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Intoduction
The Revolutionary War began in 1775. The two opposing sides were the Continental Army and the British Army. The colonies that were defended by the Continental Army strongly desired to be free and independent from Britain, the country to which it demanded the colonies be loyal. They did this by enabling one of the most infamous wars in United States history, the Revolutionary War. These series of events help to describe how and when this crucial war played out. -
The Battle in Brooklyn, New York:
On August 27, 1776, the American Army met the British in high spirits. However, because of a lack of troops and training, the Americans were not victorious. The Americans lost a total of 1,407 men while the British only lost 377. Their commander, George Washington, was forced to retreat because they didn’t have enough men to continue the fight. This battle was the first of many defeats for the Americans. -
The Battle in Brooklyn, New York (continued)
This battle was the first of many defeats for the Americans. This event is important to the Revolutionary War because it shows how the Americans almost gave up and let the British win. -
The Crisis
The recent losses in battle disheartened many American soldiers. However, George Washington was able to pull his troops together by reading them a pamphlet by Thomas Paine. It was called the Crisis, and it said that though times are hard we must continue fighting for the freedom and liberty of the country. -
The Crisis (continued)
The soldiers were empowered to not “shrink from the service of their country.” The soldiers continued the fight and didn’t give up. If they had given up the war might have ended. With that Washington pushed a daring attack on Hessian troops in Trenton, New Jersey. -
Battle at Trenton, Jersey: December 25, 1776
On December 25, 1776, Washington's army crossed the Delaware River to attack Hessian troops. While the Hessians were sleeping off their Christmas feasts, the American soldiers attacked them by surprise. Americans successfully took 868 prisoners without losing a man of their own. A week later Americans also captured 300 British troops in Trenton, New Jersey. These victories boosted the colonist's morale, and encouraged more victories ahead. -
Battle of Saratoga, New York: October 17, 1777 (Part 1)
Both sides revised their strategy to win the war. Washington decided to avoid large battles by “playing defense” while the British chose to attempt an invasion of the Hudson River Valley in New York. But first the British commander, Germain, had to have two generals meet up in Albany, New York; the generals were General Burgoyne and General Howe. There were two major problems with the British plan. The first was that the invasion route cut through twenty miles of rough terrain and wilderness. -
Battle of Saratoga, New York: October 17, 1777 (Part 2)
Not to mention, they had to lug 600 wagons full of gear. This obviously slowed them down. The second problem was that instead of meeting General Burgoyne in Albany, General Howe marched his troops to Philadelphia to carry out his own plan to end the war. Howe hoped to lure Washington into another major battle in the rebel’s capitol. These problems with the British plan may have contributed to their loss in Saratoga, New York. -
WInter at Valley Forge
Winter at Valley Forge
All of Washington’s troops were famished, because the farmer who provided rations for the soldiers preferred to sell food to the British. They sold food to the British because of the high amount of wages they were offering. The British were in good shape, while the soldiers in the Continental Army became ill. Because of this soldiers were dying. -
Battle of Saratoga, New York: October 17, 1777 (Part 3)
When Burgoyne’s troops finally reached Saratoga Springs on the Hudson River, militias were prepared to fight and outnumbered the British. Still, Burgoyne chose to attack. When his troops couldn’t take it anymore, Burgoyne accepted defeat and surrendered. The Americans’ war was no longer a hopeless case. They had shown that they could stand up to the British and succeed. Later on, the French even became official allies of the United States. -
The Battle of Monmouth Part 2
Neither army knew this but the war was over. -
The Battle of Monmouth Part 1
Sir Henry Clinton replaced General Howe as a commander of the British forces in America. In Clinton’s perspective, conquering Philadelphia would not benefit to the British. By his order, the British retreated to New York, where the Royal Navy could keep the army supplied. While the British were retreating George Washington caught up with them near Monmouth, New Jersey. A battle had just started and Washington constantly motivated his men to fight. The British slipped away to New York City. -
Guerilla Warfare in the South
Guerilla Warfare in the South
Soldiers called guerillas were not a part of a regular army kept the American cause alive. One named Francis Marion led a band of rebels; his group harassed the British with hit-and-run attacks. They were all very agile and faded into forests like similar to the way foxes do. This way of attacking gave Marion the nickname “swamp fox”. -
The Battle of Yorktown Part 1
Then in Late 1780, Washington ordered Nathaniel Greene, who was a general, to slow the British advance in the South. He didn’t have enough soldiers to have a major battle so Greene led Cornwallis’ troops on a chase through the southern backcountry. This plan worked out perfectly and Cornwallis’ troops grew exhausted. He then moved his army to Yorktown were they could rest. Little did they know that a battle would begin. -
The Battle of Yorktown Part 2
By the time Cornwallis was settling into Yorktown, the American and French troops joined together. Then Washington learned that more troops were coming. He used this information to set a trap for Cornwallis. Secretly he moved his army South ro Virginia. When they arrived they joined the French and surrounded Yorktown with 16,000 troops. Meanwhile, the French warships showed up just in time to seal the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. Now Cornwallis and his army were cut off from the British Navy. -
The Battle of Yorktown Part 3
After hours 8,000 British troops left Yorktown to lay down their arms. The battle was won by the Americans. Cornwallis had surrendered. -
The Treaty of Paris
In 1783 representatives of the United States and Britain signed a peace treaty in Paris. The treaty had three main parts. That Britain would recognize America as an independent nation, that British gave up its property from South Canada to Florida, and that the United States agreed to return the property taken from the Loyalists during the war.
