The American Revolution: The War America Should Have Lost

The American Revolution came close to failing at least eleven times. This is the whole war in one animated story, from a 22-year-old George Washington losing his first battle in 1754 to the day he handed back his commission in 1783. The Stamp Act and the Boston Tea Party, Lexington and Concord, Henry Knox's cannons, the crossing of the Delaware, Saratoga, Valley Forge, the French alliance, Benedict Arnold's treason, Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris, with real paintings, maps and documents from the archives. Chapters 0:00 The war America should have lost 2:43 Washington loses his first battle 6:24 Britain wins everything 9:35 No taxation without representation 14:35 The Boston Tea Party 18:24 Lexington and Concord 23:05 Cannons on sledges 28:25 The largest fleet ever sent 33:05 Ten days: Trenton and Princeton 37:11 Saratoga 42:11 Valley Forge 47:45 A world war 51:08 Neighbors at war 54:45 Benedict Arnold 59:54 The chase 1:04:11 Yorktown 1:09:06 The last near-miss 1:12:57 Going home Sources and credits Documents: the Treaty of Paris, 1763, title page (Canadiana / Internet Archive, CIHM 48439), the Royal Proclamation of 1763 (Library and Archives Canada), Dunmore's Proclamation, 1775 (Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division), the Philipsburg Proclamation, Henry Clinton, 1779 (American Antiquarian Society), the plan of the investment of York and Gloucester, Sebastian Bauman, 1782 (Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division) and the Treaty of Paris, 1783, last page (U.S. National Archives). Public domain. Paintings and prints: Charles Townshend by Joshua Reynolds, about 1765 (public domain). The Bloody Massacre, Paul Revere after Henry Pelham, 1770 (National Gallery of Art, CC0). The Fruits of Arbitrary Power, Henry Pelham, 1770 (New York Public Library, public domain). Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea) by George Romney, 1776 (National Gallery of Canada, public domain). The Capture of Andre, Currier & Ives, 1876, and Nathanael Greene by Charl