Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Section 1 – The Early Years of the War

1. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Section 1 – The Early Years of the War

2. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Chapter 7.1 – The Early Years of the War • Historians estimate that roughly 20-30 percent of Americans were loyalists; and roughly 40-45 percent were patriots – the rest were undecided • Most Americans did not support the Revolution: Loyalists were numerous in cities, New York State and in the South; Patriots were numerous in New England and Virginia • Native Americans and African Americans fought for both sides • Some Native Americans fought with the British because they were afraid Americans would take their land if they won the war • Enslaved African Americans were offered their freedom if they joined the British Army – about 5,000 others served in the Continental Army after restrictions on their enlistment were lifted Americans Divided

3. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Chapter 7.1 – The Early Years of the War • In June 1775, George Washington, commander of the Continental Army, had serious problems • The militia were untrained and had only signed up for one year – when their time was up they went home; as a result, Washington never had more than 17,000 troops at a time • Poor supplies and a lack of equipment also frustrated Washington – his men needed shoes, blankets, food, muskets, and ammunition • Women like Martha Washington helped by cooking, nursing the sick, and fighting alongside the men • Mary Hays – nicknamed Molly Pitcher – carried water to tired soldiers during a battle • British thought the Americans were disorganized, inexperienced rebels and hoped a decisive battle would make them give up – Washington’s goal was to survive until he could build his army Creating an Army

4. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Chapter 7.1 – The Early Years of the War • After Boston, Washington took his troops to New York to confront General Howe and the British army • Howe hoped to occupy coastal cities to help launch his campaigns – July of 1776, Howe arrived in New York along with 9,000professional German mercenaries called the Hessians hired by King George III. • After months of struggling for control of New York State, Washington was forced to retreat through New Jersey – by December, 1776 the American army had crossed the Delaware into Pennsylvania and was in terrible shape • Thomas Paine urged them to keep fighting in his series of pamphlets the “American Crisis” • Late on December 25, 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware into New Jersey and marched to Trenton where they surprised the Hessians – 900 Hessians were killed and Washington captured much needed weapons and supplies – after another victory at Princeton, new recruits began to enlist Struggle for Middle States

5. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Chapter 7.1 – The Early Years of the War • Britain’s strategy was to cut off New England from the other states by seizing the Hudson River Valley – the strategy called for three armies to meet in Albany, New York • General Burgoyne’s army marched south from Canada capturing Fort Ticonderoga – from there he moved slowly, allowing Washington time to block his path • Swampy terrain and delays on the way to Albany cost Burgoyne four weeks – to make matters worse, Howe wrote telling him he had decided to invade Pennsylvania to capture Washington and would not be able to meet him as planned Britain’s Strategy

6. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Chapter 7.1 – The Early Years of the War • In the summer of 1777, British Colonel Barry St. Leger tried to capture Fort Stanwix in the Mohawk River Valley of New York • General Benedict Arnold led a small force to confront St. Leger at Ft. Stanwix – using a captured loyalist and Iroquois allies to spread a rumor, he tricked St. Leger into believing he led a large American force – the trick worked so well, St. Leger left his tents, supplies, and cannon behind trying to escape • Because of St. Leger’s retreat and Howe’s failure to follow the plan, no one rendezvoused with Burgoyne Battles Along the Mohawk

7. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Chapter 7.1 – The Early Years of the War • By August of 1777, Burgoyne was almost out of supplies forcing him to send raiding parties out for supplies and horses • After a defeat at the Battle of Bennington, Burgoyne continued on to Albany – on the way, he met a powerful Continental Army force led by General Horatio Gates near Saratoga, New York • After a series of battles, Arnold led a charge against the British on October 7, galloping like a madman through the battlefield – terrified, the Hessian mercenaries pulled back forcing Burgoyne to retreat • Exhausted, Burgoyne’s troops marched back to camp at Saratoga – the Continental Army surrounded Burgoyne and fired on him day and night – Burgoyne decided he had no choice but to surrender Saratoga: A Turning Point

8. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Chapter 7.1 – The Early Years of the War • The Battles of Saratoga were the turning point of the war with two different consequences • Arnold met and married loyalist woman while he recovered from his wounds – angry over not being rewarded enough for his actions at Saratoga, he decided to betray the Americans • Europeans like the French began to think the Americans might win so they decided to help them Saratoga: A Turning Point

9. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Section 2 – The War Expands

10. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Chapter 7.2 – The War Expands • To defeat the British Empire America needed a foreign ally • In the fall of 1776, Congress sent Benjamin Franklin to France to persuade King Louis XVI to provide money, troops, and ships • Despite his popularity in France, Franklin could not persuade France to agree to a formal alliance until America proved it could win battles • After the victory at Saratoga, France formally recognized America’s independence • In 1778, France signed two treaties of alliance with the United States • France went to war against Britain • France sent money, troops, and ships to America • In 1779, France persuaded Spain , another of Britain’s rivals, to join the fight Help From Abroad

11. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Chapter 7.2 – The War Expands • The Spanish Governor of Louisiana General Bernardo de Gálvez quickly captured British strongholds at Natchez and Baton Rouge • From there, he captured Mobile and Pensacola in 1781 effectively preventing the British from attacking the U.S. from the Southwest • France and Spain joining the Americans forced The British to fighta number of enemies on land and sea and spreading their military resources over many fronts • Spread thin, the Britishwere unable to exploit the inexperience of the Americans and defeat them Help From Abroad

12. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Chapter 7.2 – The War Expands • As European military officers came to help the Americans, they brought with them some of the military experience the Americans needed • Wanting a military career and believing in the American cause, the Marquis de Lafayette, a 19 year-old French nobleman volunteered to serve in Washington’s army • He quickly gained Washington’s respect and was given command of an army division • He used his own money to buy his men warm clothes • He fought in many battles and convinced the French king to send 6,000 troops to America • He later took part in the French Revolution Europeans Help Washington

13. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Chapter 7.2 – The War Expands • Baron de Kalb was a German officer serving in the French army who fought in the Battle of Camden in 1780 where he received 11 wounds and died • Baron von Steuben turned the inexperienced Americans into skilled army • Washington asked him to train the army in basic combat skills • In 1778, he took 100 men and trained them to move in lines and to fight with bayonets • Once von Steuben’s company succeeded, other army units adopted his methods Europeans Help Washington

14. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Chapter 7.2 – The War Expands • In late 1777, General Howe forced Washington to retreat from Philadelphia • Beginning in the winter of 1777-1778 General Washington and his men camped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania • During the cold march to Valley Forge, many of his men had only blankets to cover themselves – many lacked shoes and left trails of blood on the frozen ground • Valley Forge came to symbolize the suffering and hardships Americans endured in the Revolutionary War • Over the winter soldiers grew weak from lack of food and warm clothing - roughly 25% of them died from malnutrition, exposure, and disease • Despite Washington’s repeated appeals to Congress for supplies, they were slow in responding • Despite the hardships, the men stayed together for their love of country and for Washington Winter at Valley Forge

15. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Chapter 7.2 – The War Expands • In 1777, 24 year-old George Rogers Clark got permission from Virginia governor Patrick Henry to defend the Western frontier – in what is now Indiana and Illinois– from the British • Rogers stated that “if a country is not worth protecting, it is not worth claiming” • In May of 1778, Clark and a small band of men started down the Ohio River recruiting close to 200 men along the way • Clark captured Kaskaskia without a fight and moved on to take Fort Sackville which was under Henry Hamilton • Clark and his men made their way through miles of icy swamps and surprised Hamilton • Clark captured several Native Americans allies of Hamilton who were wearing American scalps on their belts • He then executed them in full view of the fort and threatened to do the same to Hamilton if he didn’t surrender – the British gave up War on the Frontier

16. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Chapter 7.2 – The War Expands • By 1777, Britain had about 100 warships off the American coast allowing Britain to control the Atlantic trade routes • Patriotism and profit motivated privateers– Congress commissioned 1,000 privateers to prey on British ships • American privateers attacked British merchant ships and sold their cargo • The success of the privateers prompted British merchants to call for an end to the war • In 1780, 14 year-old James Forten – the son of a free African American sail maker – enlisted to sail on the Royal Louis – after his capture by the British in 1781 he refused a free trip to England and was imprisoned until after the war • After his release he walked barefoot from New York to his home in Philadelphia • He later became famous for his efforts to end slavery War at Sea

17. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Chapter 7.2 – The War Expands • Though outnumbered, the Continental navy won several victories against the British • In September 1779 John Paul Jones won the most famous sea battle • Jones and his crew aboard the Bonhomme Richard– along with four other ships – attacked two British warships guarding a number of supply ships • Jones attacked and rammed the larger Serapisgetting so close their cannon muzzles almost touched • With the two ships locked together, the British captain demanded Jones surrender to which Jones responded, “I have not yet begun to fight!” • After a vicious battle, the mast of Serapis snapped and fell – the British captain surrendered • The Bonhomme Richard was so full of holes it sank forcing Jones and his crew to take the Serapis • Jones’s success angered the British as much as it inspired Americans A Naval Hero British caricature of John Paul Jones Action between the Serapis and Bonhomme Richard