Britain Loses the War<American War of

Independence>
Notes
Britain had to fight a war over 3,000 miles from Britain.
It took over 2 months to sail from Britain to the 13 colonies.
It was a very difficult country to fight.
The colonists were formed into an army by George Washington.
Washington avoided major wars so as to prolong the war, which
would make the British give up.
British troops were led by poor commanders.
General Burgoyne attempted to spilt New England from the rest
of the colonies,was surrounded by American at Saratoga.
He was forced to surrender his whole army.
This was the first major victory for the colonist.
The battle of Saratoga convinced the British Prime Minister,Lord
North, that the war could not be won.
It also persuaded French to join the American colonists in the war
against Britain.
Many people in Britain supported the American colonists' demand
for 'no taxation without representation.'
France, Spain, Holland joined the war on the American side from
1778.
They had modern armies and large navies.
Britain had to fight a war in colonies, Europe, the West Indies and
India.
 In 1779, the British navy lost control of the North Atlantic ocean.
This was the only time Britain lost control of this area in the entire
18th century.
American and French troops forced a British army under Lord
Cornwallis to surrender at the costal town of Yorktown.
Cornwallis could not pull his army out because the French navy
controlled the sea off the coast of North America.
Timeline of The War

Date Notes
British troops and colonists clash at Lexington and
1775 Concord The war begins. The British defeat Americans at
Boston in Battle of Bunker Hill.

1776 Americans capture Boston. British capture New York city.

British attempt to split New England from other colonies

1777 General Burgoyne, surrounded by the American army, is
forced to surrender at the Battle of Saratoga.

1778 French join the Americans in the war against Britain.

Holland and Spain join the Americans in the war against

1779
Britain.

1781 British army surrenders at Yorktown, Virginia.

War officially ends at the Treaty of Paris. American

1783
colonies become independent.
Causes of Britain defeat
Geographical position (took over 2 months to send supplies across Atlantic Ocean)
Bad leadership (Poorly led by General Burgoyne who surrendered at 1777)
Tactic of George Washington