Struggling toward Saratoga Chapter 4, Section 3

1. Strugglingtoward SaratogaChapter 4, Section 3

2. TIMELINE August, 1776: Battle of Long Island September, 1776: British capture New York December 26, 1776: Battle of Trenton October 17, 1777: Battle of Saratoga Winter 1777-78: Continental Army camps at Valley Forge

3. WAR STRATEGIES • What are the strategies for winning the war on each side? • British? • Use British Navy to control major ports & supply routes (rivers, bays, etc.) • Use Navy to rapidly move troops, supplies between North & South • Draw colonials into large-scale battles • Use superior experience & training to defeat colonials • USE MILITARY TO SPLIT, DIVIDE & ISOLATE NORTHERN & SOUTHERN COLONIES

4. Americans? • Use knowledge of terrain / environment to control countryside • Use support / sympathy of population for information, supply, etc. • Use variety of tactics (guerrilla war, small-scale battles, etc.) to buy time to… • Build a Continental Army that has been adequately… • -Supplied • -Trained • -Experienced • -Expanded in size (they need soldiers) • Use Colonial militias to fight when it is advantageous to do so

5. THE MATCHUP • How does either side match-up against the other? • Americans? • Strengths? • Familiarity w/terrain • REASONABLY Good Leadership from officers • Cause: Independence • Weaknesses? • Lack of experience & training • NO REAL NAVY - Lack of naval support • Shortage of supplies / equipment • No real gov’t. to rely on for $, support

6. THE MATCHUP • The British? • Strengths? • Strong, professional military (Army & Navy) • Strong, powerful gov’t. for support • Loyalist support • Native American support (ex. Mohawk Nation) • Weaknesses? • Distance from Britain to America (time & distance for troops & supplies) • Lack of knowledge of terrain • Inconsistent military leadership

7. Battle of New York • Fort Ticonderoga • British Army moves to the middle states • Why? • 32,000 soldiers + mercenaries sail into the New York Harbor • Gen. Howe wanted humiliation and surrender • Could offer amnesty • Continental Army had 23,000 men • LOST and had to retreat August 27th, 1776

9. http://www.americanrevolution.com/AmRevMap3.jpg

10. The contribution and sacrifice of the Maryland Line at the Battle of Long Island during the American Revolution On August 27, 1776, some four hundred Maryland troops led a rear-guard action to check the British advance and protect the retreat of Washington's greatly outnumbered army. The Marylanders launched six counter attacks at the Cortelyou House. During the last attack, Cornwallis' troops were reinforced and the Marylanders were swept back to the Gowanus Canal. After the battle, 256 Marylanders were buried in a mass grave that is located a few blocks from the park. It is for this heroic action that Maryland became known as the Old Line State. “Good God, what brave fellows I must this day lose.” –George Washington. http://www.sos.state.md.us/MMMC/vt3-md400.html ONLY 9 men, including the leader of the MD forces, Mordecai Gist, survived.

11. Primary Documents of the Battle of Long Island Letters of Sergeant Sands Toll of the Battle

12. ….By late fall Washington has been pushed across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. • He had ONLY 8,000 troops left! • HE STARTED WITH 23,000!

13. The American Crisis • Thomas Paine • Appealed to soldier’s patriotism, asked them to keep fighting. “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and women.”

14. The tide is turning for the Patriots! Trenton and Princeton The Continental army needed a win ASAP!! Why?? Trenton: Christmas 1776 - -Washington makes a strike Travels across the Delaware in rowboats!  Captures over 1,000 Hessians! No American KIA 6 days later he wins at Princeton How?? Another sneak attack Looking back on it, what mistake did Howe make after Washington fled NY??

15. Trenton and Princeton Washington begins to win: Uses ruses and surprise attacks/Guerilla tactics Trenton – captures 1000+ Hessians on Dec. 26,1776 Princeton – Defeat British forces near Princeton THIS IS THE TURNING OF THE TIDE FOR THE PATRIOTS NOTE: NJ campaign is to protect Philadelphia, site of the Continental Congress. Howe makes strategic blunder of not destroying Washington’s forces after NY and dividing his forces to capture RI.

16. Battle of Trenton, Christmas 1776 http://www.britishbattles.com/images/trenton/trenton-map-l.jpg

17. Philadelphia Falls • General Howe wanted to take Philadelphia • He forced out Washington’s troops and Congress was also forced to flee • More continental losses: • Brandywine • Germantown • The British enjoy the winter in Philly!

18. MAJOR BATTLES,1776 - 1777 • BATTLE DATE RESULT • Long Island Aug., 1776 Brits. win; Americans evacuate NY • Trenton Dec., 26, 1776 Amer. win • Princeton Jan., 1777 Amer. win • Brandywine Aug., 1777 Brits. win • Germantown Sept., 1777 Brits. Win • Philadelphia Aug./Sept., 1777 Captured by Brits • Saratoga* Oct., 17, 1777 Amer. win

19. SARATOGA • 1777: British appear to be winning the war: • Brits. in control of New York • Brits. win battles near Philadelphia • Continental Army in desperate need of men, supplies • Continental Congress w/out a capital or enough $ • British plan to end the war: • Simple theory: Divide New England colonies from Middle & Southern colonies, then conquer them. • How? • Use two-pronged attack to cut NE from NY • Gen. Burgoyne & Brit. Army in Canada would advance south to Hudson River. • Gen. Howe would advance from New York & meet Burgoyne’s army • Result? Colonies would be divided ; revolution would end

20. BATTLE OF SARATOGA Benedict Arnold vs. Burgoyne KEY IDEA: Control the water, Control the land BRITISH OBJECTIVE:Divide the colonies How?? REBEL STRATEGY: Delay the British link-up, using winter as an ally. TURNING POINT: British defeat at Saratoga RESULT: Delay the British and brings France in on side of the Americans!! NOTE: Benedict Arnold latter betrays the cause, jealous and petulant

21. France gives: Gunpowder Munitions ***(90% of American gunpowder in first 2+ years comes from France!!) France gets: Ally in the New World A weakened Britain, Protection for her sugar colonies in the West Indies Possibly New France back as well Americans get: A wider war: France, Spain, Holland fighting in North America, South America, Asia, Caribbean, and on the high seas. Most of its supplies, training, and naval support Franco- American Alliance

22. Winter at Valley Forge • Winter 1777-1778 • Terrible winter with few supplies. • LOW POINT FOR THE AMERICANS. • Troops that remain are committed and trained by Baron von Steuben.  • Inadequate: • Food • Supplies • Firewood • shelter

23. Washington’s description of Valley Forge • “It may be said that no history can furnish an instance of an Army’s suffering uncommon hardships as ours has done. To see men without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lay on, without shoes, by which their marches might be traced by the blood from their feet, and almost as often without provision as with. Marching through frost and snow, and at Christmas taking up their winter quarters within a day’s march of the enemy, without a hut to cover them until they could be built and submitting to it without a murmur, is a mark of patience and obedience which in my opinion can scarcely be paralleled.” • General George Washington

24. What role did women and slaves play in the war? • How was the war beneficial to them?

25. Terms • Trenton • Saratoga • Valley Forge • Inflation • Profiteering