5-4 Flashcards
(8 cards)
British Advantages and Disadvantages
British advantages
-Experienced officers and soldiers
-Royal navy is largest and most experienced at time
-Well supplied, trained, fed, equipped, funded, and disciplined
-Paid others to fight like Hessians
British disadvantages
-Unfamiliar with territory and far from home
-Fighting style
-Overconfident
Patriot Advantages and Disadvantages
Patriot advantages
-Owned rifles and were good shots
-Leader was George Washington
-Knew the land better
-Fighting for freedom and to defend homes
Patriot disadvantages
-Poorly organized and untrained
-Little gunpowder
-No navy, few people wanted to enlist full time in the Continental Army
Second Continental Congress
Organized the continental Army, called on the colonies to send troops, selected George Washington to lead the army, and later appointed the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence.
Olive Branch Petition (1775)
Last colonial offering of peace. King George III felt the colonies were in rebellion.
Attack on Fort Ticonderoga (1775)
Colonial attack led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold to seize the fort that controlled the southern part of Lake Champlain. Some of the cannons, powder and supplies were then dragged to Boston.
Battle of Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill (1775)
These hills overlook Boston Harbor and the British were determined to take them. The Patriots dug in and were determined to push the British back. The British finally won after the third attempt, but lost a lot of men. William Prescott told his men “Don’t fire until you see the whites of there eyes” because of limited gunpowder/ball.
British blockade during the Revolutionary War
Britain used its navy to cut of trade between the colonies and other nations.
American invasion of Canada (1775)
Failed attempt to take control of Montreal and Quebec on the St. Lawrence River.
