The Revolutionary War led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence through several key military battles. The Americans won important victories at Trenton and Saratoga through surprise attacks and British reinforcements not arriving. This caused France to ally with the Americans. Finally, at Yorktown in 1781, American and French forces surrounded British troops and forced their surrender. This led Britain to sign the Treaty of Paris in 1783, recognizing American independence.

1. THE WAR FOR
INDEPENDENCE
EQ: How did the Revolutionary War lead to the
signing of the Declaration of Independence?

2. New York
 British  They had
about 32,000
soldiers
 The
Continental
Army was
untrained and
poorly
equipped
Who won? Why did they win?
What were the important
results?
 Allowed the
British to attempt
to seize control of
New England

3. Trenton
 American
s
 They defeated
a garrison of
Hessians with
a surprise
attack
Who won? Why did they win?
What were the important
results?
 Boosted the
morale of the
Continental Army

4. Saratoga
 American
s
 Burgoyne
expected
reinforcement
s but they
never came;
American
troops
surrounded
him at
Who won? Why did they win?
What were the important
results?
 Caused France
to sign an
alliance with the
Americans and
openly join them
in the fight

5. Yorktown
 American
s
 17,000 French
and American
troops
surrounded
Yorktown and
bombarded
them day and
night
Who won? Why did they win?
What were the important
results?
 In September of
1783, the Treaty
of Paris was
signed, which
confirmed US
independence
and set the
boundary of the
new nation

6. Hardships
 1. Couldn’t get
paid in hard
currency
 2. Ran out of
supplies and
equipment often
 3. They usually
had very little
formal training
 1. When they
ran out of hard
currency they
began printing
more and more
paper currency
and this caused
inflation
Soldiers
Members of
Congress
Civilians
 1. When men left to
fight, the women
had to manage:
farms and
businesses as well
as households and
families
 2. Some women
became nurses on
the battlefield and
some even fought

7. Declaration of Independence
 Thomas Jefferson prepared the final draft
 Declared the rights of “Life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness” to be unalienable rights
 Government’s power can only come from the consent of the
governed
 Provided a long list of violations committed by the king and
Parliament against the colonists’ rights
 Stated that “all men are created equal” but had different
meanings

8. Important Dates
 July 2, 1776
 Delegates voted unanimously that the American
colonies were free
 July 4, 1776
 Adopted the Declaration of Independence and
declared their independence from Britain