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Towards Independence

Revolutionary War 1775-1781

Major Engagements

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Northern Campaigns Bunker Hill –

( or Breed’s Hill) - Boston- 1775

British win, but Americans fought well until they ran out of ammunition.

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Breed’s Hill and Bunker Hill

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Retreat from New York- Washington is forced to leave Long Island and Manhattan and retreat into Pennsylvania. By winter of 1775, Continental Army is down to 2,000 soldiers.

Molly Pitcher at Monmouth, NY.

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Battles of Trenton and Princeton December 25, 1775

Washington crosses the Delaware River into New Jersey and captures Trenton and Princeton.

Represents a much needed victory for the American cause.

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After Trenton and Princeton, British General Howe captures Philadelphia.

Under the commands of British Generals Howe and Burgoyne – British strategy is to separate New England and force a surrender of the American forces.

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Battle of Saratoga 1777 Burgoyne is

surrounded at Saratoga, NY by Gen. Horatio Gates.

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Saratoga- October, 1777 British General

Burgoyne surrenders to American General Gates.

Major American victory.

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Results of Saratoga Considered a major turning point in the

war. Reasons: 1. Major American victory. 2. With Ben Franklin as the US Diplomat,

France agrees to form an alliance called: The Treaty of Alliance of 1778

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1778- 1780 (Continental troops

suffer a harsh winter encampment –Valley Forge)

(Troops are trained by General von Steuben)

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Southern Campaigns 1778- 1780 British change

strategy: Under British General

Lord Cornwallis, the plan is to defeat the south and force a surrender of American troops.

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British capture Savannah, Ga. and Charleston, SC., including the surrender of over 5,000 American troops at Charleston.

Siege of Charleston

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Fort Vincennes and Camden- British victories

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Kings Mountain and Cowpens-American victories- British are forced from interior of Carolinas to the coast

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Guilford Courthouse, NC British General

Cornwallis suffers heavy causalities and

is forced to move north into Virginia so he can receive reinforcements, supplies, or removal from the coastal area.

Cornwallis fires cannon into British and American troops !

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Yorktown Yorktown- 1781 Lord

Cornwallis with 9,000 troops – encamps at Yorktown, Va.

A small fortified garrison is also established across the York River at Gloucester Town.

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Washington -Rochambeau Route

French General Rochambeau and General Washington move their armies south from New York to Yorktown.

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Battle of the Capes In 1781, the French

navy under French Admiral DeGrasse arrives and takes a position at the mouth of the Chesapeake.

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Battle of the Capes French turn back

British Navy at the Battle of the Capes.

Cornwallis realizes he may be trapped.

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Yorktown - 1781 Washington (assisted by

Rochambeau and Lafayette) with 17,000 American and French troops lay siege to Yorktown. Cornwallis is trapped at Yorktown. Cornwallis tries to escape across the York River to Gloucester Town, but fails.

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Surrender at Yorktown October 19, 1781-

British General Cornwallis surrenders.

The war is won!

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Battle of the Hook- Gloucester The British sent out a foraging party from their fortified post

at Gloucester Towne (Gloucester Point). French and American forces sent to Gloucester are led by Gen. deChoisy and the Duke of Lauzun to protect Gloucester and to attack the British. They were also supported by the Gloucester and Virginia militia, led by John Page, Warner Lewis, and John Mercer. The notorious British Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton was commanding at the British post in Gloucester and upon learning of the attack, rode out with his British dragoons to cover the retreat. This battle is known as the Battle of the Hook.

The result was an American victory as the British were forced back to Gloucester Town and thus cutting off supplies as well an escape route for Cornwallis.

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Treaty of Paris 1783- Ends Revolutionary

War- America obtains its

independence. America obtains

former colonial lands east of Mississippi.

British troops are to leave America. (Map 1783)

“ World Turned Upside Down” If buttercups buzz'd after the

beeIf boats were on land, churches on seaIf ponies rode men and if grass ate the cowsAnd cats should be chased into holes by the mouse

 

If the mamas sold their babiesTo the Gypsies for half a crownIf summer were springAnd the other way 'roundThen all the world would be upside down!

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War at Sea Congress created a Continental Navy and

commissioned over 400 private merchant American vessels as naval vessels throughout the war.

In addition, over 50 Continental Navy ships were commissioned.

The British had over 400 Naval ships.

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The most notable American Naval Commander was John Paul Jones.

In 1779, Jones on the ship Bonhomme Richard defeated the British ships Serapis and Scarborough.

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During the battle, Jones shouted “ I have not yet begun to fight

John Paul Jones

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American ships attacked the British at sea, in the West Indies, and even invaded England in a daring raid at Whitehaven, England.

By 1779, France and Spain had joined as American allies, and greatly reduced Britain's naval superiority of the seas.

Britain lost over 2000 ships and had over 16,000 sailors captured.

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The End

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