1. Why did American
Patriots win and the
British lose the War
of Independence

2. p.129-131 Mobilizing for War
p.131-132 The War for Independence
p.132 The First Phase: New England
p.133-136 The Second Phase: The Mid-Atlantic Region
p.136-137 Securing Aid from Abroad
p.137-140 The Final Phase: The South

3. I. Traditional Reasons
A. “Home court advantage”
B. Fighting for a cause
C. Redcoats marching in straight lines

4. II. Militia
A. Supplies
B. Patriot militia v. Loyalist militia
C. Patriot advantage: militia & regular army
• 1. Coordination of Continental Army and Patriot militia –
Greene in S.C.
• 2. Lack of coordination between Redcoats and Loyalist
militia – N.J., Delaware

5. A. Patriot B. British

6. • 1. enlistments
• 2. Training
A. • Von Steuben at
Regular Valley Forge
Army • Marquis de Lafayette
• 3. Veterans
• 4. pay
B. Example
of result:
Monmouth
Courthouse

7. A. Knox use of cannon
Sniping vs. the British
V. Patriot Innovations B. Morgan’s use of rifles army in N.Y. (surrender
at Saratoga)
C. Morgan’s battle plan Cowpens

8. 1. France
A. Money
and Supplies
2. Dutch
loans
VI. Foreign
Aid
1. World War
B. Treaty of
Alliance
2. French
Yorktown
navy

9. Why did American
Patriots win and the
British lose the War
of Independence

11.  Americans fighting on their own
land; they knew the terrain –
especially important in the fighting
that takes place in the “wilderness”
and in the south where they could
move and live off the resources of
the land and blend in with civilians
 Francis Marian, the “swamp fox”
(S.C.)
 NE: rocky, cold in winter
 South: boggy, humid in summer
 Frontier: muddy roads, thick
forests
 Settlements spread out
 Distance between England and the
colonies – time and money ferrying
troops and munitions across the
Atlantic

12.  Desire for freedom and hope for a better
existence is tough to defeat

13.  European style of warfare
 open field “gentlemen’s
war”
 war was not personal, war
was their job
 at the end of the day
European armies would
help each other with the
dead on the field and
generals would have tea
together
 also warfare was “seasonal”
– fighting generally stopped
in the winter months

14. Loyalist Patriot
Militia Militia

15.  Gen. Washington is able to combine two
armies (militia and regular)

16. Nathaniel
• Private in S.C. militia (lowest rank)
Greene – S.C.
Determination
• Rises to become a General in
and study (Art of Continental Army
War)
Understands and requests
permission to use both
militia and regulars

17. •Leave the defense of
Trenton and Princeton to
N.J./DE. – during winter months the Hessian mercenaries
British retreat to warm homes
•His orders were to secure
William Howe believed
Manhattan, which he did; he was
the Continental know for not deviating from his
Campaign to be over battle plans even when tactical
for the winter season advantages presented themselves
•Washington has to surrender Princeton soon
Victory gives
after…
Continental Army
a much needed
moral boost

18.  Frontal assaults are avoided in favor of
wearing down an opponent through war of
attrition and indirection
◦ Harass the enemy through skirmishes to cause
attrition
◦ Disrupt supplies and affect morale
 Employment of this strategy implies the
weaker side believes it has time on its side
◦ Can also be adopted when no other feasible
alternative strategy can be devised

19.  Washington’s decision to wait until nightfall –
his knowledge of Hessian celebration with
alcohol at holidays
 Quick attack, then retreat back across the
Delaware River

20.  (Greene) retreating from the field before
defeat became apparent to reduce losses
 German farmers hold off British advances
◦ Battle of Oriskany – new type of warfare was costly
to the British; many complained of its lack of
“fairness” in war

21.  Realized that capturing Boston was an
impossibility; Patriots had surrounded the town
(Dorchester Heights) and it had become
indefensible; British decision to leave Boston was
so much of a defeat as it was a shift in strategy
 British Generals believed if they captured a major
city, the patriots would surrender (Philadelphia
and Gen. Howe)
◦ Attempts to take the city cause Gen. Burgoyne to fight
alone and eventually be defeated in the north
◦ Howe does take Philadelphia but allows Washington to
retreat unopposed

22.  Enlistments: surge in 1775 after Lexington and
Concord; faded after excitement wore off, states
resort to persuasion and force paying bounties to
attract recruits
 Training: Baron VonSteuben – Prussian,
“Revolutionary War Drill” manual; essentials of
military drills, tactics and discipline
 Training: Marquis de Lafayette – French, trained
everyday men to become the Continental Army;
increased morale at Valley Forge
◦ (Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier)

23.  Veterans: none or little to speak of;
French/Indian war fought mainly by British
army; few commanders of the British Army
become leaders of the Continental Army
(George Washington)
 Pay: $5/$6 day or none at all

24.  Washington’s forces increased to 5,000
 “new” Continental army is a foe to be
contended with…