heavy

casualties on British troops– “It is a fine day for a hunt”– Becomes a hero by rally his troops

by riding out in front of them– Raised moral and encouraged more

men to enlist• Washington lost Philadelphia

– Continental Congress on the run

Washington at the Battle of Princeton

Battle of Saratoga• Turning point of the war• Players

– British General Johnny Burgoyne – British General St. Leger– British General Howe– American General Ethan Allan– American General Arthur Sinclair– American General Horatio Gates– Daniel Morgan and his widow makers– American General Benedict Arnold

Battle Saratoga

• Burgoyne would march towards Saratoga following the Hudson River

• Meet up with St. Leger and Howe

• Cut the colonies into two parts Gen Johnny Burgoyne

Burgoyne’s Problem• “Gentlemen” Johnny Burgoyne• Terrain

– dense forest hard to cut through– Patriots cut down trees for road blocks– Advance just one mile a day

• They created enemies where ever they went– Poor treatment of the locals and farmers

• New type of American Solider– Daniel Morgan and his sharp shooters – New technology

• American long rifles– Light weight– Grooves inside the barrel which spins the shot

giving the marksmen greater accuracy – Can hit a target 250 yards away – twice the

range of the British musket

Daniel Morgan

What Saratoga does for the cause• America had proof they

would beat the British regulars

• British confidence takes a blow

• French recognizes America independence– Openly support the war

effort– Navy forces the British to

fight on land and seaGeneral Burgoyne

surrenders to General Gates

The British Move South

• After Saratoga, England changes strategy and moves South– Could serve as a vase for attacking

the North– Many Loyalist in the South

• Howe is replaced with Clinton• Early victories convince him

Southern strategy is the way to go!

• Charleston, SC falls to the British• Clinton goes back to New York –

replaced with Cornwallis• Gen Horatio Gates and Nathanael

Greene is in charge of American forces in South

At Cowpens• Little Battle – 3, 000

men • American Gen Daniel

Morgan vs. British Gen Tarleton (Patriot movie)

• Morgan picked a spot so that the men had to fight

• Victory for Americans

Guildford Court House• Took place in Greensboro, NC• Pyrrhic victory for Cornwallis• Most of army has been destroyed

Greensboro, NC National Park

Cornwallis leaves South Carolina• Headed for Virginia• Joined with Benedict Arnold (Am

traitor)• Washington and French General

Rochambeau discuss going after Cornwallis

• Word comes from West Indies, “de Grasse will arrive with French fleet!”

• American troops head for Virginia with 16,000 men

Yorktown

• Lay siege to Yorktown• Cornwallis is trapped• British navy not coming • Cornwallis sues for peace• “The World Turned Upside Down”• News reaches England

– We have had enough– Parliament votes to cease offensive and begin

peace negotiations