American Revolution | Famous Books for UPSC Exam (Summary & Tests) PDF Download

Washington Takes Command: The Siege of Boston

On a fateful day, July 3, George Washington took charge of the American forces stationed at Cambridge, Massachusetts. With the British occupying Boston, Washington faced the daunting task of containing them and recruiting a Continental army. The winter of 1775-76 saw recruitment lag, leading to the call-up of fresh drafts of militia to bolster the siege efforts.

The balance shifted when General Henry Knox arrived with much-needed artillery from Fort Ticonderoga. These cannons, captured by the Green Mountain Boys under Colonel Ethan Allen, were strategically mounted on Dorchester Heights, forcing the British to evacuate Boston on March 17, 1776. Washington then prepared to defend New York against a potential British invasion.

Flaring Action: Battles in the North and South

As the war escalated, action flared both in the North and South. In the fall of 1775, the Americans invaded Canada, with General Richard Montgomery capturing Montreal and Benedict Arnold leading a daring march to Quebec. However, the attack on Quebec failed, resulting in significant losses.

On the other hand, the British faced setbacks in the South, with North Carolina patriots triumphing over loyalists at Moore's Creek Bridge and Charleston successfully defending against a British assault by sea.

The Battle for New York: Howe's Campaign

Determined to crush the rebellion, the British government sent General William Howe and his brother, Admiral Lord Richard Howe, with a formidable force to New York. Washington, anticipating their designs, fortified the city, but his position was precarious due to British naval dominance.

Howe's strategic movements drove Washington out of New York and forced the abandonment of Manhattan Island. Despite several clashes, the British gained the upper hand, capturing Fort Washington and nearly dispersing Washington's army. However, Washington struck back with a brilliant Christmas night attack on Trenton, followed by a victory against British reinforcements at Princeton, saving the fight for independence from collapse.

The Surrender at Saratoga and French Involvement

In 1777, Britain's strategy aimed to divide New England from the other colonies. General John Burgoyne marched south from Canada, while General Howe took his army to Philadelphia. Burgoyne's campaign, fraught with challenges and setbacks, ended in surrender at Saratoga, a turning point in the war.

The significant outcome of Burgoyne's capitulation was the entry of France into the conflict. Having provided clandestine aid since 1776, the French now formally declared war in June 1778 and prepared fleets and armies to support the American cause.