Measures of Success


  Paul Revere
Paul Revere

[audio] Capability

Starting militias again

  • Militia: local military group to protect people
  • Under the Suffolk Resolves, militias were supposed to stop the British from interfering with the colonies.
  • The colonists spied on the British and sent messengers to warn the local militias when the British were coming to destroy the weapons.


The Messengers

  • One messenger, Dawes, was arrested and went back to Boston.
  • Paul Revere was arrested and taken away.
  • Samuel Prescott was the only messenger to make it and warn the colonists.


Only One Messenger is Remembered

  • Paul Revere was remembered because he was already famous as a silversmith.


Britain's Capability

  • Britain's advantages in the war were better weapons and well trained soldiers.
  • Britain's disadvantage in the war was lack of training in wilderness fighting.


The 13 Colonies' Capability

  • The 13 colonies' advantage in the war was being good at wilderness fighting.
  • The 13 colonies' disadvantages in the war was being poorly trained and having poor weapons.


[audio] The Battles of Lexington and Concord

  • Important because these battles were the beginning of the war.


The Battle of Saratoga

  • Important because it was the turning point of the war.


General Burgoyne's

  • British General Burgoyne led British troops; they had trouble because they had lots of supplies, moved very slowly through forest, and used more supplies than expected.
  • Colonists shot British soldiers using hit and run tactics. Lots of British died or were hurt.
  • By the time Burgoyne and troops reached Saratoga, New York, they had a lot of casualties and few supplies. Colonists attacked and Burgoyne surrendered.


[audio] Leadership

  • Britain sent soldiers to Boston, Massachusetts to enforce laws.
  • Colonists set up the Suffolk Resolves, which set up a boycott of British goods and created militias.


Choosing a Commander-in-Chief

  • George Washington was selected as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.
  • Commander-in-chief is a person in charge of all armies and navies.
  • Washington was chosen because:
    1. he ran for the job
    2. he had military experience;
    3. he was from the colony with the most people.


Britain's Leadership

  • Britain's advantage in leadership: they were well trained in traditional battle tactics.
  • Britain's disadvantages in leadership: they didn't think the colonists would fight as long and hard as they did. They also didn't know how to fight against wilderness fighting tactics.


The 13 Colonies' Leadership

  • The 13 colonies' advantage in leadership: Some of their leaders had been trained in wilderness fighting and taught it to the soldiers.
  • The 13 colonies' disadvantage in leadership: They hadn't been trained in military fighting tactics.


[audio] Motivation

Britain's Leadership

  • Britain's advantage in motivation: Britain wanted to keep the colonies because the colonies had lots of natural resources and could make money for Britain.
  • Britain's disadvantage in motivation: The British people did not want to be in a war.


The 13 Colonies' Leadership

  • The 13 colonies' advantage in motivation: they were protecting and fighting for their homes, families and beliefs.
  • About a third of the male colonists did not fight in the war for a variety of reasons.
  • Some colonists, called the Tories, or Loyalists, wanted Britain to win the Revolutionary War. Many Loyalists were killed or fled the colonies during the war.


[audio] Resources

The colonists stockpiled weapons

  • Stockpiling: collecting and saving something.
  • John Hancock was important to the radical colonists because he had money and could help pay for the war and he owned many ships. He was also a leader.


Benedict Arnold Benedict

  • Arnold deserted the army during the French and Indian War.
  • Deserter: a soldier who runs away from the army without permission.
  • Benedict Arnold was considered a traitor because he spied for the British.


Britain's Resources

  • Britain's advantage in resources was their army and navy were bigger and the government had a lot of money to buy weapons.
  • Britain's disadvantage in resources was that they had soldiers scattered all over the world and they had to transport their men and supplies by ship. The ships took months to travel to the 13 colonies.
  • Britain paid its soldiers. Because they paid, they had soldiers who weren't from Britain. Britain had mercenary soldiers.
  • Mercenaries: professional soldiers who fight wars to get paid. The British hired many soldiers from a place in Germany called Hesse-Cassel. These soldiers were called Hessians.
  • The British hired soldiers from all around Europe.


The 13 Colonies' Resources

  • The 13 colonies had NO advantage in resources.
  • The 13 colonies' disadvantages in resources was they didn't have enough supplies, didn't have the money to buy more supplies and didn't have as many soldiers as the British.