British general defeated at the Battle of Saratoga. Turning point of war. French now encouraged to assist the Americans.
Nathaniel Greene
Replaced Gates as leader of the Continental forces. Split his army into two. Chased the British (Cornwallis) out of the Carolinas up to Yorktown, Virginia.
Hessians
German soldiers who fought for Britain
General Howe (British)
Made some terrible mistakes…like staying too long in Philadelphia and not pursuing Washington into New Jersey
Sam Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere were members – a secret group that organized attacks on the British
Thomas Paine
His pamphlet, Common Sense, convinced many colonists to support independence
Francis Marion
Patriot leader who defeated the British in the South. Known as the “Swamp Fox” – hit and run style.
Patriots
American colonists who supported independence and war against England. They made statements such as “…give me liberty or give me death.”
Treaty of Paris
Americans and British work out a treaty in Paris after the war is ended. Signed in September 1783, Great Britain recognized the United States as an independent nation.
George Washington hired this German general to train Colonial troops at Valley Forge.
George Washington
General of the Continental Army…will become the first President of the United States
Women in the war
Women helped plant crops, make war supplies and clothing. Many were nurses.
Yorktown, Virginia
Cornwallis is surrounded by American ground forces as well as Rochambeau’s French infantry. Cornwallis surrenders to George Washington – ends the war October 1781.
African Americans and Native Americans
Both groups helped both the British and colonists.
Allowed the British to search without warrants or probable cause
The American Revolution
The American colonists, especially Bostonians, showed their opposition to the British taxation and trade restrictions of the 1760s mainly by boycotting products from Great Britain.
The colonists felt restricted by laws/acts passed by the British government such as the Proclamation of 1763, the Navigation Laws, the Stamp Act, and the Townshend Acts.
The colonists felt they didn’t enough of a voice in their own government.
The American Revolution begins with the battles at Lexington and Concord. At Lexington, the British win and the colonists flee. Next, at Concord, the colonists win, and the British are driven back to Boston.
Time and money to ship soldiers from England (home base is thousands of miles away)
Timeline of Events (in chronological order)
French and Indian War► passage of Stamp Act► Battle of Saratoga► Battle of Yorktown
Even though the American soldiers ran out of ammunition and were defeated by the British at the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Americans showed the British that they would not be intimidated and could not be easily defeated.
Battle at Trenton, NJ – George Washington orders a surprise attack on the British/Hessians at Trenton. Hessians were still drunk from Christmas festivities – not good.
Saratoga (New York) – Turning point of war. British General Burgoyne is defeated. French decide to join with the Americans.
Yorktown, Virginia – War is won by the Americans as Cornwallis is defeated.
Share fishing rights with the British in the North Atlantic
America gains its independence
Loyalists will be treated fairly by the American government
The Declaration of Independence states that people have the right to alter or abolish a government if that government violates peoples’ natural rights. If these rights are not given, the people can rebel.
