A Country Divided
2/5th - Patriots
Mostly in New
England and VA
A Country Divided
1/5thLoyalits=
Tories
Mostly in
NY and
South
Colonies Divided
Native
Americans
African
Americans
Have to decide
which side will
treat them best if
they win
Americans- Disadvantages
Had to start Army/Navy from Scratch
No formal government to make decisions
Scarce supplies: money, clothing, food,
guns, ammo
Americans-Advantages
Better leadership-Washington
Home Field Advantage
Tactics/Strategy-guerilla warfare
Foreign Aid- France as an ally
Motivated to save own land
British Disadvantages
Far away from Britain, sending orders,
getting news takes 2 months
Fought using old strategies-unwilling to
change
Has a worldwide empire to worry about
British Advantages
Best Army and Navy in the world
Also 30,000 hired mercenaries
Controlled major cities (NY and Boston)
Richest nation in the world
Strong and organized government
Early Strategies-American
Score early victories to show they were
for real
Drum up support-gain more patriots
Gain foreign allies-France, Spain
Early Strategies-British
Occupy major coastal cities-take
advantage of better Navy
Drum up Loyalist support
Crush the Continental Army before it has
a chance to gain momentum
Trenton
Dec. 25, 1776
Continentals are in bad shape after many
losses, casualties, few supplies
Most soldiers enlistments ending
If Washington does not take immediate
action the revolution is likely over
Trenton
Washingtons bold plan- cross Delaware
River on Christmas night
Surprise attack on German Hessians
Result: 30 Hessians killed, 918 Captured
Result: Only 4 Colonists killed
Result: Many guns, ammo captured
Result: Major morale boost for
Washington and Continental Army
Princeton
Jan. 3, 1777
Washington builds on success, attacks
1200 British and captures or kills 1/3
Only 40 Continental casualties
Saratoga
Oct. 17, 1777
Part of British Army went to Canada to
attack from the North
They were to meet up with main British
Army in NYC
The Continentals defeated the British in
several battles around Saratoga
Saratoga
British surrendered 5800 men, supplies
Is a major turning point in war towards a
Patriot victory
France sees success, becomes an ally,
sending troops and $$
Later Spain becomes ally also
Valley Forge
In late 1777, British force Continentals out
of Philadelphia
They set up a winter camp at Valley
Forge, PA
Awful conditions- few supplies, food,
improper clothing for winter
1/4 died from starvation, cold, disease
Continental Army
Inexperienced
1 year enlistment
Later for whole war
231,771 total
Militia
164,087 Total
3,6,9 month enlistment close to home
Designed to protect local resources
African Americans
Washington,
Continental
Congress
opposed
enlistment
5,000 troops
Women
Martha
Washington
Molly PitcherMary Hays
Usually had to
fight in
disguise
Spies
Worked for both sides
Often switched sides
Desertions
Common- 18.2% of all troops
Reasons:
Homesick
Money
Starvation
Punishment
Uniforms- Beginning
Farm clothes
Buckskins
Boots/shoes
scarce
Uniforms-Officers/Regulars
Weapons-smoothbore muskets
Flintlock firing mechanism
Rations
Scarce
Beef
Pork
Salt Fish
Bread
Rice
Beans
Milk
Army Pay
Washington- $500/month
Major Generals- $162/month
Privates- $6.67/month
Often didnt arrive on time or sometimes
at all- led to mutinies
Medical Care
Individual doctors-soldiers paid
Army Hospital
Lacked: medicine,
beds, blankets
American Navy
Built from scratch- few in numbers
Bounties- 1/2 of profits from British
warships
Helped greatly when France and Spain
join the fight
Privateers
A privately owned ship that a wartime
government gives permission to attack an
enemys merchant ships
1,000 in Revolutionary war
Captured 606 British ships
Claimed $18,000,000 in goods
Accomplished most American victories at
sea
Organization
Infantry, Cavalry,
Artillery
Grenadiers, Light
Artillery
Discipline Severe
Recruiting
Problems
Weapons
Tower musket
3 shots a minute
Inaccurate
Bayonets
Supplies
Knapsack
Clothing
Blanket
Provisions for 4 days
Share of Tent
60 rounds of gunpowder and bullets
Rations
Food from Britain
Inferior to Patriots
Delayed, slow deliveries
Often raided farms, homes to get food
and live off of the land
Supported by loyalists
Navy
Controlled seas
Kept most American ports closed
Hard to recruit experienced sailors
Camden- S.C.
War on Frontier
Casualties
Inaccurate records
25,000 Patriots/10,000 British killed
6000+ wounded
Does not count those dying from disease,
starvation, freezing
Fate of Loyalists
Approx. 80,000 left America
4,000 African Americans went to Canada
Many lost land, money, property