The Old North Church

Paul Revere has since been immortalized for riding through the streets of New England calling, “The British are coming…the British are coming…”

Paul Revere was actually captured by British troops, butSamuel Prescott, one of two other riders that night, completed the ride…

As the British commander marched his troops through New England, he found the road into Lexington surrounded by militiamen…he commanded

them to disarm and disperse…some complied, most did not…

As the troops moved through town, “the shot heard ‘round the world”rang out and the American Revolution began!

Colonists, mostly small farmers and businessmen,tried to stand their ground against the British.

Eight were killed, and the militia fell into disarray.

The British troops thenmarched on to Concord.

The British began to cross the Old North Bridge into Concord…Where they were promptly met by colonial minutemen…And, after a brief skirmish…were repelled!

And don’t come back!

In 1837 Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote a famous poem to commemorate this important event…

A. Battles at Lexington & Concord (April 19, 1775)

1. Paul Revere’s famous ride: “The British are coming!”

2. The “shot heard ‘round the world”

3. 700 British vs. 70 Minutemen (militia)

a. unclear who fired 1st shot

b. 247 British killed vs. 8 colonists killed

The majority of people in the North supported IndependenceThe majority of people in the South supported British ruleThe British hoped to use their supporters to draw power away from those who were revolting

In 1777 the British undertook the Saratoga Campaign. The goal was to cut New England off from the other

colonies and, hopefully, force the resistors to surrender.

Around 15,000 British

redcoats were sent to

blockade Saratoga, NY

and cut off road access

The Continental

Army met the British with a

force of similar size

and successfully

defended Saratoga

The surprise colonial victory at Saratoga encouraged the French to join the war on the side of the colonies…

The British and the French really just hate each other…

The Saratoga Victory Monument

B. British War Strategy

1. Divide the colonies: north from south

2. Surprise American victory at Saratoga, NY 1777

a. French persuaded to enter the war to help Colonies

3. British begin to focus on the South

a. Loyalist (those loyal to Britain) stronghold

General George Washington was given command of the

Continental Army.

A rich plantation owner (he married a rich old widow named Martha) from the South, Washington had

fought under the British in the Seven Years’ War

The Continental Army began as a poorly supplied, ragtag bunch of militiamen with virtually no training

The Continental Congress and the state governments both refused to support the

Continental Army…food, supplies, even shoes were

nearly impossible to come by

Sad times…

With no money, no

supplies, and no experience this is going to be a tough war to fight…

We really need to avoid any

major battles…and maybe,

eventually, the British will just quit fighting…

C.American War Strategy

1. General George Washington put in charge

of Continental Army

a. Militias poorly equipped

b. lacked training & supplies

2. Very little support from new Congress or the

states

3. Goal was to avoid major battles with British

4. Buy time, wear down the British population/soldier’s will to fight

I need to teach these losers how

to be real soldiers…

There will be no complaining in

my Army!

But…I also will need a new strategy…

something the British won’t

have seen before…

Guerilla Tactics

Wearing bright red and walking

in big rows is stupid!

Of course, French naval support was

critical as well!

And…we know the land we are fighting on!

Plus, the colonists were a motivated, non-professional Army fighting for themselves and their freedom!

King George IIIOf course…we screwed

some stuff up too.

I really believed the colonists would be scared of my pretty army and give up!

The British also continued to use traditional military tactics

Marching in straight lines is fun!

It sure is! But not as fun as drumming so they know we are coming!

D. How the Americans won the Revolutionary War1. Disciplined army led by George Washington

2. Americans used guerilla tactics

3. Assistance from French

4. Home field advantage

5. Motivation factor – fighting for freedom

6. British mistakesa. Thought Americans would be intimidatedb. Tried to use classical warfarec. Moved the war to the Southd. Lacked support from British people

Following a siege of more than two months,

the British troops in Yorktown finally surrendered on

October 19th, 1781.

Yorktown Victory Monument

The British Surrender

This painting of the signing of the Treaty of Paris would be way

better if the British diplomats hadn’t refused to be in it…

American territory to be expanded to the Mississippi River and all British

troops must leave that soil. Furthermore, the British will fully

recognize American independence.

II. Peace

A. American victory ended war, last battle: Yorktown in 1781

B. Peace treaty signed 1783 – Treaty of Paris

1. British to remove troops from American soil

2. American border extended to Mississippi River

3. Agreed to fully recognize the independence of the U.S.

III. OutcomesA. The total loss of life is unknownB. Disease claimed more lives than battle

1) War took place in the context of a smallpox epidemic in North America

2) Probably killed more than 130,000 people3) Washington's decision to have his troops

inoculated may have been the most

important strategic decision he made C. Casualty figures for the Americans have varied over the years

1) Estimates list 6,824 killed and 8,445 wounded in action

2) The number of American troop deaths from disease and other non-combat

causes is estimated at 18,500.

D. No other casualty figures are available