The Colonies’ Journey on the Road to Freedom

key figures during revolution.

1. Tories AKA LoyalistsTories AKA Loyalists
Pledged allegiance to the king.Pledged allegiance to the king.
--majoritymajority wealthy/conservative wealthy/conservative
Almost 60,000 fought next to the Almost 60,000 fought next to the
British soldiers or supplied them. British soldiers or supplied them.
Sometimes families were divided Sometimes families were divided
like Franklin and his son.like Franklin and his son.

2. Marquis de LafayetteMarquis de Lafayette
19 years old when he arrived in 19 years old when he arrived in
America to join the Continental Army America to join the Continental Army
and was appointed a major general. and was appointed a major general.
Born in 1757, he sailed for America in Born in 1757, he sailed for America in
1777 to fight for the cause of liberty 1777 to fight for the cause of liberty
alongside the American colonistsalongside the American colonists

3. John Paul JonesJohn Paul Jones
"Father of the American Navy", "Father of the American Navy",
Jones is regarded by several Jones is regarded by several
commentators as one of the commentators as one of the
greatest naval commanders in greatest naval commanders in
the military history of the United the military history of the United
States.States.

4. Haym SalomonHaym Salomon
•Polish-born American merchant best
known for his actions during the
 
American Revolution, where he was the
prime financier to the
 
Continental Congress.
•-Member of Sons of Liberty
•-multiple arrests by the British for
 
espionage.

5. Benedict ArnoldBenedict Arnold
General George Washington had given him his General George Washington had given him his
fullest trust and had placed him in command of fullest trust and had placed him in command of
West Point in New York. Arnold was planning West Point in New York. Arnold was planning
to surrender the fort to British forces, but the to surrender the fort to British forces, but the
plot was discovered in September 1780, plot was discovered in September 1780,
whereupon he fled to the British lines. In the whereupon he fled to the British lines. In the
later part of the war, Arnold was commissioned later part of the war, Arnold was commissioned
as a brigadier general in the British Armyas a brigadier general in the British Army

6. Key Figures During the WarKey Figures During the War

7. Friedrich Wilhelm von SteubenFriedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
was a Prussian-born army officer who played a leading
role in the American Revolutionary War by reforming the
Continental Army into a disciplined and professional
fighting force
-teaching soldiers the essentials of
 
military drills,
tactics, and discipline based on Prussian
techniques.
[

8. James ArmisteadJames Armistead
Was an enslaved African American who served the Continental Army Was an enslaved African American who served the Continental Army
during the American Revolutionary War under the Marquis de during the American Revolutionary War under the Marquis de
Lafayette, and later received a legislative emancipation. As a double Lafayette, and later received a legislative emancipation. As a double
agent, he reported the activities of Benedict Arnold.agent, he reported the activities of Benedict Arnold.

9. Wentworth CheswellWentworth Cheswell
Teacher, soldier, town officialTeacher, soldier, town official
considered by some to be first considered by some to be first
Black man elected to public office Black man elected to public office
in the United States, and first in the United States, and first
Black judge in the United StatesBlack judge in the United States

10. Credit: Ms. Susan M. Pojer
Horace Greenley HS
Chappaqua, NY

11. BritainBritainAmericansAmericans
AdvantagesAdvantages ?? ??
DisadvantagesDisadvantages?? ??
On the Eve of the On the Eve of the
Revolution ? Page 107Revolution ? Page 107

12. American StrengthsAmerican Strengths
•The colonists are fighting for The colonists are fighting for
independenceindependence
•George Washington can inspire George Washington can inspire
his men to fighthis men to fight
•France will aid the colonies with France will aid the colonies with
weapons, supplies and their weapons, supplies and their
navynavy

13. African AmericansAfrican Americans
Both sides promised freedom.Both sides promised freedom.
5,000 fought with the patriots.5,000 fought with the patriots.

14. American IndiansAmerican Indians
Tried to stay out of it but will Tried to stay out of it but will
support the British. As they support the British. As they
promised limited settlement.promised limited settlement.

15. LoyalistLoyalist
StrongholdsStrongholds

16. Washington’s Headaches Washington’s Headaches
(American Weaknesses)(American Weaknesses)
Only 1/3 of the colonists were in favor of a
war for independence [the second third were
Loyalists, and the final third were neutral].
State/colony loyalties.
Congress couldn’t tax to raise money for the
Continental
Army.
Poor training [until
the arrival of
Baron von Steuben.
Colonists only enlisted for months instead of
years

17. Military StrategiesMilitary Strategies
Attrition [the
Brits had a long
supply line].
Guerilla tactics
[fight an
insurgent war 
you don’t have
to win a battle,
just wear the
British down]
Make an
alliance with
one of Britain’s
enemies.
The Americans The British
Break the colonies
in half by getting
between the
North and South
Blockade the ports
to prevent the
flow of goods and
supplies from an
ally.
“Divide and
Conquer”  use
the Loyalists to
split the American
front.

18. Phase IPhase I:: The Northern CampaignThe Northern Campaign
[1775-1776][1775-1776]

19. Bunker Hill (June, 1775)Bunker Hill (June, 1775)
The British suffered over 40% casualties.

20. •Fought outside Boston. It is a Fought outside Boston. It is a
fortified area on Breed’s Hill fortified area on Breed’s Hill
filled with several thousand filled with several thousand
colonists.colonists.
•The battle shows that the The battle shows that the
colonists will fight if protected colonists will fight if protected
from British fire.from British fire.
Bunker Hill (June, 1775)Bunker Hill (June, 1775)

21. Phase IIPhase II::
NY & PANY & PA
[1777-1778][1777-1778]

22. New York City in FlamesNew York City in Flames
(1776)(1776)

23. Washington Crossing the DelawareWashington Crossing the Delaware
Painted by Emanuel Leutze, 1851

24. Washington Crossing the Washington Crossing the
DelawareDelaware
a strategic river crossing by
 
a strategic river crossing by
 
General George WashingtonGeneral George Washington 
and the 
 
and the 
Continental
Army 
on the night of December 25–26, 1776, during
 
on the night of December 25–26, 1776, during
the American Revolutionary Warthe American Revolutionary War. This daring
maneuver under icy conditions led to a decisive victory
against the Hessian forces at the
 Battle of Trenton

25. Saratoga: Saratoga:

“Turning Point”“Turning Point”
of the War? of the War?
A modern-day re-enactment

26. Battle of Saratoga August-Battle of Saratoga August-
October 1777October 1777
•The British are harassed by colonial The British are harassed by colonial
guerilla forces and end up stretching guerilla forces and end up stretching
their supply lines.their supply lines.
•The British will surrender to the Colonial The British will surrender to the Colonial
forces led by General Horatio Gatesforces led by General Horatio Gates
•Saratoga is important because it is a Saratoga is important because it is a
major defeat for the British and shows major defeat for the British and shows
the French that the colonies may be the French that the colonies may be
able to win the warable to win the war
•Saratoga is considered the turning point Saratoga is considered the turning point
of the war. The French will begin to of the war. The French will begin to
supply arms, men and their navy to help supply arms, men and their navy to help
the colonies.the colonies.

27. Phase IIIPhase III:: The Southern The Southern
Strategy Strategy [1780-1781][1780-1781]

28. George Rogers ClarkGeorge Rogers Clark
•Captured a series of British forts in the Captured a series of British forts in the
Illinois country to gain control of parts of Illinois country to gain control of parts of
the vast Ohio Territory.the vast Ohio Territory.

29. Britain’s “Southern Strategy”Britain’s “Southern Strategy”
Britain thought that there were
more Loyalists in the South.
Southern resources were more
valuable/worth preserving.
The British win a number of small
victories, but cannot pacify the
countryside [similar to U. S. failures
in Vietnam!]
Good US General:
Nathanial Greene

30. The Battle of Yorktown (1781)The Battle of Yorktown (1781)
Count de
Rochambeau
Admiral
De Grasse

31. •The French are helping the Continental The French are helping the Continental
Army with men, weapons and warshipsArmy with men, weapons and warships
•The Americans and the French will The Americans and the French will
corner the British on a small peninsula corner the British on a small peninsula
and bombard them with cannon fire.and bombard them with cannon fire.
•The British will surrender and end the The British will surrender and end the
American Revolution.American Revolution.
•The colonists will win the American The colonists will win the American
Revolution with this victory.Revolution with this victory.
The Battle of Yorktown The Battle of Yorktown
(1781)(1781)

32. Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown:Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown:
Painted by John Trumbull, 1797
““The World Turned Upside Down!” The World Turned Upside Down!”

33. Treaty of Paris, 1783Treaty of Paris, 1783
•THE WAR ENDS WITH THESE THE WAR ENDS WITH THESE
CONDITIONSCONDITIONS
•““free, sovereign and independent states”free, sovereign and independent states”
•British must remove all troops from forts British must remove all troops from forts
•Boundary for United States is the MississippiBoundary for United States is the Mississippi
•Colonist fishing rights off coast of CanadaColonist fishing rights off coast of Canada
•Captured slaves must be returned to ownersCaptured slaves must be returned to owners
•Americans would pay debts owed to BritishAmericans would pay debts owed to British

34. North America After theNorth America After the
Treaty of Paris, 1783Treaty of Paris, 1783