The American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution, also known as The Revolutionary War & The US War of Independence, spanned from 1775-1783. Fighting between British forces and the militiamen broke out in Lexington and Concord in April 1775. This fight started the war.
96,500 troops served the Continental army at the height of the war, while the British forces comprised of 133,000 troops. On the Colonies’ side there were about 35,000 regular army soldiers, 45,000 militiamen, 5,000 sailors, & 12,000 french troops. On the British side there was about 56,000 regular British soldiers, 30,000 German auxiliaries ( primarily Hessians), 13,000 native Americans, & 19,000 loyalists. More than 25,000 slaves and freed African Americans fought for both sides of the war.
There were 1,546 military engagements throughout the war. George Washington Lead 5 of the battles. Only 1 battle was a clear victory though, The Battle of Yorktown in 1781. During Washington’s time in the war, the army stayed in Valley Forge. They were there from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778. The army of 11,000 soldiers lived in 2,000 huts, they built miles of trenches and even a bridge. At least 2,000 soldiers died there. ⅔ of those men died of diseases like influenza, dysentery typhus, and typhoid. Although it was a devastating time, George Washington used it to improve training and discipline. This time helped change the tide of the war.
At the Battle of Bunker Hill, colonial officer William Prescott ordered, “Do not fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” On June 17, some 2,200 British forces under the command of Major General William Howe (1729-1814) and Brigadier General Robert Pigot (1720-96) landed on the Charleston Peninsula then marched to Breed's Hill. Despite their loss, the inexperienced colonial forces inflicted significant casualties against the enemy, and the battle provided them with an important confidence boost. This battle is responsible for 54% of american deaths in the war.
On September 28, 1781, General George Washington, commanding a force of 17,000 French and Continental troops, begins the siege known as the Battle of Yorktown against British General Lord Charles Cornwallis and a contingent of 9,000 British troops at Yorktown, Virginia, in the most important battle of the Revolutionary War. In an earlier battle we had gained the French troops. This was used to our advantage because their naval troops helped us encircle the British ships, causing them to eventually surrender on October 17, 1781, effectively ending the War for Independence.
At least 50,000 soldiers died during the war. Although the Americans won, they lost 25,000 total soldiers. 4,435 Colonial soldiers died in combat, while The British lost 3,500 in battle. The British forces lost a total of 24,000 troops during the war period. Disease killed at least 10,000 american soldiers. Since 18,000 Colonial soldiers were captured and 10.000 of them died, the american troops had 3 times more of a chance to died on a British ship than in combat. 1,700 loyalists died in the war and 70,000 fled back into the Americas when the war was over. 1,200 German mercenaries died in the span of the battle but 20% of the survivors stayed to live in America.
The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783, and Great Britain acknowledged America's independence. The treaty established a northern boundary with Canada and set the Mississippi River as the western boundary. The treaty became effective on May 12, 1784. The Continental Congress named a five-member commission to negotiate the treaty–John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Laurens. Laurens, however, was captured by a British warship and held in the Tower of London until the end of the war, and Jefferson did not leave the United States in time to take part in the negotiations. Thus, they were conducted by Adams, Franklin, and Jay.
