THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCEEQ: How did the Revolutionary War lead to the signing of the Declaration of Independence?

New York

British They had about 32,000 soldiers

The Continental Army was untrained and poorly equipped

Who won? Why did they win? What were the important results? Allowed the

British to attempt to seize control of New England

Trenton

Americans

They defeated a garrison of Hessians with a surprise attack

Who won? Why did they win? What were the important results? Boosted the

morale of the Continental Army

Saratoga

Americans

Burgoyne expected reinforcements but they never came; American troops surrounded him at Saratoga

Who won? Why did they win? What were the important results? Caused France

to sign an alliance with the Americans and openly join them in the fight

Yorktown

Americans

17,000 French and American troops surrounded Yorktown and bombarded them day and night

Who won? Why did they win? What were the important results? In September of

1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed, which confirmed US independence and set the boundary of the new nation

Hardships

1. Couldn’t get paid in hard currency

2. Ran out of supplies and equipment often

3. They usually had very little formal training

1. When they ran out of hard currency they began printing more and more paper currency and this caused inflation

Soldiers Members of Congress Civilians

1. When men left to fight, the women had to manage: farms and businesses as well as households and families

2. Some women became nurses on the battlefield and some even fought

Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson prepared the final draft

Declared the rights of “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” to be unalienable rights

Government’s power can only come from the consent of the governed

Provided a long list of violations committed by the king and Parliament against the colonists’ rights

Stated that “all men are created equal” but had different meanings

Important Dates July 2, 1776

Delegates voted unanimously that the American colonies were free

July 4, 1776 Adopted the Declaration of Independence

and declared their independence from Britain