The Early Years of the War

The Early Years of the War

Warm-Up (IN Page 138 TOP) General Washington & his troops in their winter camp at Valley Forge • Describe the weather and the men’s clothing & physical condition in the painting. • How might physical hardship affect a soldier’s loyalty & ability to fight?

Vocabulary (IN Page 139)

Set-Up Cornell Notes (IN Pages 140-141) Title: The Early Years of the War Essential Question: How well did the British & American war strategies work during the beginning of the war?

Americans Divided Patriots Loyalists Supported the King Large cities, New York & the South had lots of Loyalists Many worked for the British government or were clergy for the Church of England • ‘Merica!!! • New England & Virginia had lots of Patriots

Native Americans • Some fought with the British and others with the Patriots • Many feared they would lose their land if the British lost

African Americans • Slave owners initially feared their slaves would revolt if they were given guns to fight so they were not allowed to enlist • After the British offered freedom to any slave willing to fight, many ran away in hopes of gaining freedom • Once the British began using African American soldiers, the Continental Army enlisted 5,000 African Americans

Creating an Army • The Continental Army never numbered more than 17,000 men • Men were inexperienced & the army was short on supplies • Women followed their husbands into the battlefield and cooked, did laundry & nursed sick or wounded soldiers Deborah Sampson

Washington’s Strategy • While the British wanted a big win to force an American surrender, Washington wanted only to survive • Washington knew he couldn’t win a major battle yet so he just wanted to avoid a crushing defeat

Warm-Up (IN Page 138 BOTTOM) • Many Loyalists worked in which type of jobs? • Many Loyalists worked as… • Why did the Continental Army not enlist African Americans in the beginning? • The Continental Army did not enlist African Americans in the beginning because… • How many African Americans joined the Continental Army? • There were _______ African Americans in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. • How did women contribute to the war effort? • Women contributed to the war effort by…

Britain’s Strategy • The British Army wanted to take the Hudson River Valley to cut off New England to other states • Three armies would meet in Albany, New York • General John Burgoyne would lead a force south from Canada • Lt. Colonel Barry St. Leger would lead his army from Lake Ontario down the Mohawk Valley • General Howe was to follow the Hudson north from New York City

Britain’s Strategy • The three men and their armies never met in Albany, New York • General Howe tried to capture Washington in Pennsylvania (Battle of Brandywine) and later in Germantown • The British won both battles but failed to capture Washington

Battles Along the Mohawk • Benedict Arnold led an army up the Mohawk River hoping to chase the British away • He tricked the British into thinking they were outnumbered and they retreated leaving behind their camp

The Early Years of the War