• the 8 years from April 19, 1775, to April 19, 1783
• a world war, a political struggle, a social revolution
• British 11 million v. American 2.5 million population
• British 50,000 soldiers plus 30,000 Hessians v. minutemen
• America provided no target, no center, waged on all fronts

Phase I - from Concord to the Declaration

• the 14 months from April 19, 1775, to July 4, 1776

Phase II - from the Declaration to Saratoga

• the 15 months from July 2, 1776, to Oct. 17, 1777

Phase III - from Saratoga to Yorktown

• the 4 years from Oct. 17, 1777, to Oct. 17, 1781

Why did the Americans win?