Introduction to Chapter 7
7
THE WAR FOR AMERICA
1775–1783
> How were the North American colonists able to successfully gain their independence from Great Britain in 1783? Chapter 7 follows the course of the American Revolution from the Declaration of Independence in 1776 to the Treaty of Paris in 1783. It examines the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the military strategies of both sides, the experience of war on the home front, the role of Native Americans and the French, and the ultimate defeat of the British against seemingly improbable odds.
> Why did Americans wait so long before they declared their independence?
> What initial challenges did the opposing armies face?
> What role did the home front play in the war?
> How were Native Americans and the French involved in the war?
> Why did the British southern strategy ultimately fail?
> Conclusion: Why did the British lose the American Revolution?
Understanding the American Promise 3ePrinted Page 166