Major Early Battle Locations Strengths And Weaknesses Of .

Major early battle locations Strengths and weaknesses of bothsides Second Continental Congress George Washington Siege of Boston Bunker Hill1

Map of locations of various battles fought in thefirst days of the Revolutionary War,April, 17752

StrengthsBritainColonistsWell-trained andequipped armyFamiliarity of territoryStrong centralgovernment with astrong economyCapable leadership ofWashington and othergeneralsSupport of Loyalistsand some NativeAmericansA common cause—fighting forindependence3

WeaknessesBritainColonistsDistance from homelandMany soldiers untrainedand uneducated in militarytacticsTroops unfamiliar withterrainShortages of food andammunitionWeak military leadersNo central government toenforce wartime lawsNo common cause to rallyarmy or British peopleInferior navy4

5

Battle of Fort TiconderogaEthan Allen demanded the surrender at Fort Ticonderoga in1775. The British retook the fort in 1777, but abandoned itlater that year.6

Second Continental CongressMay 10, 1775, to March 2, 1789 Congress’ focus changed fromforcing Britain to repeal theIntolerable Acts to fighting a waragainst the British Army Some more radical delegates pushedfor independence from Britain;moderates pushed for reconciliation John Adams suggested that eachcolony create its own government, acontinental army be formed, and thecolonies declare independenceJohn Adams Congress created the ContinentalArmy, appointed George Washingtoncommander, and printed papercurrency. Eventually they produced7the Declaration of Independence

Washington appointed General of theContinental ArmyMany, including ContinentalCongress president John Hancock,desired to be commander of theContinental Army. Otherdelegates, led by John Adams,sought to appoint GeorgeWashington to the post.Washington was selected for twomain reasons:1. His prior military experienceduring the French and Indian War2. He was from Virginia, and itseemed necessary to includeVirginia in the military operationsaround the city of Boston8

9

This commission certified George Washington’s appointment asGeneral and Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. Thesignature of John Hancock, president of the ContinentalCongress, is visible in the lower right corner. Washington wroteto his wife, Martha, that he had accepted the commission onlyafter, "I have used every endeavor in my power to avoid it."10

George Washington, the manGeorge Washington’s physicalappearance made him head andshoulders above his men, howeverhis character and bravery endearedhim to his men, and his nation.On several occasions, he personallyexposed himself to enemy fire whileencouraging his men to fight on. AtValley Forge, he dealt with thesame hardships as his men. For theduration of the war, he kept hisoutmanned army intact and readyto fight the larger, better equippedBritish army.By the end of the war, many werealready calling him “first in war,first in peace, and first in the heartsof his countrymen”.11

Strengths and weaknesses of both . Continental Army . 9 . 10 This commission certified George Washington’s appointment as General and Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. The signature of John Hancock, president of the Continental Congres