what items did the americans need to fight the revolution

The armies and navies of the Revolutionary War employed hundreds of thousands of muskets, thousands of cannons, and countless uniforms, flags, tents, pistols, knapsacks, shoes and other objects. Most of these artifacts were eventually used up, destroyed, discarded, melted down or lost to decay. Relatively few survive.

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What tactics did the British and American armies use in battle?

Both sides used essentially the same tactics. Both sides used the same equipment and the same weapons. If they were fighting in rough terrain with small numbers of men, both British and Patriot forces would fight skirmish style, in open lines using cover.

What is the significance of the American Revolution?

American Revolution, also called United States War of Independence or American Revolutionary War, (1775–83), insurrection by which 13 of Great Britain ’s North American colonies won political independence and went on to form the United States of America. The war followed more than a decade of growing estrangement...

Did you know these 3 little known facts about the Revolution?

As we approach Independence Day, Slaughter shares three little known facts about the American Revolution for you to bring to your 4th of July picnic: At no time did more than 45 percent of colonists support the war, and at least a third of colonists fought for the British.

What were the two types of organizations in the Revolutionary War?

Learn about major events of the Revolutionary War (1775–83), which won 13 American colonies their political independence from Great Britain. Americans fought the war on land with essentially two types of organization: the Continental (national) Army and the state militias.

What did they use to fight in the Revolutionary War?

Cavalry (soldiers on horseback) used pistols and sabers to fight with as they were easier to use while riding a horse. Soldiers often carried knives or small hatchets, but these were rarely used in major battles. Both sides used similar tactics in fighting a battle. The soldiers would form rows of long lines.

What did a Revolutionary War soldier carry?

Background. All soldiers carried personal effects such as clothing, weapons, accouterments, tools and living accessories. The American soldier of the Revolution was no different. Each man probably had a rifle or musket, bayonet, canteen, cartridge box and a haversack with personal items.

What things were lacking during the Revolutionary War?

Critical shortages of arms and ammunition, clothing, shelter, and camp equipment persisted in spite of repeated appeals to political authorities and the local population; food rations for both man and beast were unpredictable.

What helped the American Revolution?

Who helped the Americans in the revolution? A number of European countries assisted the American colonists. The primary allies were France, Spain, and the Netherlands with France giving the most support.

What was the most common weapon used in the Revolutionary War?

musketsThe main weapon on any Revolutionary War battlefield was the smoothbore flintlock musket. These muskets were around five feet long and weighed around ten pounds. There were a few different styles that were used, and usually depended on where they were made.

What guns did the colonists use?

American weaponsBrown Bess. The "Brown Bess" muzzle-loading smoothbore musket was one of the most commonly used weapons in the American Revolution. ... Charleville musket. ... American-made muskets. ... Long rifles. ... Bayonet.

How was America able to win the Revolutionary War?

After French assistance helped the Continental Army force the British surrender at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781, the Americans had effectively won their independence, though fighting would not formally end until 1783.

What were the 3 main causes of the American Revolution?

Here are 6 key causes of the American revolution.Seven Years War (1756-1763) ... Taxes and Duties. ... Boston Massacre (1770) ... Boston Tea Party (1773) ... Intolerable Acts (1774) ... King George III's Speech to Parliament (1775)

What are 3 things about the American Revolution?

10 Revolutionary War Facts Even American History Buffs Don't KnowThere was a secret plan to kill George Washington. ... Some British soldiers were actors by night. ... 200 original copies of the Declaration of Independence were made. ... Some Revolutionary War veterans had their photographs taken.More items...•

How did the colonists defeat the British?

Colonists fought the way they had fought in the French and Indian wars. They hid behind trees and walls and shot at the British from ambush (a vocabulary word) and cover.

What elements were key to the Patriots victory in the war?

The elements that were key to the patriots victory in the war were that they fought in their own land, they knew where to lay an ambush and help from other countries.

What caused the American Revolution essay?

With the increasing power and control of the British over these colonies, the people feared the loss of freedom and wanted to do everything to remain free and this was one of the major reasons for the revolution. The war was fought between 1754 and 1763 and led to a lot of money being spent.

What do soldiers carry in their pockets?

Each pouch holds about two magazines; some can hold three. They are meant to be worn as near to weapon as is functional to keep the momentary time when a warfighter is out of action because of gear to a minimum.

Where did revolutionary soldiers get their guns?

When the war began, American soldiers used the weapons from their state's militia stores or from home. Recognizing a shortage, the Continental Congress and the individual colonies placed orders with American gunsmiths to make as many flintlocks as possible. Muskets were also bought from European manufacturers.

What did Revolutionary War soldiers wear?

A typical uniform for an American soldier included a wool coat with a collar and cuffs, a hat that was generally turned up on the side, a cotton or linen shirt, a vest, breeches, and leather shoes. The British soldiers were often called the "Red Coats" because of their bright red coats.

What did soldiers eat during Revolutionary War?

Officially, soldiers were to be issued daily rations that were to include meat (often beef or pork), bread (often hardtack), dry beans or peas, and a gill of rum or beer.

What was the American Revolution?

The American Revolution—also called the U.S. War of Independence—was the insurrection fought between 1775 and 1783 through which 13 of Great Britai...

How did the American Revolution begin?

On the ground, fighting in the American Revolution began with the skirmishes between British regulars and American provincials on April 19, 1775, f...

What were the major causes of the American Revolution?

The American Revolution was principally caused by colonial opposition to British attempts to impose greater control over the colonies and to make t...

Which countries fought on the side of the colonies during the American Revolution?

Until early in 1778, the American Revolution was a civil war within the British Empire, but it became an international war as France (in 1778) and...

How was the American Revolution a civil war?

In the early stages of the rebellion by the American colonists, most of them still saw themselves as English subjects who were being denied their r...

What made the American Revolution look like a civil war?

What made the American Revolution look most like a civil war, though, was the reality that about one-third of the colonists, known as loyalists (or Tories), continued to support and fought on the side of the crown. Learn more about loyalists. Read about the fate of the loyalists after the American Revolution.

What was the American Revolution?

American Revolution, also called United States War of Independence or American Revolutionary War, (1775–83), insurrection by which 13 of Great Britain ’s North American colonies won political independence and went on to form the United States of America. The war followed more than a decade of growing estrangement between ...

What was the British attempt to assert greater control over colonial affairs after a long period of salutary neglect?

British attempts to assert greater control over colonial affairs after a long period of salutary neglect, including the imposition of unpopular taxes , had contributed to growing estrangement between the crown and a large and influential segment of colonists who ultimately saw armed rebellion as their only recourse.

How many men were in the militia in 1781?

The total number of the former provided by quotas from the states throughout the conflict was 231,771 men, and the militias totaled 164,087. At any given time, however, the American forces seldom numbered over 20,000; in 1781 there were only about 29,000 insurgents under arms throughout the country.

Why did the British come to Concord?

The British had come to Concord to seize the military stores of the colonists, who had been forewarned of the raid through efficient lines of communication —including the ride of Paul Revere, which is celebrated with poetic license in Longfellow ’s “Paul Revere’s Ride” (1861). Battles of Lexington and Concord.

What did James Otis say about the colonists?

“Taxation without representation is tyranny,” James Otis reportedly said in protest of the lack of colonial representation in Parliament.

How many troops did the British government buy?

Because troops were few and conscription unknown, the British government, following a traditional policy, purchased about 30,000 troops from various German princes.

What weapons did both sides use during the Revolutionary War?

Both sides used similar weapons and fought using similar tactics. Muskets. The primary weapon used by both sides was the musket. The most popular type of musket was ...

Why were muskets important in the Revolutionary War?

Since muskets were not accurate, being able to reload and fire quickly was more important than aiming. There were few advancements in either weapons or battle tactics as a result of the Revolutionary War. Sometimes slow-loading, but more accurate, long rifles were used to pick off enemy officers. Activities.

How accurate was the Charleville musket?

Charleville Musket. The smooth-bore muskets of the Revolutionary War were not very accurate and could not reliably hit a target beyond 100 yards. It took the average soldier around 15 to 20 seconds to load the musket allowing him to fire 3 to 4 shots a minute. Brown Bess and Bayonet.

What was the most common weapon used by both sides?

The primary weapon used by both sides was the musket . The most popular type of musket was the British made Brown Bess. The Brown Bess had a smooth bore and was loaded through the muzzle. Another popular musket was the Charleville made by the French. It was similar to the Brown Bess.

What was the name of the spear that was used to charge and gore an enemy?

Bayonet. At the end of the musket most soldiers had a bayonet attached. A bayonet was a sharp pointed metal blade around 17 inches long. The bayonet turned the musket into a spear that could be used to charge and gore an enemy. British soldiers were especially skilled fighters with the bayonet. Cannon.

How did firing in rows work?

By firing in rows, each row had to time to reload while the others were firing. This kept up a constant barrage on the enemy. In many cases, after each side fired a number of volleys, one side would charge the other side with their bayonets and the battle would turn into hand-to-hand combat.

How did both sides use similar tactics in fighting a battle?

Both sides used similar tactics in fighting a battle. The soldiers would form rows of long lines. They would approach the enemy to get within a range of 50 yards. Then each row would fire a volley at the enemy in unison. The first row would fire and then start to reload.

What percentage of colonists supported the American Revolution?

As we approach Independence Day, Slaughter shares three little known facts about the American Revolution for you to bring to your 4th of July picnic: At no time did more than 45 percent of colonists support the war, and at least a third of colonists fought for the British.

Who won the Revolutionary War?

The Americans, with help from Spain, the Netherlands and France, defeated the British during the American Revolutionary War.

When did the American Revolution start?

The American Revolution started on April 19, 1775, with the exchange of gunfire at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts.

Why is July 4th celebrated?

America typically celebrates the 4th of July as a unifying victory for the country, but the road to independence was more divisive and violent than most people realize, according to Thomas Slaughter, the Arthur R. Miller Professor of History and author of the 2014 book Independence: the Tangled Roots of the American Revolution . ...

Did the American Revolution rebel against the mother country?

Americans were not only rebelling against the mother country, they were fighting each other. A higher percentage of the population died in the American Revolution than in any other war fought by Americans. As a result, more people who lived through the American Revolution knew someone who died or lost someone in the war, ...

What were the pivotal moments of the American Revolution?

Here are a few of the pivotal moments that led to the American Revolution. 1. The Stamp Act (March 1765) pinterest-pin-it. Sheet of penny revenue stamps printed by Britain for the American colonies, after the Stamp Act of 1765. VCG Wilson/Corbis/Getty Images.

What were the major events of 1776?

The Boston Tea Party (December 1773) 5. The Coercive Acts (March-June 1774) 6. Lexington and Concord (April 1775) 7. British attacks on coastal towns (October 1775-January 1776) The American colonists’ breakup with the British Empire in 1776 wasn’t a sudden, impetuous act. Instead, the banding together of the 13 colonies to fight and win a war ...

What was the tax on tea in the Townshend Acts?

The tax on tea was one of the clauses of the Townshend Acts.

Why did the colonists burn the ports?

Leaders of the rebellion seized the burnings of the two ports to make the argument that the colonists needed to band together for survival against a ruthless enemy and embrace the need for independence —a spirit that ultimately would lead to their victory.

What did the Sons of Liberty do?

The Sons of Liberty, a radical group, decided to confront the British head-on. Thinly disguised as Mohawks, they boarded three ships in Boston harbor and destroyed more than 92,000 pounds of British tea by dumping it into the harbor. To make the point that they were rebels rather than vandals, they avoided harming any of the crew or damaging the ships themselves, and the next day even replaced a padlock that had been broken.

What was the culmination of the 13 colonies?

Instead, the banding together of the 13 colonies to fight and win a war of independence against the Crown was the culmination of a series of events, which had begun more than a decade earlier. Escalations began shortly after the end of the French and Indian War —known elsewhere as the Seven Years War in 1763.

Who was the print of the Boston Massacre?

A print of the Boston Massacre by Paul Revere, 1770. Simmering tensions between the British occupiers and Boston residents boiled over one late afternoon, when a disagreement between an apprentice wigmaker and a British soldier led to a crowd of 200 colonists surrounding seven British troops.

What did the Tories want in America?

That is the answer to the question of what the Tories wanted in America: a federal system of parliamentary government under a constitutional monarchy as part of the British Empire. And, Canadians say, thanks to being founded by non -revolutionaries, they have a country full of people who have a character of quiet fortitude, ...

Who was the teenager who enlisted in the militia during the Revolution?

Just as church congregations were sundered by the Revolution, families also divided. Stephen Jarvis, a teenager working on the family farm in Connecticut when the Revolution began, enlisted in a rebel militia commanded by one of his uncles.

What was the name of the militia that Jarvis enlisted in?

Soon, though, because “My father was one of those persons called Torries,” he deserted the rebels and enlisted in an elite Tory force, the Queen’s American Rangers, one of more than two hundred Loyalist military units formed during the Revolution. Like Tiffany’s manuscript, Jarvis’s journal remained unknown for a long time.

What did Stephen do after the war?

When the war ended, after serving as a Tory soldier for seven years, Stephen returned to Danbury —wearing the green uniform of a Queen’s Ranger. He naively expected that he and Amelia could be married in an Anglican church by a clergyman who was a relative and settle in their hometown. He did not know that, because the clergy’s duties included prayers for the King, the rebels had forced the closing of Anglican churches. Nor did he seem to realize that under a Connecticut anti-Tory law he could be charged with treason.

Why did the Tories sign the Declaration of Dependence?

Four months after the Declaration of Independence, hundreds of New York Tories signed a “Declaration of Dependence.” Although the document gives “Testimony of our Zeal to preserve and support the Constitutional Supremacy of Great Britain over the Colonies, ” it does not contain any sharply defined reason that explains why Tories opposed the Revolution. Loyalty to the king was apparently reason enough. The traitorous idea of Independence was merely answered by the regal idea of Dependence.

What is Tiffany's personal reason for choosing the war?

Tiffany does not give a personal reason for his choice. He calls the war a “Shocking and unhappy Struggle Between prince and people”—the people being unruly rebels who were “Giddy, Rude and profligate.”

What is the grand story of the American Revolution?

The grand story of the American Revolution forms the backdrop of today’s Tea Party, whose members tell us to look to our nation’s origin, when patriots also protested taxes and governance. But when we remember how America began, we should also remember that within the Revolution there raged a civil war. The rebels fought not only the British but ...

How did the American Revolution depend on France?

And from the earliest days, America’s uprising depended on French willingness to provide open-ended credit that enabled Deane and his partners to ship supplies to the beleaguered revolutionary forces . Ultimately, France provided about 1.3 billion livres of desperately-needed money and goods to support the rebels. Estimates suggest that at the colonists’ October 1777 victory at Saratoga, a turning point in the war, 90 percent of all American troops carried French arms, and they were completely dependent on French gunpowder.

What would have happened if France had not aided the American Revolution?

Without France’s aid, American revolutionaries might have been seen by other major powers merely as treasonous subjects rebelling against their rulers. French willingness to negotiate with Deane, Franklin and their successors conferred legitimacy on American leaders. The Treaty of Amity and Commerce of 1778 formally acknowledged the United States as an independent nation and opened the way for Americans to continue trading internationally. Over time, France also enlisted the aid of other major European powers (Spain allied itself with the United States in 1779) while sidelining others, like Austria, which never joined the war but made clear it would back France in any wider conflict.

What did Deane want?

Deane’s real quest was very different: He sought military engineers, along with clothing, arms and ammunition for 25,000 soldiers. Oh, and credit from the French to pay for it all. Within two weeks of arriving, he had what he wanted, and France had become a secret supporter of the revolution.

What was the impact of French participation on the colonial rebellion?

French participation transformed what might otherwise have been a lopsided colonial rebellion into a significant war, with potential to become another global conflict. The British, it turned out, had little appetite for this—especially when other European powers such as Spain and the Dutch Republic proved willing to support the colonists. The geopolitical calculus made it difficult for British legislators to accept the prospect of a prolonged, costly and global battle.

Who was responsible for the French and Americans' refusal to sign the Treaty of Paris?

Both the French and the Americans refused British offers of separate peace agreements, and French foreign minister Vergennes took a key role in brokering the treaty. Ultimately, it wasn’t until Britain and France settled their differences that the Americans finally signed the Treaty of Paris.

What was France's threat to Britain?

They posed a heftier geopolit ical threat to Britain. Still smarting from its defeat in the Seven Years’ War and loss of colonies worldwide, including much of Canada, France saw America’s rebellion as an opportunity for revenge—and to re-establish part of its own empire at British expense.