The Fight for

Independence

Armed Conflict in the

Revolutionary War
 British Forces
 More people: 11 million British
Citizens vs. 2.5 million in the colonies
(20% of whom were enslave
Africans!
 Experienced officers
 Support of American Loyalists and
many Indian tribes
 American Forces
 Comprised of the rag-tag Continental
Army – 18,000 poorly trained recruits
 No central government meant no
way to raise funds for the war
 No one had ever commanded a large
force = inexperienced officers
 Americans were outgunned, out-
shipped, and outnumbered.
 “These are the times that will
try men’s souls” ~ Tom Paine
 How did Americans sustain the
revolution?
 General William Howe was appointed by
Lord North to quell the rebellion. He
stopped fighting for the winter, as was
customary…
 General George Washington took the
opportunity to continue the fight, winning a
small battle in December of 1776 and
improving morale
 The morale boosting continued with the
victory at Saratoga in late 1777.
 With the victory in Saratoga, Americans captured
 Economic Problems
 A British naval blockade had cut off
supplies to America, as well as trade
routes needed for income.
 Government officials requisitioned
military supplies directly from the
people.
 Later, the government would also
request citizens to provide clothing
for soldiers in the field.
 Women’s Work
 Central to keeping men fighting in
the field, women drastically
increased homespun production
 Women also took up the daily work
abandoned by men fighting for the
Patriot cause, including field work
and the daily business of the
household.
 Money, money, money,
money… MONEY
 In an effort to alleviate the cost of war,
Patriot officials took out credits from the
wealthy
 Individual states would soon begin printing
paper money, which would become
useless as it flooded the market and was
not backed by gold or silver.
 The Continental Congress soon followed,
printing $191 million in currency and bills
of credit.
 These actions would lead to serious problems for the
new America.