Revolution in Action: A Look at the War, Diplomacy, the People, and the PeaceThe purpose of this webpage is not to memorize the specifics of battles or many names of battles. The purpose is to look at the patterns in the revolution, including the war, and the only way to look at patterns is to be able compare the evidence—in this case, to scan the pattern. We will be looking at these topics within this webpage: § Essential Terms for This Webpage § Summary: War, Diplomacy, the People, and the Peace Essential Terms and Concepts for This WebpageWar and battles inherently result in many details, and,
although those details matter, most of those details are beyond the scope of
an introductory United States History course. These terms and concepts are
ones that everyone should know: §
What are the battles of § What are the roles of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin in the Revolutionary War and the peace, as well as John Adams and John Jay §
What is the significance of foreign volunteers
(such as Marquis de Lafayette and Baron von Steuben), of foreign mercenaries
(Hessians), and of foreign aid and direct combatants and equipment, both
secret and public (such as aid from § Who the Loyalists (sometimes called Tories) were, what they did in the Revolutionary War, and what happened to them after the war § What happened to slaves in and after the Revolutionary War (a war defined by the Declaration of Independence and its statement that all were “created equal,” including what happened to the slaves recruited by the British to fight the Patriots (sometimes called Whigs) in return for their emancipation from slavery § What made it possible for the Patriots to win this most unlikely contest with the power that had in 1763 won a global war for empire against the French (the Seven Years’ War or, as it was known in the colonies, the French and Indian War), including our use of guerrilla warfare and of unorthodox battle tactics § What were the strengths and weakness of the Patriots and the British §
What was the government under the Articles of
Confederation and how did that form of government have a consequence on the
Revolutionary War §
Basic terms of the Treaty of 1783 and why it
was initially settled as a separate peace with |
Beginning from the left, the column headings are: § Column 1¾When?¾The year and month of the event § Columns 2-6¾Participants if the event is a military one (with the X in a column showing the participants in the battle). The red line separates the participants on the British or at least anti-Patriot side and the Patriot side. The Hessians were the British-paid mercenary soldiers from the German province of Hessia; the Indians were tribes (identified in the Where?/Who? column) who fought the Patriots (sometimes called Whigs); the Loyalists (sometimes called Tories) were colonists who fought for the British. The Patriots were colonists who fought for independence from Britain; France was the major ally who fought for the new nation. § Column 7¾Where?/Who?¾The location, including the specific city or battle name, and provides the name(s) and background on who was involved in the event § Columns 8-9¾Whether the number of the casualties was High (H) or Moderate (M), a factor in how long combatants will persist in war. In most cases the number of casualties is from the Encyclopedia of American History, 7th edition. That source also provides details about battles and other events. § Column 10¾What?¾Brief statement of what occurred § Column 11¾Whether the battle was one marked by unorthodox or unexpected battle methods, a factor in whether a side with limited resources has a chance of winning § Column 12¾If the event is a military one, its significance in the larger war; if the event is not military, a brief description of the event. § Columns 13-14¾The victor (with the X in the column showing who won and with an X in each column indicating a tie or an uncertain outcome and a ? showing an uncertain outcome) Tips on how to use this tool: Read the rows where Loyalists are involved: what is going
on? Scan down the columns 8-9 (on casualties) and column 11.
What is the Patriot’s strategy? |
If Military Event 4 When? 6 |
H e s s i a n s |
I n d i a n s |
B r i t i s h |
L o y a l i s t s |
P a t r i o t s |
F r e n c h |
Casualty Status 4 Where?/Who? 6 |
B r i t i s h |
P a t r i o t s |
Type 4 What? 6 |
U n o r t h o d o x ? |
Victor 4 Significance
OR General Event 6 |
B r i t i s h |
P a t r i o t s |
1775-04 |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
MA:
Lexington, Concord; Br.
Gen. Thomas Gage |
H[1] |
M |
1,000
men to take supply of gunpowder; 70 at Lexington; snipers on return from
Concord to Boston |
Y |
Pre-declaration-of-war
battle with farmers, with militia or citizen-soldiers [Question: What are
the vulnerabilities and weaknesses in a war waged by a military against
citizens rising up to defend their homes?] [Question: Scan down the Orthodox?
Column. How frequently is unexpected fighting (unorthodox to Br.) an issue in
Pat. victory?] |
X |
? |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
NY: Ft.
Ticonderoga Pat.
Ethan Allen (of Vermont) |
|
|
Successful
surprise attack. |
Y |
Take
42 Br. cannon to |
|
X |
|
1775-05 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
¾ |
|
2nd
Continental Congress meets, sends address to |
- |
- |
1775-06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
¾ |
|
Washington
Commander in Chief [Question:
Scan down this column and the Where?/Who? column. How frequently does
Washington play a pivotal role both in terms of his persistence militarily
and his personal integrity and influence?] |
- |
- |
1775-06 |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
MA: Boston:
Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill) |
H[2] |
H |
Battle
as part of a siege |
|
|
X |
|
1775-07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
¾ |
|
2nd
Continental Congress sends Olive Branch Petition to George III asking for
resolution. [Question: An olive branch is a symbol of peace. What does
that title tell you about the formal position of the Congress in 1775?] |
- |
- |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
VA:
Br. governor – martial law, slave and Loyalist recruitment. VA: Great
Bridge |
|
|
Raised
a slave regiment (promise of freedom).[3] Br. defeated by Virginians, North
Carolinians |
|
Obviously
led to planter class concerns [Question: If the Southerners might have a
stronger commitment to the Br. (as the Br. expected--or hoped), then how will
the planter class and those concerned about a former slave population set
free among them feel about Br. attempts to recruit slaves to fight the Pat.
in return for freedom? Is that a smart
move for the Br. to make if they want Southern support?] |
|
X |
|
1775-12
(lengthy) |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
Canada:
Quebec Pat. Benedict Arnold/Richard Montgomery |
|
H[4] |
|
|
Blocks
Pat. hopes of Canadian support (see 1775-05) |
X |
|
1776
(summer) |
|
X |
|
|
X |
|
NC/SC/VA
Cherokee (Chief Dragging Canoe) v. Pat. militias |
|
|
|
|
Cherokees
flee; those remaining make a treaty. [Question: The Indians who joined the
Br. or who just took the opportunity of the Revolutionary War to fight the
colonists were not able to block the colonists. Scan down the 3rd
column to see Xs for Indian involvement. Notice how brutal some of these
engagements are, especially in 1778. How will the colonists/Pat. feel about
the Indians and about the Br. for allying with them?] |
|
|
1776-01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
¾ |
|
Common
Sense
published [Also covered in the other webpage for this chapter.] |
- |
- |
1776-02 |
|
|
|
X |
X |
|
NC:
Moore’s Creek Bridge (also failure at Charleston) |
|
|
“Crushed”
the Loyalists |
|
Blocks
Br. hopes for Loyalist support in a Southern campaign for next 2 years. [Question:
Scan down the 5th column to see Xs for Loyalist involvement. The
fight between Loyalists and Pat. is different from a fight between Br.
soldiers and Pat.: it brings on the divisions inherent in a civil war – a war
between groups formerly together. Notice what happens with the Loyalists by 1783.] |
|
X |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
MA:
Boston, after continued siege of the Br. |
|
|
|
|
Br.
evacuate Boston to Halifax, Nova Scotia |
|
? |
|
1776-05 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
¾ |
|
French
secretly give munitions to Pat.–Ex: 80% of gunpowder 1776-77 [Question:
Why is France helping the Pat.? Remember their defeat in 1763 in the French
and Indian War and their earlier wars? Remember also the old line “The enemy
of my enemy is my friend.”] |
- |
- |
1776-07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
¾ |
|
2nd
Continental Congress, Declaration of Independence passed. [The other
webpage for this chapter covers the Declaration of Independence.] Subsequent:
Benjamin Franklin to France as lobbyist [Benjamin Franklin’s role is
clarified in the other webpage for this chapter. He manipulates the French
intelligentsia’s belief in the Noble Savage.] |
- |
- |
1776-07
+ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
¾ |
|
Foreign
experts such as: Marquis
de Lafayette (unpaid) Thaddeus
Kosciusko - engineer Baron
von Steuben [Question:
What does it tell you about the goals of this war that foreigners will come to
fight? Certainly some come for the same reasons of pay and excitement that
bring mercenaries to battle, but not all. The Marquis de Lafayette will be
instrumental not just in the American Revolution, but in the French one as
well.] |
- |
- |
1776-08 |
X |
|
X |
|
X |
|
NY:
Long Island (Brooklyn Heights) Br.
Gen. William Howe – 32,000 men (9,000 Hessians); fleet of 100s. Pat.
19,000 (untrained); no fleet. Gen. George Washington |
|
H[5] |
New
York burned. Washington in retreat. |
|
Br. victory,
but a retreating army is not officially defeated [Question: What do the
Br. have to accomplish in the war and what do the Pat. have to accomplish?
What is the difference?] [Question: Notice the absence of a fleet. Scan down
that 8th column until you see a navy on the Pat. side. What does
that tell you about the importance of the French alliance?] |
X |
|
1776-10 |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
NY:
White Plains |
|
H[6] |
Washington
in retreat across NJ |
|
2nd
Continental Congress flees Philadelphia for Baltimore (December) |
X |
|
1776-12 |
X |
|
|
|
X |
|
NJ:
Trenton, Hessian garrison of 1400 Pat.
Gen. George Washington |
H[7] |
|
Successful
surprise attack the 26th of December |
Y |
Provides
an essential, although minor and temporary victory |
|
X |
1777-01 |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
NJ:
Princeton Br.
Gen. Cornwallis Pat.
Gen. George Washington |
H |
|
Successful
surprise attack. Br. delayed and gave time for regrouping. |
Y |
Provides
an essential, although minor and temporary victory. |
|
X |
1777-02 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Br.
plan: Gen. Howe up to Albany;
Gen. John Burgoyne down from Canada |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
- |
- |
1777-07
+ |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
Br.
plan – Howe did not follow it. PA:
Brandywine Creek |
|
H[8] |
Instead Howe took Philadelphia
(September). |
|
2nd
Continental Congress flees to Lancaster and then York |
X |
|
1777-08 (1st) |
|
X |
X |
|
X |
|
Br.
plan - Burgoyne, one wing NY:
Oriskany Leader:
Mohawk Joseph Brant (alliance of 3 remaining Iroquois nations—Joseph and Mary
Brant) |
|
H[9] |
Successful
ambush of the Pat. and a near defeat of them, but Br. wing retreats. |
|
Adds
to the anti-Indian view of colonists Adds
to volunteers joining Pat. to defend their region from violent Indian attack Blocks
a wing of Burgoyne’s forces |
|
X |
1777-08
(2nd) |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
Br.
plan - Burgoyne - a force sent to get
supplies followed by another force sent to reinforce them VT:
Bennington |
H[10] |
|
Pat.
volunteers + veterans defeat Br. in multiple engagements |
|
Burgoyne
withdraws to Saratoga Pat.
volunteers (citizen soldiers) coming forward |
|
X |
1777-10 (1st) |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
PA:
Germantown Gen.
George Washington |
|
H[11] |
Washington’s
attack unsuccessful |
|
Washington
to Valley Forge for winter |
- |
- |
1777-10
(2nd) |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
Br.
plan - Burgoyne NY:
Saratoga but also on the Hudson with Br. fleet burning a city |
H[12] |
|
Pat. had
entrenched position and had multiple engagements |
|
Burgoyne
surrenders 5,700.soldiers–a turning point in the war because it leads to
French support (see 1777-12) |
|
X |
1777-11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
¾ |
|
2nd
Continental Congress votes for Articles of Confederation and then sends to
states for ratification (not complete until 1781). |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
¾ |
|
News
of the Pat. victory at Br.
Lord North: offer of home rule (by April) French
Count de Vergennes: offer of open support by treaty (February) (French
will provide: navy, expeditionary force, money, munitions) Implication:
international support for Pat. by the enemies of Britain (France, Spain, the
Netherlands) |
- |
- |
|
1778-04
+ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Br.
plan: enlist support of Loyalists (that they are sure exist) -
with this implemented as a peace and war campaign |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
- |
- |
1778-04
+ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Br.
plan – peace commission in the colonies |
|
|
Fails
in working with Congress. |
|
Finally
issues (in October) a public proclamation promising a war of destruction if
Pat. don’t give up the French alliance and make peace. [Question: If you
were inclined to favor the Br., how public would you be about your support of
the Br.?] |
- |
- |
1778-05 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Br.
plan: Howe replaced by Sir Henry Clinton PA:
Br. evacuate |
|
|
Clinton
trying to stop Washington before the French arrive. |
|
|
- |
- |
1778-06 |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
NJ:
Monmouth Court House Pat.:
Gen. George Washington |
|
|
Von
Steuben’s training at Valley Forge pays off: Pat. beat back Br. |
|
A
draw, but the Br. go away during the night |
X |
X |
1778-07
(1st) + |
|
X |
X |
|
X |
|
NY:
raids on white settlements (Mohawk Joseph Brant and Br.) |
|
|
Included
massacre of 40 people after their surrender. |
|
Increased
Pat. hostility and reduction of probability of surrender |
X |
|
1778-07
(2nd) |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
IL:
campaign against the Indians Pat.:
George Rogers Clark |
|
|
Term used
for the Br. leader of Loyalists: the
“Hair Buyer” [Question: What do this item and the one above tell you about
how this campaign is becoming more brutal? FYI: “Hair buyer” = buyer of
scalps.] |
|
Campaign
eventually leads to Indian desertions |
|
X |
1778-12 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
GA:
Br. take Savannah |
|
|
¾ |
|
Victories
near the sea [Question: Compare the Burgoyne disaster–see 1777-08–and its insufficient supplies with the success
of Br. campaigns near the sea–see also 1780-02.
What does that tell you about the Br. strengths and vulnerabilities?] |
X |
|
1779-09 |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
NY and
PA: Pat. raids on the Indian settlements, including burning crops, orchards |
|
|
Defeat
of Brant and the Loyalists. |
|
Some
Iroquois flee North to Canada |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SC:
Br. take Charleston port |
|
|
¾ |
|
Victories
near the sea |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NJ: no
supplies at Washington’s camp |
|
|
Continental
currency worthless, soldiers receiving 1/8 of regular rations |
|
Soldiers
demanding back pay, but blocked by PA troops. [Question: What do these
events and the vulnerability of the Continental currency tell you? Scan down
to the similar events of 1781 and 1783. How vulnerable is the Pat. army?] |
- |
- |
|
1780-07
+ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
South:
Blocking of Br. consolidation |
|
|
Guerrilla
bands such as those of Francis Marion (“Swamp Fox”) |
Y |
|
|
? |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
SC:
Camden Br.
Gen. Lord Cornwallis Pat.:
Gen. Horation Gates |
|
|
Among Br.
commanders, Col. Banastre Tartleton of “Tarleton’s Quarter” (that is, giving
no mercy when people surrender) |
|
Some
Loyalists join. Washington
replaces Gates with Nathanael Greene |
X |
|
|
1780-09 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
¾ |
|
Treason
of Benedict Arnold comes out. Br. Maj. John Andre (in civilian clothes)
caught with the papers. Arnold flees; made Br. brigadier general; gets money
and more. [Question: What does his betrayal tell you about how he thinks
the war is going?] |
|
|
1780-10 |
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
NC/SC:
Kings Mountain |
H[13] |
|
900
backwoods riflemen withstand bayonet charges and win. |
|
[Question:
What does this tell you about the changes and role of the citizen militia?] |
|
X |
1780-10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SC: Br.
Cornwallis in winter quarters |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1781-01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
PA:
mutiny by 1500 out of 2400 veteran soldiers |
|
|
New
recruits were getting currency not paper. 1/1779 – 8 to 1; 12/1779 -40
to 1 |
|
Put down
militarily; 2 executions. (See also 1780-05 and 1783-03.) |
- |
- |
1781-01 |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
SC:
Cowpens Br:
Gen. Lord Cornwallis Pat.:
Gen. Nathanael Greene |
H[14] |
|
Using
inexperienced troops to retreat and set up a trap. Splitting forces and also
additional guerrilla warfare with Cornwallis. |
Y |
Surprising
victory |
|
X |
1781-02 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
¾ |
|
Robert
Morris made Superintendent of Finance |
- |
- |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
NC:
Guilford Courthouse |
H[15] |
|
Additional
guerrilla warfare by Francis Marion. Tartleton (of Tarleton’s quarter–see 1780-08)- 350 killed after
surrender. |
Y |
Blocks
Cornwallis Southern campaign-needs reinforcement. |
X |
|
|
1781-03 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
¾ |
|
States
ratify Articles of Confederation |
- |
- |
1781-05 |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
VA:
Cornwallis campaigns |
|
|
Tarleton
(see 1781-03) almost takes Jefferson (then
governor of VA) and the legislature. |
|
Cornwallis,
under Clinton’s orders, retreats to Yorktown |
- |
- |
1781-05
+ |
|
|
|
|
|
X |
Major force
of French navy, expeditionary force arrive |
|
|
Washington
leaves a deceptive force in the North and heads South. |
Y |
|
- |
- |
1781-10 |
|
|
X |
|
X |
X |
NY:
Yorktown |
|
|
¾ |
|
Cornwallis
surrenders 7,500 |
|
X |
1782-02 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Br.
Lord North’s ministry fails |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
- |
1782-02
+ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pat.
negotiators: Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, John Adams |
|
|
¾ |
|
Pat.
negotiators are Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. Treaty (Preliminary
peace in November)—separate negotiation with Britain (Spain wanted
Gibraltar); Franklin keeps peace with Vergennes. The peace terms included: ·
Recognition of the independence of the U.S. ·
Territory from Canada to Florida and the Atlantic to the Mississippi
(although the Br. did not rapidly leave the territories) ·
Recommendation to the States of restoration of Loyalists’ rights and
property (although the American States did not) |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pat.
mutiny, pay |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NY:
7,000 Loyalists leave |
|
|
|
|
Total:
100,000 leave for Europe or |
- |
- |
Copyright C. J. Bibus, Ed.D. 2003-2010 |
WCJC Department: |
History – Dr. Bibus |
Contact Information: |
281.239.1577 or cjb_classes@yahoo.com |
Last Updated: |
2010 |
WCJC Home: |
[1] Br. = 73 dead, 174 wounded, 26 missing; Pat. = 93 all categories
[2] Br. = 1050 casualties; Pat. = 100 dead, 267 wounded, 30 captured
[3] The blacks recruited to this and other service had a mixed fate. Some were sold into slavery; some were settled in Nova Scotia by the British; and some migrated to Sierra Leone (West Africa). (Source: Brendan McConville, essay in the Oxford Companion to American History, p. 668)
[4] Pat. = 100 dead or wounded, 300 captured
[5] Br. = 400; Pat. = 1500 of 5,000
[6] In related engagements, Br. = 300, 458; Pat. = 200 dead, 2,800 captured
[7] Hessians = 30 dead, 918 captured; Pat. = 5 dead
[8] Br. = 576; Pat. = 1,000 estimated
[9] Half of Patriot force lost
[10] Br. initial force = leader dead, force dead or wounded; Br. reinforcements = lost 1/3 of force
[11] Br. = 534 dead or wounded; Pat.= 700 casualties, 400 captured
[12] In the engagements, Br. = 600; Pat. = 300. Br. = 600; Pat. = 150. Burgoyne surrenders 5,700 troups.
[13] Br. = 1,100 NY and SC Loyalists dead or captured; Pat. = 28 dead, 62 wounded
[14] Br. 1,000 force = 349dead, 600 captured; Pat. = 75 dead
[15] Br. 100 dead, 400 wounded