The End of the War
Major Battles of the Revolutionary War
After the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the Revolutionary War had officially begun. In the short time following the first battle, the Continental Army seized Boston and captured Fort Ticonderoga in New York. Although outnumbered and often without the proper supplies, the army of colonists was united in a common goal, to defeat the British. Many battles took place between the Continental and British Army between the years 1775 and 1783. In this interactivity, learn about some of the major battles of the American Revolutionary War. Click the player button to begin.
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George Washington, the Continental Army, and the British Army
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One key aspect to the colonists’ success was the leadership of George Washington. Washington served as the commander of the Continental Army. He was a man who gained the respect of the entire nation. Standing at six foot two and broad shouldered, Washington was a calm and dignified leader. He was an expert horseman, known for riding his white horse into battle, encouraging his troops. George Washington was the type of leader who led by example. He suffered the same conditions as his men. Most importantly, his fighting tactics allowed his smaller, weaker forces to stay alive against a well-trained British army. In order to understand just how important leadership was to the Continental Army, you will need to compare the strengths and weaknesses of both armies. Hover your cursor over the images above to view the strengths and weakness of Continental Army and the British Army.
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Reasons for American Victory
The Continental Army consisted of soldiers from all 13 colonies serving in different militias. The militias were all under control of General George Washington, the acting commander-in-chief. When compared to the British Army, the soldiers of the Continental Army were under-trained, lacked supplies, and were outnumbered. Although the colonists were faced with many disadvantages, there were also factors that gave the Continental Army certain advantages. In this interactivity, click each of the tabs to explore some of the reasons why the Continental Army was victorious over the British.
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The British Surrendor at the Battle of Yorktown
Surrender of Lord Cornwallis, by John Trumbull
The presence of the French army and navy proved to be invaluable for the colonists. At the Battle of Yorktown in October of 1781, British General Cornwallis found himself surrounded by both land and sea. Essentially, the British army was trapped; General Cornwallis found himself wedged between Commander Washington’s army on the land and the French navy by sea. Without any option of retreat, General Cornwallis had no choice but to surrender. The surrender of the British army marked the end of the Revolutionary War.
The Treaty of Paris
A Portion of The Treaty of Paris Signed by
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay
Shortly after the war, in 1782, representatives from the nations of Great Britain, France, Spain, and the United States met in Paris to discuss terms of peace. Each nation attended this meeting with its own particular interests. The United States wanted its independence. France supported the United States, but wanted to limit the United States' power. Spain wanted to acquire new lands. Great Britain still hoped to regain some control over the United States. The representatives from the United States demanded that Britain grant them independence before any negotiations began. Britain agreed to full independence, and in September of 1783, the delegates signed the Treaty of Paris. This treaty granted the United States full independence and set the boundaries of the nation.
The End of the War Review
Now that you have explored the Declaration of Independence's impact on American life, complete this activity to check your knowledge. In this non-graded activity, read each statement and determine if the reason is based on geography, the common goal of the colonists, or a military strategy. Click the player button to get started.