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Chapter 7 The Early Years of the Revolution

Chapter 7 The Early Years of the Revolution. Americans Divided. Less than 50% of people supported the war. In general, most Patriots came from New England or Virginia. Loyalists were concentrated in New York state and large cities; most worked for the British govt.

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Chapter 7 The Early Years of the Revolution

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  1. Chapter 7The Early Years of the Revolution

  2. Americans Divided • Less than 50% of people supported the war.In general, most Patriots came from New England or Virginia. • Loyalists were concentrated in New York state and large cities; most worked for the British govt. • Indians were also divided on the war as well as African Americans. • See p. 177 in your textbook

  3. Creating an Army • Washington was appointed commander of the Continental Army (Why?) • Problems: Not everyone supported the war Enlistment was only for one year The army never had more than 17,000 men There was a terrible lack of supplies The army was disorganized • Washington’s strategy: win some battles and avoid a crushing defeat.

  4. Struggle for the Middle States • The British goal (strategy) was to occupy coastal cities so their navy could land troops. • In July, 1776, Howe landed with a large army in New York, (hmmm, must have left England way before the Declaration was signed, and certainly before the King was aware of it). • Another British strategy was to hire the Hessians as mercenaries to help them fight the rebels. • Washington was eventually forced to leave New York and retreat through New Jersey.

  5. In December the American Army found itself in Pennsylvania. • To urge soldiers to continue fighting, Thomas Paine wrote The American Crisis. • Washington knew that he had to attack the British quickly for two reasons: Enlistment was up on Dec. 31. A victory would encourage his men to stay • Battle of Trenton Christmas Day, 1776 It was a surprise attack 900 Hessians were captured or killed

  6. Britain’s Strategy • The British were going to seize the Hudson River Valley to cut off New England from the other states. • 3 armies would meet up at Albany, New York. • Burgoyne recaptured Ft. Ticonderoga, but he didn’t hurry to Albany because he liked to move his troops slowly and throw parties along the way. • While Burgoyne was partying and dallying, the Patriots cut down trees to block his route and burned crops and drove cattle off so that the British couldn’t use them as food (strategy). • How changed his mind about meeting up and instead invaded Pennsylvania where he defeated Washington at the Battle of Brandywine.

  7. Saratoga: a Turning Point • Burgoyne was running out of horses and supplies but he headed towards Albany anyway. • Patriot troops had built fortifications on hills overlooking Burgoyne’s route. • Burgoyne engaged in several battles trying to reach Saratoga; by the time they got there, his men were exhausted and soaked from having marched through driving rain. • (In October it wasn’t bitter cold there, yet, but still not warm any more either…I checked the averages.)

  8. Consequences of Saratoga • The continental Army surrounded the British and they surrendered. • Consequences: Benedict Arnold turned traitor Seeing that the Patriots had a chance of winning, France began to openly support them.

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