The American Revolution Essay

The American Revolution Topics

British and American strategies, examples, transitions, troops, war timeline, Saratoga

British Strategy

Stop the rebellion in Massachusetts, divide at New York to control the trade, keep the south by using the loyalists

Examples of British Strategy

Lexington and Concord 1775, Bunker Hill 1775, British capture of New York City 1776, Yorktown 1781

British Transitions

British shifted to capturing New York and dividing the colonies after failing to defeat the Americans quickly, Britain shifted to campaigning in the South because it hoped to recruit Loyalists and restore British authority, British efforts to regain the South failed because of American resistance, leading to Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown

British Troops

Professional British regulars, Hessian troops hired from Germans, strong military and naval resources

American Strategy

Quebec as 14th colony, guerilla warfare, survive

American Strategy Examples

Battle of Quebec 1775, Battle of Cowpens 1781, Battle of Trenton 1776

American Transitions

The invasion of Quebec failed so the Americans continued fighting Britain through irregular warfare, Britain was stronger so they needed to continue to resist so they could wear Britain down and make the war increasingly expensive

American Troops

Continental Army, colonial militia, French assistance later on, local knowledge

War timeline

Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Declaration of Independence, Saratoga, French Alliance, Yorktown, Treaty of Paris

1. Lexington and Concord

April 1775- War begins

2. Bunker Hill

June 1775- Shows American forces can resist British troops

3. Declaration of Independence

July 4, 1776- Colonies formally declare independence

4. Saratoga

Oct 17, 1777- Major American victory, secures French alliance

5. French alliance

1778- French military and naval support

6. Yorktown

Oct 19, 1781- Cornwallis surrenders

7. Treaty of Paris

1783- Independence

Reason 1 why Saratoga is important

Military victory- Major American victory against British

Reason 2 why Saratoga is important

Diplomacy- Helped convince France that Americans could win

Reason 3 why Saratoga is important

Foreign support- Led to the formal French alliance in 1778, bringing crucial military and naval assistance