British commander at the beginning of the Revolution
Role of African Americans in the war
served both sides, British promised freedom, 5,000 served with Patriots
Battle of Long Island
A 1776 battle in New York in which more than 1,400 Americans were killed, wounded, or captured forcing Patriots to retreat to New Jersey/Pennsylvania
Explain how the Patriots were able to defeat the British blockades.
Used privateers
Why did the British move the war to the South?
Loyalist support and sea power would be British advantages
What was the final battle and who won the Revolution?
Yorktown, United States
the "Swamp Fox," weakened the British with surprise raids and hit-and-run attacks with small bands of fighters known as
Francis Marion
Explain how hit-and-run tactics (guerrilla warfare) forced the British to retreat to Yorktown, VA.
These tactics slowly weakened British forces and they were forced to retreat for reinforcements
British Advantages
Strong Navy, well-trained army, finances, greater population
Benjamin Franklin
Ambassador to France, signed Treaty of Paris
Marquis de Lafayette
trusted aide to Washington, general, from France
Patriot Advantages
Fighting on own ground, motivation for independence, George Washington
privateer
privately owned ship outfitted with weapons
Battle of Trenton and Princeton
a 1776 battles in New Jersey in which George Washington's troops crossed the Delaware River and captured a Hessian (German mercenaries fighting for the British)
How did immigrants assist the Patriots?
Immigrants from other countries came to help train and fight with Patriots
Explain why the Americans won the war.
1. Fought on own land
2. British moved troops and supplies across the ocean
3. Harder to move reinforcements
4. Ambushed- surprise attacks
raised an army and defended the area around the Ohio and Miss. valleys
George Rogers Clark
Prussian soldier who trained the Continental Army at Valley Forge
Baron Von Steuben
American Allies
France/Spain
mercenary
hired soldier
British strategy in New England
Control the Hudson River, cut-off New England from other colonies
Turning point battle in the South
Kings Mountain
George Washington
Commander of the Continental Army
Role of Women in the war
some served as nurses, Molly Pitcher famous for helping when her husband was killed, most ran businesses and farms
General Charles Cornwallis
British general who fought the Patriots in the south; surrounded at Yorktown and surrendered to George Washington
ambush
a surprise attack
siege
blocking the movement of people or goods into or out of a place
Treaty of Paris
1. US recognized as an independent nation
2. Britain withdrawl troops
3. US pay British Merchants for debt
4. US return property taken from loyalists
Loyalists
supported the British
Battle of Saratoga
American victory over British troops in 1777 that was a turning point in the American Revolution with French becoming Allies
Patriots
People who supported independence
How did geography lead to the war ending in Yorktown?
Yorktown was a peninsula (surrounded on 3 sides by water), British could escape and didn't have reinforcements
Battle of Yorktown
Last major battle of the Revolutionary War. Cornwallis and his troops were trapped in the Chesapeake Bay by the French fleet. He surrendered October 19, 1781.
recruit
to enlist in the military
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