Download The revolutionary War

THE REVOLUTIONARY
WAR
STARTER – SEPTEMBER 16TH
• List 3 examples of new laws the British
enforced on the colonies to help pay off
the war debt. Explain how each led to the
outbreak of the Revolutionary War.
THE INTOLERABLE ACTS
• Designed to punish the colonists for Tea Party
• Closed Boston Harbor
• Restricted trial by jury
• Searches without warrants
• Quartering troops without permission
• No town meetings allowed in Massachusetts – Boston under military
rule
• Trying to isolate Massachusetts, but only strengthened the colonies unity
THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
• 12 colonies… sent delegates to Philadelphia
• Every colony except Georgia was there
• Lasted 7 weeks
• Divided on the issue of declaring independence
• Sent letter to the King asking for rights to be
restored, wanted to remain loyal to England
• Defended colonies’ right to run their own affairs
• Supported the protests in Massachusetts
• Olive Branch Petition
LEXINGTON AND CONCORD
• Start of the revolutionary war
• British troops were marching to Concord
• They met local militia in Lexington, asked
them to disperse, they refused
• Someone fired a shot
• “Shot heard round the world”
• Eventually, British were chased back to
Boston; militia fired at them from the woods
SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
• Started May 1775
• Divided in beliefs- independence v. loyal
• Declared Independence from England
• Wrote the Declaration of Independence
• Supported the troops in Boston
• Chose a general
• George Washington
• Adopted Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776
A COUNTY DIVIDED
• 2/5th Patriots: Mostly in New
England and VA
• 1/5th Loyalists = Tories: Mostly in NY
and South
• Native Americans and African
Americans would have to decide
which side will treat them best if
they win
THE AMERICAN COLONIES
Advantages
• Better leadership-Washington
• “Home Field Advantage”
• Tactics/Strategy-guerilla warfare
• Foreign Aid- France as an ally
• Motivated to save own land
Disadvantages
• Had to start Army/Navy from
Scratch
• No formal government to make
decisions
• Scarce supplies: money, clothing,
food, guns, ammo
THE BRITISH EMPIRE
Advantages
• Best Army and Navy in the world
• Also 30,000 hired mercenaries
• Controlled major cities (NY and
Boston)
• Richest nation in the world
• Strong and organized government
Disadvantages
• Far away from Britain, sending
orders, getting news takes 2
months
• Fought using old strategiesunwilling to change
• Has a worldwide empire to
worry about
STRATEGIES
American Colonies
• Score early victories to show
they were for real
• Drum up support-gain more
patriots
• Gain foreign allies-France,
Spain
British
• Occupy major coastal citiestake advantage of better
Navy
• Drum up Loyalist support
• Crush the Continental Army
before it has a chance to
gain momentum
REVOLUTIONARY WAR
• French and Indian War: causes, effects and how it led to the Revolution
• 5 new laws and taxes enforced by the British on the colonies (explain).
• Massachusetts (Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, Lexington and Concord).
• Describe the goals both Continental Congresses
• American advantages/disadvantages
• British advantages/disadvantages
• Major battles (explain 3)
• Treaty of Paris and the effects of the war
• Picture on every page!!!!