Topic 3.5: The American Revolution

Why was an American victory in the Revolution unexpected?

On paper, the Americans had little chance of winning because Great Britain possessed the most powerful and experienced military in the world, supported by a global empire and decades of combat experience.

What advantages did the British have going into the war?

They had a large, well-trained army of about 48,000 soldiers, hired 30,000 German Hessian mercenaries, had a dominant navy, and maintained long-standing alliances with various American Indian groups.

How did the size of British forces compare to the Patriots?

British and allied forces greatly outnumbered the untrained, poorly equipped colonial militias.

What proportion of colonists supported the Patriot cause?

Only about one-third of colonists supported independence.

How many colonists were Loyalists?

Roughly 20% of the population remained loyal to Britain and opposed the Revolution.

Who tended to be Loyalists?

Wealthy elites who benefited from the existing system and poorer people who distrusted the upper-class Patriots that dominated local politics.

Why did Loyalists oppose the Revolution?

They feared instability, loss of property, and social upheaval that could threaten their livelihoods.

Despite the odds, who won the American Revolution?

The American Patriots, through determination, leadership, foreign alliances, and ideology.

Who led the Continental Army?

George Washington, appointed by the Second Continental Congress.

When and why was the Continental Army formed?

It was formed in 1775 after British aggression at Lexington and Concord to unify the colonies’ military efforts.

How did colonial militias operate before the formation of the Continental Army?

Each colony maintained its own militia to handle local crises, but the Continental Army was the first attempt to unite them under one command.

What disadvantages did the Continental Army face early in the war?

It was poorly trained, poorly equipped, underfunded, and often suffered from desertions and shortages of supplies.

What characterized the early months of the war for the Continental Army?

A series of defeats that suggested the superior British forces would win easily.

What was Washington’s first significant victory that boosted morale?

The Battle of Trenton in December 1776.

What happened at the Battle of Trenton?

Washington led his troops across the icy Delaware River on Christmas night to surprise Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey, achieving a decisive victory.

What battle followed shortly after Trenton?

The Battle of Princeton, another Patriot victory that further boosted morale.

Why were the victories at Trenton and Princeton important despite their small scale?

They proved the British could be defeated and revitalized the morale of soldiers and supporters of the Revolution.

Who helped train the Continental Army at Valley Forge?

Baron Friedrich von Steuben, a Prussian officer brought in during the harsh winter encampment at Valley Forge in 1777–1778.

How did von Steuben’s training impact the army?

He instilled discipline, organization, and professional military tactics that significantly improved the army’s effectiveness.

What was the next major turning point after Valley Forge?

The Battle of Saratoga in 1777, a decisive American victory.

Why was the Battle of Saratoga a turning point?

It convinced France that the Patriots had a viable chance of winning, leading to a formal alliance with the United States.

Who negotiated the alliance with France?

Benjamin Franklin, who had been sent to France in 1776 to secure support.

Why did France hesitate to support the Americans initially?

They wanted proof that the Americans could actually defeat British forces before committing militarily.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Saratoga?

American militias defeated the British army in upstate New York, forcing a major British surrender and inflicting nearly double the casualties of the Patriots.

What nations eventually joined the war against Britain after France?

Spain joined France in 1779 to protect its North American interests and weaken Britain.

What were the four key factors in the American victory?

(1) The Continental Army’s resilience and local militias, (2) Washington’s leadership, (3) the French alliance, and (4) the colonists’ ideological commitment to liberty and independence.

How did Washington’s leadership contribute to victory?

He maintained unity, boosted morale, avoided catastrophic losses, and made strategic decisions that kept the cause alive.

What motivated the colonists to persist through hardship?

Their belief in liberty, natural rights, and self-government, ideals central to Enlightenment philosophy and revolutionary rhetoric.

What was Great Britain’s motivation for fighting the war?

To maintain economic control and political power over its colonies and preserve its global empire.

How did the Patriots’ ideological motivation differ from Britain’s?

While Britain fought to preserve control, the Patriots fought for freedom and independence—goals that inspired stronger public support.

What did Thomas Paine argue in Common Sense?

He claimed that America had the power to “begin the world over again,” expressing the revolutionary belief that liberty and democracy could transform the world.

How did revolutionary rhetoric spread among the colonies?

Through pamphlets, newspapers, and speeches that emphasized freedom, equality, and a unique American destiny.

What final battle ended major fighting in the American Revolution?

The Battle of Yorktown in 1781.

What occurred at the Battle of Yorktown?

British General Cornwallis’s army was trapped by Washington’s forces and French troops under Generals Rochambeau and Lafayette, forcing his surrender.

Why was Yorktown significant?

It was the decisive Patriot victory that effectively ended the war.

What treaty officially ended the Revolutionary War?

The Treaty of Paris of 1783.

What were the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1783)?

It recognized American independence, ended the war, and granted the U.S. land south of Canada, north of Florida, and west to the Mississippi River.

How did the Treaty of Paris affect U.S. territory?

It essentially doubled the size of the United States, granting control over a vast region of North America.

What symbolic meaning did the end of the war have for Americans?

It fulfilled the revolutionary ideal of liberty and marked the beginning of a new experiment in self-government.

What was the global significance of the American victory?

It demonstrated that a colony could successfully overthrow an empire and inspired other independence movements worldwide.