The opposing sides in the American Revolutionary War had various advantages and disadvantages. The colonists lacked sufficient funds, soldiers, and training, but used effective guerrilla warfare tactics. The British had stronger arms and equipment and hired German mercenaries, but the war was unpopular in Britain. A series of key battles then shifted the war in favor of the colonists. Washington's surprise attack on Hessian troops in Trenton was a boost, as was the colonists' holding out at Valley Forge. The decisive victory over British forces at Saratoga convinced the French to formally support the colonists. Finally, the British general Cornwallis surrendered his forces at Yorktown, leading Britain to recognize American independence in the Treaty of

1. Chapter Four: The American Revolution
Section Three: The War for Independence
A. The Opposing Sides
CHUNK #4 - Turn to pages 138-138. Read The Opposing Sides. List the advantages and
disadvantages of both the Colonial and the English.
Advantages _ Colonial ______Disadvantages
Advantages ___ English _____ Disadvantages
a. Colonial Disadvantages
i. Poorly ________________.
ii. Not enough _____________- (many deserted).
iii. Not enough _____________- to pay for supplies, soldiers, etc.
b. Colonial Advantages
i. Tactics: __________________ warfare used by the militias
was very successful against the English.
ii. Colonists were fighting on their own _______________
(home field advantage).
c. English Advantages
i. Better _________________ and equipped.
ii. Hired German _________________ (soldiers for hire) called
Hessians to help them fight.
d. English Disadvantages
i. The war was not __________________ in England.
B. The Northern Campaign
a. The Battle of Trenton
i. Washington turned around in the middle of his __________________
and crossed back over the Delaware River.
ii. Led a _______________ attack on the Hessians (German mercenaries
hired to fight for the British) and killed about 1000.

2. b. Valley Forge
i. Considered to be a _________ point for Washington's army.
ii. Washington’s army spent the winter of 1777 at Valley Forge,
PA where about 2500 died of ________________ and cold.
c. The Battle of Saratoga
i. _________________ point in the American Revolution.
ii. The colonists knew they would need ________________ help to
defeat the English.
iii. The French had been sending ___________ and supplies,
but would not send troops unless they knew the colonies could win.
iv. This was the victory the colonists needed to get ________________
help.
v. The French soon _____________________ American independence.
C. The War is Won
a. The Battle of Yorktown
i. English General __________________marched to Virginia .
ii. He was met by American forces and was __________________.
iii. He retreated to ________________, VA.
v. Washington attacked Cornwallis and the French ______________
kept the English from sending reinforcements.
vi. Cornwallis _______________ on October 19, 1783 and the war was
over.
b. Treaty of Paris 1783
i. England recognized American ________________________.
ii. Gave the new UNITED STATES all the ____________________ to
the Mississippi River.