British Strengths and WeaknessesBritish Strengths and Weaknesses

• Strengths– Population – 7.5 million– Professional army– Financial strength

• Hired Hessians

• Weaknesses– Ireland – smoking volcano– French awaiting payback– Confused and inept

government– Whig faction– Provisions were scares– Operating 3000 miles from

home– Communication gap– America’s varied

geography

Colonial Strengths and WeaknessesColonial Strengths and Weaknesses

• Strengths– Great Leadership

• George Washington• Ben Franklin• Marquis de Lafayette

– Fighting defensively– Self-sustaining

agriculture– Moral Advantage –

just!

• Weaknesses– Poorly organized– Lacking in unity– Sectional jealousies– Economic problems

• “Continental” was worthless

George WashingtonGeorge Washington

• Chosen by 2nd Continental Congress– All 13 colonies represented– Chose GW to lead army

• Dignified Virginia planter

• Not a military genius, but a great leader with strength of character

• Patient, courageous, and disciplined

• A political choice– New England army wasn’t trusted

Thomas Paine: Common Thomas Paine: Common SenseSense

Thomas Paine: Common SenseThomas Paine: Common Sense

• Argued the superiority of a republic over a corrupt monarchy– People would have the power– Government derives power from popular

consent– Sacrifice personal self-interest for common

good

• The tiny island of Britain should not rule over the vast continent of America

Colonial Inconsistency

• Colonists were affirming loyalty to the king while raising armies and shooting redcoats

• May 1775 – Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen captured British garrisons at Ticonderoga and Crown Point– Artillery ready for a siege of Boston

Bunker Hill (June, 1775)Bunker Hill (June, 1775)

The British suffered over 40% casualties.

Bunker Hill (June, 1775)Bunker Hill (June, 1775)• Colonists had seized the hill from which they

menaced Boston

• British launched frontal attack

• The entrenched Colonists mowed down the Brits, but ran out of gunpowder and retreated

• July 1775 - Continental Congress offered Olive Branch petition – professing loyalty

• King George slammed the door shut – Hired Hessians to help crush the rebellion

Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence (1776)(1776)

Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence (1776)(1776)

• Richard Henry Lee of VA moved that the colonies become free– Motion adopted on July 2 by Congress

• Needed an inspirational appeal to American people and invite foreign assistance– Enter Jefferson’s Declaration

Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Independence HallIndependence Hall

Washington’s HeadachesWashington’s Headaches

Only 1/3 of the colonists were in favor of a war for independence [the other third were Loyalists, and the final third were neutral].

State/colony loyalties.

Congress couldn’t tax to raise money for the Continental Army.

Poor training [until the arrival of Baron von Steuben].

Loyalist StrongholdsLoyalist Strongholds

• Loyalists – colonists loyal to king

• “Tories”• Wealthy,

educated• British vets• Recent

immigrants• Anglicans

Military StrategiesMilitary Strategies

Attrition [the Brits had a long supply line].

Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down]

Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies.

The Americans The British

Break the colonies in half by getting between the No. & the So.

Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally.

“Divide and Conquer” use the Loyalists.

Phase IPhase I:: The Northern CampaignThe Northern Campaign[1775-1776][1775-1776]

Phase IPhase I:: The Northern CampaignThe Northern Campaign[1775-1776][1775-1776]

• Americans attempted a 2 prong attack of Canada– Their assault was beaten off– French Canadians did not join the rebel cause

• British forced to evacuate Boston

Phase IIPhase II::

NY & PANY & PA[1777-1778][1777-1778]

New York and PANew York and PA

• British goal was to sever New England from the rest of the colonies

• Burgoyne’s troops would push down along Lake Champlain, Howe would advance up from NY, and St. Leger would come from the west

• Benedict Arnold disrupted plans – held them off until winter

• Howe attacked PA instead

New York and PANew York and PA

• Howe wanted to force engagement with Washington’s army and destroy it

• Washington was defeated at Brandywine Creek and Germantown

• Howe settled in Philadelphia

• Washington’s troops went to Valley Forge for the winter– Trained by Baron von Steuben – Prussian

drillmaster

Washington Crossing the Washington Crossing the DelawareDelaware

Painted by Emanuel Leutze, 1851

Leads to British defeat in NJ and raised morale

Saratoga:Saratoga:“Turning “Turning Point”of the War?Point”of the War?

A modern-day re-enactment

Burgoyne was forced to surrender to General Gates

Revived the colonial cause

Made French aid possible

Phase IIIPhase III:: The Southern The Southern Strategy Strategy [1780-1781][1780-1781]

Britain’s “Southern Britain’s “Southern Strategy”Strategy”

Britain thought that there were more Loyalists in the South.

Southern resources were more valuable/worth preserving.

The British win a number of small victories, but cannot pacify the countryside [similar to U. S. failures in Vietnam!]

Good US General:Nathanial Greene – strategy of delay – wear out the British in pursuit

The Battle of Yorktown The Battle of Yorktown (1781)(1781)

Count de Rochambeau

AdmiralDe Grasse

North America After theNorth America After theTreaty of Paris, 1783Treaty of Paris, 1783