3.5 The American Revolution

What advantages did the British have over the American colonies?

1. Most Powerful Military In World

• Owed to large maritime empire

  • Especially naval power

• British Army: 50k men

• Hessians: 30k men

• Strong alliances with American Indian groups

2. Colonial Loyalist Opposition

• 15-20% of population

  • Opposed revolution

• Elite Class

  • Did not want to change the system that had made them wealthy

• Common class

  • Presented elite patriots

    • Dominated regional affairs and marginalized lower class’ interest

Who were hessians?

German soldiers for hire

Who won the American revolutionary war?

AMERICA duh

Why/how did the colonies win?

1. Militias and Continental Army

• Poorly equipped and poorly trained

• Deserted ranks

2. George Washington as general

• Delivered victory at the Battle of Trenton

  • Boosted Patriot morale

  • Proved that British could be defeated

3. Alliance with France

• Patriots proved themselves at the Battle of Saratoga (British lost twice as many soldiers)

  • Allowed Benjamin Franklin to secure the French alliance

4. Colonists’ ideologies and resilience

5. How It Happened

• British occupied Yorktown

  • Awaited reinforcements to fight opposition in the South

• Americans victory at Battle of Yorktown (1781)

How was the war officially ended?

Signing of the Treaty of Paris (1783)

What did the treaty of Paris do?

• Officially ended the Revolutionary War

• 'Doubled’ United States’ land holdings