Conclusion

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American Revolutionary War_ Part V - Impact & Legacy.mp4

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American Revolutionary War.mp4

The Revolutionary War lasted over eight years, from April 1775 until September 1783.

What's the difference between the American Revolution and the American Revolutionary War?

Sometimes the United States's fight for independence is referred to as the American Revolution. Other times, it is referred to as the American Revolutionary War. What's the difference?

The "American Revolution" generally refers to the entire period of protests and fighting against Great Britain. Some Americans wanted independence even before war broke out. For example, the Patriot Patrick Henry is famous for saying, "Give me liberty or give me death!" in March 1775.
The "American Revolutionary War" generally refers to the period of official British and American fighting from April 1775 through September 1783.

At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, thousands of men rushed to join Patriot state militias and the Continental Army. But by late 1776, the Patriot forces had a more difficult time recruiting soldiers.

Which kinds of men joined the Patriot forces?

Initially, large numbers of farmers and artisans served in militias and the Continental Army. However, as time went on, the Patriots needed to recruit more men. They turned to new populations to recruit soldiers:

younger men
poorer men
African American men

While men fought for the Patriot forces, women also contributed to the war effort. Read the two quotations from women about their activities during the Revolutionary War.

Sarah Cobb Paine, letter to her husband during the Revolutionary War

We have sowed our oats as you desired. Had I been master I should have planted it to corn.

Sarah Matthews Read, 1837 statement about her activities during the Revolutionary War

I took my stand just back of the American tents, say about a mile from the town, and busied myself washing, mending, and cooking for the soldiers, in which I was assisted by the other females.

How did military leaders feel about women traveling with the army?

Military leaders did not like soldiers' wives traveling with the army. In 1777, George Washington, the commander in chief of the Continental Army wrote these words:

The multitude of women in particular, especially those who are pregnant, or have children, are a clog upon every movement.

At the same time, military leaders knew that that soldiers' wives could keep up the spirits of the men. Soldiers didn't have to travel to see their families, and soldiers' wives would cook, clean, and sew for the soldiers.

Did women ever serve as soldiers?

A few women did serve as soldiers in the Revolutionary War. However, they had to disguise themselves as men.

Both the Continental Army and people on the homefront had trouble paying for the things they needed during the war. In part, this was because the Continental Congress tried to pay for the war by printing money called Continental dollars, or Continentals.

The graphs below show how many Continentals the Congress printed between 1775 and 1779, and what happened to the value of Continentals in those years.

What is inflation?

When money loses its value, it takes more money to buy the same things. In other words, the prices of goods increase. This process is called inflation because the prices "inflate" like a balloon being filled with air.

"Not worth a Continental"

The picture shows a Continental note printed in 1776. It says it is worth three dollars in Spanish-milled silver coins, or an equal amount of gold or silver.

Due to inflation, by 1779, this Continental note would have been worth less than ten cents. In other words, the bill would buy less than ten cents' worth of goods. Soon, Americans began to say, "Not worth a Continental," to describe something useless.

Trouble for the Continental Army

Inflation caused big problems for the Continental Army because the military used Continentals to buy food, clothing, and other supplies. In 1779, George Washington complained that the money was nearly worthless:

A wagon-load of money will scarcely purchase a wagon-load of provisions.

By late December 1776, the Continental Army was close to falling apart. Thousands of soldiers had already deserted, or abandoned, the army. Many more were planning to leave at the end of the year. General George Washington tried to inspire his soldiers to keep fighting. He ordered his soldiers to listen to an essay by Thomas Paine, an influential revolutionary author. Read the passage from Paine's essay collection, The American Crisis.

These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.

summer soldier and the sunshine patriot: people who only support the revolutionary cause during good times

Who was Thomas Paine?

Thomas Paine was born in England, but he became one of the most important writers of the American Revolution.

Paine argued for American independence from Great Britain in his 1776 pamphlet, Common Sense. Common Sense was widely read and influenced many Americans to embrace the cause of independence.

During the 18th century, warring armies usually took a break from fighting during the winter months. But on December 26, 1776, the Continental Army fought a force of Hessians, or German soldiers who were fighting for Great Britain, at the Battle of Trenton in New Jersey. New Jersey was an important site of fighting in the Revolutionary War because it was located between the British headquarters in New York City and Philadelphia, the location of the United States government.

The table shows the casualties, or the number of people hurt, killed, or captured during the Battle of Trenton.

Inspiring victories

Although the Battles of Trenton and Princeton were short and minor, they were the first victories for the Continental Army after many difficult losses. These victories helped to boost the Americans' spirits.

This 1848 painting shows General George Washington rallying Americans at the Battle of Princeton. Why do you think the artist painted the battle this way?

The Continental Army ended 1776 on a high note. But in 1777, the British leaders came up with a plan to quickly win the war. They decided to take control of the Hudson River.

The Hudson River was important to the British because it separated New England from the rest of the colonies. By controlling the river, the British could split the colonies in two.

New England included Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and present-day Vermont. All of these areas were centers of Patriot activity.

If the British could control the Hudson River, it would be difficult for Patriots in New England to work with Patriots in the other colonies. This British strategy came to be known as the Saratoga Campaign. Saratoga is a city on the Hudson River.

To control the Hudson River, the British generals made a plan to surround the city of Albany. Look at the two maps showing the original British plan, and what actually happened.

General Howe's mistake

Instead of going north to Albany, General Howe took his army south toward Philadelphia, the capital city of the United States of America. He thought capturing the capital would end the war.

General Howe did capture Philadelphia, but he was wrong about ending the war. Most of the Patriots were already gone, and the members of the Second Continental Congress escaped.

If General Howe had carried out the original plan and gone north to Albany, the British might have won the war. He could have helped the British surround the American armies there. Instead, by going south, he gave the Americans in New York a chance to stop the other British armies.

None of the British armies made it to Albany. General St. Leger's army retreated before reaching Albany, and General Burgoyne's army was stopped by American forces at Saratoga, New York. The Saratoga Campaign ended with two battles called the Battles of Saratoga. During these American victories, thousands of British soldiers surrendered. Read a historian's account of how the British public responded to the American victories in the fall of 1777.

Britain was stunned. The Duke of Grafton . . . summed up popular feeling when he reported that "the amazement of the whole nation was equalled only by the [dismay] they felt." . . . Opposition newspapers further [argued] that it would be "national suicide" for England to continue the American war.

Using newspapers as evidence

Historians often use newspapers as evidence to support their arguments. Newspapers can be particularly helpful in giving voice to ordinary people, or people who may not have left long historical records. Newspapers can also give us clues about the information that people had. For example, newspapers show us that news of the British losses at Saratoga didn't reach Great Britain until December. But there are also risks to using newspapers:

- Opinion articles in newspapers don't always represent the viewpoints of readers. Often readers may disagree with the ideas expressed in an opinion article.
- Authors of newspaper articles do not always report things exactly as they happened.Sometimes they will only mention the events that support their point of view.

Native Americans were important allies to both the British and the Americans throughout the war. But at the Battles of Saratoga, some Native American tribes decided to end their alliance with the British. Their departure put the British at a disadvantage. Read this 1776 address from the Oneida (oh-NEYE-duh) tribe to Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull.

We are unwilling to join on either side in such a contest, for we bear an equal affection to both you Old and New England.. . .Let us Indians be all of one mind, and live with one another; and you white people settle your own disputes between yourselves.

In the 1776 address, the Oneida argued that Native Americans should not fight in the Revolutionary War. Later in the war, the Oneida joined the Americans. This action went against the ideas in the 1776 address.

Which side did other Native Americans take in the Revolutionary War?

Most Native American tribes who joined the war sided with the British. Why? They thought the British would be more likely to stop white people from settling on Native American land.

However, the Oneida had actually lost land under British rule. By siding with the Americans, the Oneida hoped to reclaim their territory.

The American victory at the Battles of Saratoga helped convince France to ally with the Americans in February 1778. Read George Washington's reaction to news that the alliance had been ratified by the Second Continental Congress. Then answer the question below.

No event was ever received with a more heartfelt joy.

Why did the French change their minds?

Before the Battles of Saratoga, the French did not think the Americans could win a war against Great Britain. But the American victory at Saratoga changed the French leaders' minds. A few months after hearing about Saratoga, France declared war on Great Britain.

After the British took control of Philadelphia, the Continental Army had to leave. So, the army spent the winter of 1777 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.Valley Forge is about 20 miles away from Philadelphia.

In December 1777, a soldier at Valley Forge wrote these words in his diary. Read the passage.

I am sick - discontented - and out of humor. Poor food - hard lodging - cold weather - fatigue - nasty clothes - nasty cookery - vomit half my time - smoked out my senses - the Devil's in't - I can't endure it - Why are we sent here to starve and freeze? What sweet felicities have I left at home; A charming wife - pretty children - good beds - good food - good cookery - all agreeable - all harmonious. Here all confusion - smoke and cold - hunger and filthiness - A pox on my bad luck.

cookery: food

felicities: sources of happiness

The map below shows some places where Great Britain fought the Americans and their French and Spanish allies from 1778 to 1783.

Why did the Revolutionary War spread beyond the Thirteen Colonies?

Starting in 1778, the Revolutionary War became a much larger conflict.

- France joined the war in early 1778, and Spain declared war against Great Britain in the middle of 1779. Suddenly, the British had to fight the French and Spanish at home. From 1778 to 1783, battles took place in Europe and around the world. In 1779, France and Spain even tried to invade Great Britain's southern coast with more than 60 ships and 30,000 troops.
- A few American naval officers went to France to help the French navy attack British merchant vessels. These officers brought with them a few small American ships. Some of the best American commanders were allowed to borrow large, expensive warships from France.
- Americans were pushing farther west. Even before the war began, colonists and Native Americans sometimes fought to control land west of the Appalachian Mountains.
- The British and the Native Americans worked together against the American settlers. The growing conflict led to several large battles in present-day Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri.

More than three years after the start of the war, the British changed their war strategy.

Why did the British focus on the Southern Colonies?

The British believed they'd have more support from Americans in the Southern Colonies than they'd had in New England or the Middle Colonies. There were generally more Loyalists in the South.

Much of the fighting from 1778 to 1781 took place in South Carolina.

Americans on both sides

Loyalists, or Americans who remained loyal to the British, fought against Patriot militias in the Carolinas and Georgia. Sometimes, Loyalists outnumbered British troops. For example, nearly all the soldiers who fought at the Battle of King's Mountain in October 1780 were American.

As the war continued, many Patriots lashed out at Loyalists, or those who remained loyal to Great Britain during the Revolutionary War. Read the passage from an editorial appearing in the Pennsylvania Packet, one of the first daily newspapers in America.

Send [the Loyalists] where they may enjoy their beloved slavery to perfection—send them to the island of Britain; there let them drink the cup of slavery and eat the bread of bitterness all the days of their existence. . .. Never let them return to this happy land—never let them taste the sweets of that independence which they strove to prevent. Banishment, perpetual banishment, should be their lot.

Mistreatment of Loyalists

During the Revolutionary War, Loyalists were often persecuted, or punished for their beliefs. Sometimes Patriots attacked them by covering them in tar and feathers. State governments also took away a lot of Loyalists' property. Some Loyalists were sent to prison. In some cases, Loyalists were even killed for their beliefs.

During the Revolutionary War, many people in the colonies fought over ideas that were important to them on a local level. But the larger war also pitted powerful empires against each other.

For example, in June 1779, Spain formally joined the Revolutionary War by sending money to the United States.

In the midst of military losses in the South and the news of Spanish support for the Americans, the British received some good news in the fall of 1780. General Benedict Arnold, the Patriot hero at the Battles of Saratoga, announced that he was changing sides and would fight for the British. Read the words from an article that appeared in the Pennsylvania Packet after Arnold's announcement.

I stand confounded and shocked at the thoughts of such a viper even being brought into the world.

confounded: confused

viper: a terrible person

Why did Benedict Arnold switch sides?

Benedict Arnold was seriously wounded during the fighting at the Battles of Saratoga. Afterward, he never felt that he got the credit he deserved. He also disagreed with the way the Continental Congress was leading the war. So, he offered to join the British in exchange for a large payment.

How do you think Benedict Arnold should be remembered?

Benedict Arnold was known as a hero until he switched sides. To this day, Americans have complicated feelings about how he should be remembered.

This picture shows the "Boot Monument" at Saratoga. The monument stands near the place where Benedict Arnold was shot in the leg during the battle. It includes these words:

In memory of the most brilliant soldier of the Continental army.

However, the monument does not mention Benedict Arnold's name.

In the summer of 1781, British commanders tried to gain an advantage by controlling a port on the Chesapeake Bay. British General Charles Cornwallis thought Yorktown,

Virginia,

would make the best base for British troops.

The Marquis de Lafayette (mahr-KEE duh la-fah-ET), a young French officer in the Continental Army, heard about the British plan. Read the passage from a letter written by the Marquis de Lafayette. Then answer the question below.

If the French army could all of a sudden arrive in Virginia and be supported by a [naval] squadron, we would do some very good things.

Who was the Marquis de Lafayette?

The Marquis de Lafayette was a young French officer in the Continental Army. He led Americans in battle and also played an important role in organizing French support.

Although he was only 20 years old when he joined the Continental Army, he became a close friend of General George Washington. He was known for his clever moves on the battlefield, which often outsmarted more experienced British generals.

The Americans and French quickly discovered that General Cornwallis was camped at Yorktown.

Trapped!

General George Washington had been planning to attack the British base in New York City. But when he heard the British were camped at Yorktown, he realized trapping Cornwallis was a better plan. So, his army sailed down the Chesapeake Bay and landed to the west of Yorktown.

With Washington coming from the west and the French coming by sea, Cornwallis and the British army had nowhere to run. By late September, Cornwallis knew he was likely to lose.

The map below shows the position of different naval forces before the Battle of Yorktown.

The Siege of Yorktown

Without help from the British navy, the British army at Yorktown was outmatched. On September 28, 1781, General Washington's large army of French and American soldiers began firing on the British defenses. On October 14, General Washington led a successful attack on the British camp.

Five days later, on October 19, 1781, General Cornwallis officially surrendered the British army to General Washington. The last major battle of the Revolutionary War was over!

The Surrender at Yorktown

This 1820 painting hangs in the United States Capitol. The painting shows a British general surrendering to an American general at the Battle of Yorktown. George Washington is shown on the brown horse on the right.

After the Siege of Yorktown, the war continued in Europe and North America for another two years:

- Native American groups and American settlers clashed in the area west of the Appalachian Mountains.
- France and Spain continued to fight Great Britain in Europe.
- The British still controlled New York City, and British troops still outnumbered the American troops.

How do wars end?

Wars don't always end with a dramatic battle. Sometimes the warring parties might sign a peace treaty. In other cases, small skirmishes might continue even after a treaty is signed.

The Revolutionary War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783.

Did the United States government keep its promise to protect Loyalists?

Although the United States pledged to urge local and state governments to protect Loyalists, it was hard for the national government to enforce this pledge. In many places, Loyalists were persecuted.

As a result, most Loyalists moved away from the United States. One of the Loyalists who never returned was Benjamin Franklin's son, William, the colonial governor of New Jersey.

During the war, Patriots placed William Franklin in prison. He escaped to Great Britain in 1782, where he spent the rest of his life. Even after the war, William and his father never worked out their differences. Benjamin Franklin died a rich man, but he left almost nothing to his son.

Why was American Independence bad for Native Americans?

Before the war, the British prevented American colonists from expanding farther west, because they did not want the colonists to fight with Native Americans. Once the United States became an independent country, there was nothing to stop settlers from moving farther into Native American lands.

After the American Revolution, the United States continued to expand. As it grew, it took away almost all of the Native Americans' land on the continent.

Different groups of people faced different situations at the end of the war.

Fighting for freedom?

Although the American Patriots often said they were fighting for freedom, most enslaved people who fought in the war were forced back into slavery. Some of these people had even taken their owners' place in the fighting.

After the war, the British helped thousands of formerly enslaved people move to Nova Scotia, in present-day Canada. However, many of these people were treated poorly by the white colonists there. So, about half of them moved to the British colony of Sierra Leone, in West Africa.

The freedom to vote

Before the war, only elite, male members of colonial society had been allowed to vote. But new state constitutions granted voting rights to many free white men who were not part of the elite. In every state except Vermont, these men had to have property or pay taxes in order to vote. But even so, many more free white men could vote than in the past.

Independence gave Americans new ways of thinking. Many people used the ideas of independence and liberty to make different arguments.

Gabriel's Rebellion

The struggle for American independence emboldened enslaved people to argue for their own freedom. For example, a group of free and enslaved people planned a rebellion known as "Gabriel's Rebellion" in Richmond, Virginia, in 1800. They were caught and put on trial. A visitor reported that one of the accused enslaved people spoke these words:

I have nothing more to offer than what George Washington would have had to offer, had he been taken by the British and put on trial by them.

The Revolutionary War won independence for the United States of America. After the Revolutionary War ended, the new country was facing the large task of deciding how to govern itself. It was also deeply in debt. France and Spain lent a large amount of money to help the Americans win the war. When the war ended, the United States had to figure out how to pay this money back.

Americans fought the Revolutionary War to be free from the powerful British government. After they won independence, they did not want a strong government. So, the first central government of the United States was weak on purpose.

Most early Americans did not trust powerful governments. They remembered how unfairly the British government had treated them. In the early years of the United States, state governments had the most power.

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