The American

Revolution

The American RevolutionThe American Revolution (1775-83) is also known

as the American Revolutionary War.The conflict arose from growing tensions between

residents of Great Britain's 13 North American colonies and Parliament; and its representatives in the colonial governments, which served the British crown.

Skirmishes between British troops and colonial militiamen in Lexington and Concord in April 1775 kicked off the armed conflict, and by the following summer, the rebels were waging a full-scale war for their independence.

American Colonies

British Empire

Advantages Disadvantages

American Colonies Proximity to Fighting

British Empire

Advantages Disadvantages

American Colonies Proximity to FightingMoral Cause

British Empire

Advantages Disadvantages

American Colonies Proximity to FightingMoral CauseGreat Marksman

British Empire

Advantages Disadvantages

American Colonies Proximity to FightingMoral CauseGreat MarksmanGood Leadership

British Empire

Advantages Disadvantages

American Colonies Proximity to FightingMoral CauseGreat MarksmanGood Leadership

Lacked a Navy

British Empire

Advantages Disadvantages

American Colonies Proximity to FightingMoral CauseGreat MarksmanGood Leadership

Lacked a NavyPoorly Trained and Equipped Militias

British Empire

Advantages Disadvantages

American Colonies Proximity to FightingMoral CauseGreat MarksmanGood Leadership

Lacked a NavyPoorly Trained and Equipped MilitiasPoor Discipline

British Empire

Advantages Disadvantages

American Colonies Proximity to FightingMoral CauseGreat MarksmanGood Leadership

Lacked a NavyPoorly Trained and Equipped MilitiasPoor DisciplineDifficult to Recruit

British Empire

Advantages Disadvantages

American Colonies Proximity to FightingMoral CauseGreat MarksmanGood Leadership

Lacked a NavyPoorly Trained and Equipped Militias

Poor DisciplineDifficult to Recruit

British Empire More Money/Resources

Advantages Disadvantages

American Colonies Proximity to FightingMoral CauseGreat MarksmanGood Leadership

Lacked a NavyPoorly Trained and Equipped Militias

Poor DisciplineDifficult to Recruit

British Empire More Money and Resources

Powerful Military and Navy

Advantages Disadvantages

American Colonies Proximity to FightingMoral CauseGreat MarksmanGood Leadership

Lacked a NavyPoorly Trained and Equipped Militias

Poor DisciplineDifficult to Recruit

British Empire More Money and Resources

Powerful Military and Navy

Hessian Mercenaries

Advantages Disadvantages

American Colonies Proximity to FightingMoral CauseGreat MarksmanGood Leadership

Lacked a NavyPoorly Trained and Equipped Militias

Poor DisciplineDifficult to Recruit

British Empire More Money and Resources

Powerful Military and Navy

Hessian Mercenaries

Far Distance

Advantages Disadvantages

American Colonies Proximity to FightingMoral CauseGreat MarksmanGood Leadership

Lacked a NavyPoorly Trained and Equipped Militias

Poor DisciplineDifficult to Recruit

British Empire More Money and Resources

Powerful Military and Navy

Hessian Mercenaries

Far DistanceEnlistment

Difficulties (Had to Enlist for Life)

Advantages Disadvantages

American Colonies Proximity to FightingMoral CauseGreat MarksmanGood Leadership

Lacked a NavyPoorly Trained and Equipped Militias

Poor DisciplineDifficult to Recruit

British Empire More Money and Resources

Powerful Military and Navy

Hessian Mercenaries

Far DistanceEnlistment

Difficulties (Had to Enlist for Life)

Weak from French and Indian War

Advantages Disadvantages

30% of colonists were LOYALISTS (favored British)

40% of colonists were PATRIOTS (favored Americans)

30% of colonists were NEUTRAL (did not favor either

side)

WHO?

Washington’s first task was to organize and raise more troops.

With more than half of the continental

population either against him or

remaining neutral, recruiting soldiers

became very difficult.

WHO?

Other groups involved in the war…

African AmericansWomen

Native AmericansHessians

African Americans

Because of fear of revolt, many Southern colonies did not want African

Americans to fight.

The British offered enslaved persons freedom if they joined the British forces (many slaves ran away to fight for the

British army).

Still, over 5,000 slaves fought for the Continental army.

WHO?

Women

Women were not allowed to participate in combat, but found other

ways to help.

They ran farms, raised money and supplies, made uniforms, and became nurses, spies

and messengers

WHO?

Molly Pitcher

Native Americans

All Native Americans east of the Mississippi River were caught up in the fighting.

The Mohawks joined the British because they feared

losing land to the Americans.

Other tribes who lived in areas settled by the

colonists, sided with them instead.

WHO?

Mohawk chief,Joseph Brant

Hessians

The Hessians were a large group of soldiers from Germany who fought with

the British.

They were also known as mercenaries (professional soldiers hired by a foreign

army).

WHO?