The American War for Independence

1774-1783

During the 1500’s, 1600’s, and into the 1700’s, France and England had fought a series of wars. As both countries had set up colonies in the “New World,” it was logical that these wars would carry over onto the North American Continent

where both Countries had colonies.

Although the War started as a territorial dispute over the lands along the Ohio & Mississippi rivers, it escalated into a full-scale conflict.

The British invested lots of money in the defense of their North American colonies. Training, equipping, and paying troops was

expensive. So too, was the building of forts used to repel the French troops. Eventually the British would turn towards the colonies to pay

for their own defense.

One young surveyor from Virginia gained valuable experience during the French and Indian Wars. George Washington took part in, or commanded troops in many battles. Most of these he lost, but he

learned much from the mistakes that he and others made.

The British King and Parliament (law makers) decided that the colonists had to pay for their own defense. When the colonists complained saying that they had

no representation in Parliament, the British reacted cruelly. There were, however, harsh acts committed by both sides.

By the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the colonists had fought in several battles against the British regulars. The largest of

which was the Battle of Bunker Hill which proved to the colonists that they could stand up to the well-trained British regulars.

British Strategy: the British did not believe the rebellion would last very long and as result, they tried to militarily to cut the colonies in half by landing troops in New York and politically by trying to convince the colonists that they would

not be tried for treason. They had to make it safe for the colonists to surrender.

The American people put their trust in a former commander during the French & Indian Wars, George Washington to lead their army. His

strategy was to survive until the British decided that they were tired of paying for the war. This meant keeping an army in the field at all times

and not allowing himself to be cornered, nor this army annihilated.

Another part of the colonists’ strategy was to find an ally to bring in to the war. The obvious choice was Britain’s enemy France, but France would not come to

help until the Continental Army proved that it could stand up to the British. It was at the Battle of Saratoga in the Hudson River valley, that the Continentals

did that.

The Colonists also fought at Sea. Mostly the Continental navy attacked British Merchant ships (they were acting like privateers), but 1 naval hero stood out: John Paul Jones who captured the British warship

Serapis.

When British strategy stalled in the North, they shifted their attention to the Southern colonies. They believed (correctly at first) that they would

have more support from loyalists there, and that once pacified, they could attack North.

The British mistreated the citizens of the Southern colonies and caused them to turn towards the Patriots. Guerilla warfare (from the likes of

the “Swamp Fox” Francis Marion) kept the British stretched thin throughout the southern colonies.

In addition to the sniping and guerilla warfare in the south, The Continental army led by Nathaniel Greene kept the British Regular

army on the move. Rarely committing to battle.

The Battle of Kings Mountain is a turning point in the Southern Campaign because the locals came together and beat a Loyalist army

led by British regulars.

After a decisive victory at the Battle of Cowpens, the Continentals lured General Cornwallis around the Carolinas and finally into Virginia. They were

able to maneuver him to a place in Yorktown Virginia. The French fleet cut off Cornwallis, while General Washington with his army and recently arrived

French troops marched to help the Southern Continentals. There at Yorktown, they besieged the British finally forcing their surrender. With no real chance of

victory in the North, and the Southern British armies defeated, the British began peace negotiations.