American Revolution

BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND 1776. The passage of British troops from Staten Island to Gravesend Bay, Aug. 22, 1776 BATTLE OF TRENTON, 1776. General George Washington leading the early morning attack on Trenton, New Jersey, Dec. 26, 1776: American Revolution Chapter 8 Section 2 Pages 224 - 230 Mr. Clark

Recap • Copies of the Declaration of Independence were printed on July 4, 1776 and distributed to the colonists. People’s opinions were divided on the issue of the Declaration. • Some people were Patriots, people who supported independence. • Others were Loyalists, people that remained loyal to Britain. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE John Nixon announces the Declaration of Independence at the State House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 8 July 1776. Thomas Jefferson leans against the right pillar of the door with Benjamin Franklin to his left.

War in the North • In the fall of 1775, the Continental Army moved into Canada hoping to win support from the French Canadians. • Richard Montgomery’s forces captured Montreal. Richard Montgomery Continental Forces in Canada

War in the North – cont. • Meanwhile, Benedict Arnold and his troops were unsuccessful in their attack on Quebec. Death of General Montgomery during the attack on Quebec Benedict Arnold

Dorchester Heights • On March 4, 1776 Washington placed the cannons from Fort Ticonderoga on Dorchester Heights and aimed them at the city of Boston. • General Howe and the British retreat to Halifax, Canada. Dorchester Heights Cannon at Fort Ticonderoga

New York Campaign • On the morning of June 29, 1776, a British fleet of ships anchored offshore in New York Harbor. General Howe and his redcoats arrived in force. This was the start of a new stage in the war against Britain. British ships in New York Harbor General Howe

Campaign in New York • The British had 34,000 troops and sailors 10,000. • General George Washington expecting Howe’s attack had about 20,000 poorly trained troops. He also had no navy. • Washington sent some troops to Long Island and others to Manhattan.

The Battle of Long Island • In August 27, 1776 George Washington battled the British troops in The Battle of Long Island. • The largest battle of the entire conflict. • In this battle more than 1,400 Americans were killed, wounded, or captured. Continental artillery retreat from Long Island, New York, August 1776.

Troops retreated to Manhattan • The battle and its immediate aftermath were marked by the capture of New York City (which Britain held for the entire war). The burning of New York City during the night of September 19, 1776, after the British occupation

Washington’s Retreat • Through out the month of August, Washington’s troops fought Howe’s troops in a number of battles. • Washington crossed Hudson River in November, stopping in New Jersey • The Americans then retreated across the Delaware River to Pennsylvania.

The Price of Being a Spy • During the New York campaign, Washington sent Nathan Hale on a mission to spy on the British. • For a week he gathered information on the position of British troops, but was captured while returning to the American side. • Howe ordered young Hale to be hanged the following day. That's when Hale, who gave his life for his country, said those famous words. • "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." The hanging of Nathan Hale (1755-1776) as a spy by the British in New York City, 22 September 1776.

The Battle of Trenton • Months of fighting took a toll on the Continental Army. • By December 1776, Washington described his troops as sick, dirty and poorly equipped. • As a last resort, General Washington tried a surprise attack on Trenton, New Jersey.

Battle of Trenton was a resounding physical and moral victory for Washington and his American troops. • On Christmas night he sailed his troops across the icy Delaware River. The troops were frozen from the cold water and snow. • Early on December 26, the Americans attacked the troops guarding Trenton. This battle became known as The Battle of Trenton.

TRENTON: SURRENDER, 1776. Colonel Rall presenting his sword to General Washington during the surrender of Hessian forces to the Continental Army at the Battle of Trenton, 27 December 1776.

Battle of Princeton • British General CharlesCornwallis set out to retake Trenton and capture Washington, on January 2, 1777, he spotted Washington’s campfires. • Washington fooled Cornwallis by leaving the fires burning and slipping behind the British lines to attack Boston. • The victory at Princeton, New Jersey, gave new hope to the Continental Army. Charles Cornwallis General George Washington at the Battle of Princeton, New Jersey, 3 January 1777.

A New British Strategy • In London, British officials were dismayed with the news that the British have not crushed the rebel American soldiers. • General John Burgoyne had a plan. His plan was to cut off New England from the other colonies and win the war. General John Burgoyne

Burgoyne • Howe • St. Ledger

Burgoyne’s Plan in Action • On July 1777, British General Howe sailed from New York to Chesapeake Bay. • Despite Washington’s effort to stop him, he captured Philadelphia. Washington and his troops retreated to Valley Forge for the winter where he set up a makeshift camp. • Howe instead of following Burgoyne’s plan retired to Philadelphia for the winter.

British tried to capture Fort Stanwix • In Albany, Benedict Arnold drove back Colonel Leger with a strong American Army.

Only Burgoyne is left • General John Burgoyne and his troops took Fort Ticonderoga. He then sent troops to find food and horses in Vermont. British General John Burgoyne commanding his Indian allies, before their successful attack on Fort Ticonderoga in July 1777,

Saratoga • The Green Mountain boys hurried to New York to help the American forces. • At the village of Saratoga, the Americans surrounded the British.

The British were forced to surrender on October 17, 1777. • Realizing he was trapped Burgoyne surrendered his entire army to the Americans on October 17, 1777.

A Powerful Ally • The American victory at the Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the war. • Most important, it convinced France to become an ally of the United States. MAJOR GENERAL B. ARNOLD wounded in the attack on the Hessian redoubt at the Second Battle of Saratoga, Oct. 7, 1777 Allies – work together to achieve a common goal

In 1776, the Continental Congress had sent Benjamin Franklin to Paris. • His job was to persuade the French king, Louis XVI to help the Americans with weapons and badly needed supplies. • The French were still angry about their defeat by the British in the French and Indian War. • In February 1778, France became the first nation to sign a treaty with the United States. In it Louis XVI recognized the new nation and agreed to provide military aid.

Valley Forge • During the long, cold winter of 1777-1778, the Continental Army suffered many hardships at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. • The American soldiers had little or no warm clothing. Many had no shoes. • As the winter dragged on, many soldiers suffered from disease and frostbite.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Washington's prayer at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777.

Help from Europe • Europeans who helped the colonists included Baron Friedrich von Steuben, who helped train troops at Valley Forge, and Marquis de Lafayette, who fought with Washington in Pennsylvania.

Training at Valley Forge

Help from Europe – cont. • Three other Europeans who contributed to the American cause were Thaddeus Kosciuszko and Casimir Pulaski from Poland, and Bernardo de Galvez from Spanish Louisiana. Thaddeus Kosciuszko Bernardo de Galvez Casimir Pulaski

War in the West • In 1778, George Rogers Clark of Virginia led volunteers on a raid that weakened British influence in the Ohio Valley. Clark accepting Hamilton's surrender at Fort Vincennes George Rogers Clark

American Navy • The Continental Navy was established in 1775, but colonists relied on privateers to protect their ports.

Battle at Sea • On September 1779, John Paul Jones commanded the Bonhomme Richard. He was sailing in the North Sea when he spotted 39 enemy merchant ships. A single war ship, the Serapis, guarded them. • Jones attacked the Serapis even though the ship was much larger than his ship.

John Paul Jones • Cannon balls ripped the Bonhomme Richard apart but Jones did not surrender. Instead he shouted, “I have not yet begun to fight!” Jones sailed his ship next to the British ship. The Americans boarded the British ship and battled in hand-to-hand combat. Jones and his men defeated the British ship. Jones became known as the “Father of the American Navy.”

American Revolution