Americas War for Independence in the 1770s :: essays research papers

The Americans managed to achieve independence from one of the strongest military powers on earth, England, after 1777 because of their home field advantage, successful military operations, and need to be free to governor themselves. The first sign of America being able to gain independence was its victory at Saratoga, which then led them to gain alliance with the French. The British thought they should move their troops south because that’s where their loyalists were. Then a few wins for the U.S. led Cornwallis to go to Yorktown to wait for supplies from Clinton in New York. With help from the French, Washington was able to defeat the British at Yorktown, which led to America’s independence and the signing of the treaty of Paris 1783. The American Revolutionary War was a war between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen British colonies, who declared their independence as the United States of America in 1776. The war was the culmination of the American Revolution, a colonial struggle against political and economic policies of the British Empire. The war eventually widened far beyond British North America, many Native Americans also fought on both sides of the conflict. The Declaration of Independence is the document in which the 13 states, formerly the Thirteen Colonies, in North America declared themselves independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain and explained their justifications for doing so. The Second Continental Congress ratified it on July 4, 1776. The British wanted to take control of the Hudson River Valley to cut off New England from the other colonies. So General Burgoyne with 7,700 troops approached Albany, New York, from Canada. On his way, Burgoyne defeated American forces at Fort Ticonderoga. More troops, led by Lieutenant Colonel St. Leger and General Howe were to join him to attack the American troops. Unfortunately for Burgoyne, St. Leger's troops were forced to retreat back to into Canada by Benedict Arnold and his American militia. General Howe's forces were fighting with Washington at the Battle of Brandywine and then the Battle of Germantown, which kept him from joining Burgoyne. General Burgoyne's forces attacked General Gates’ American forces at the Battle of Oriskany and at the Battle of Bennington but were driven back both times. General Burgoyne attacked American for his third time at the Battle of Saratoga. This time Burgoyne and his forces were defeated and General Burgoyne was forced to surrender. The Battle of Saratoga in July and October 1777 was an American victory that was to result in France entering the conflict on behalf of the Americans during the American Revolutionary War.