A bit of background on THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

1. A bit of background on THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 1776-1783

2. The Early Years of the War The American desire to gain rights and liberties led them to fight for independence! Turn to page 195. • Where are the earliest battles? • What major city did the British win? BUT did you know that MOST Americans did not support the Revolution and did NOT want to fight???? • Patriots vs. Loyalists • Soldiers who don’t want to fight? WHAT?!

3. Continental Army • Commander GW • No more than 17,000 at 1 time • Women’s role: • Cooking, laundry, nursed the sick or wounded soldiers. • Some helped fight! • Struggles during fights for Middle States: WHY? • Movement: Who went by land? Sea?

4. BRITISH STRATEGY:The Hudson River • Map on page 197: Why would the Hudson be so important to the British? • Battles of Saratoga • the turning point of the war: It caused European nations to think that the Americans might win their war for Independence.

5. The War Expands • Some Europeans decided to help America. • As the war continued….it spread to the SEA & the FRONTIER. • Help from abroad!! • France wanted revenge! (Lost colonies) • Service even in armies • Persuasion of Spain • Supply help was crucial: Ex-Valley Forge

6. War on the Frontier: • Frontiersmen want to defend their areas • “If a country is not worth protecting, it is not worth claiming!” –George Rogers Clark [Turn to page 203] • Why was the sparsely settled frontier region around Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Vincennes important to both sides?

7. WAR AT SEA • Britain controlled the Atlantic trade routes: NO WAY the Americans could defeat the powerful British navy!! • Though outnumbered the Continental Army scored several victories against the British: • 3 ½ HOURS • Continental Army ship: Bonhomme Richard • British ship: Serapis • Inspired the Americans • Famous slogan: “I have not yet begun to fight!”

8. The Path to VICTORY • Seeking Loyalist support-the British invaded the South-but ultimately lost the war there! • British belief: Southerners were Loyalists: WAR MOVES TO THE SOUTH • Savannah & Charles Town • The Swamp Fox & Guerrilla Fighting

9. The Tide Turns! • Battles becoming more vicious: complete slaughter due to hard feelings from British torture of their people • American troops then pull back and allow the British to chase them all over the countryside (to wear them out) • As the war dragged on: British thinking: “Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.” • Last major battle of the war: YORKTOWN

10. Artillery of the Revolution • Large guns • Canons: Mostly made of cast bronze • Accuracy of 1,000 yards: 10 FOOTBALL FIELDS! • Why during this time do you believe it was important to have mobile artillery? Looking at the graphic display on page 208: How long do you estimate the entire process of loading & firing a cannon might take?

11. The Legacy of the War • After the war-the new nation faced issues such as high national debt & calls for equality. • Why the Americans won: • Endurance “through almost every possible suffering and discouragement for the space of 8 long years, was little short of a standing miracle.” –GW • Although they lacked training, experience, supplies, and weapons compared to the British they: • Had better leadership, foreign aid, knowledge of the land, & motivation!!!

12. Treaty of Paris of 1783 • The US was INDEPENDENT!! • Its boundaries would be the Miss. R. on the W, Canada on the N, & Spanish FL on the S • The US would receive the right to fish off Canada’s Atlantic Coast, near Newfoundland and Nova Scotia • Each side would repay debts owed to the other • The British would return any enslaved persons they had captured • Congress would recommend that the states return any property they had seized from Loyalists

13. PROJECT: Autobiographical Speech • Students will research the background of an individual, write a speech, gather all necessary props and materials, and perform their speech to the class. • Students are to become the person they are assigned for their speech. They must speak in first person point of view. • The speech must last a minimum of 3minutes. • The speech must be typed up and turned into drop box. • Students must give each classmate constructive feedback on website as well as answer 2 questions pertaining to the information presented. • Students are encouraged to use props, materials, and dress their parts. • Students are also encouraged to be creativeand have fun with this assignment!

14. Here are a few questions to keep in mind in researching as well as presenting your speech: • What is the name of your individual? • How old was your individual during the time of the American Revolution? • What role did your individual have during the Revolution? • What was your individual’s family life like? • What was your individual’s work life like? • What are some interestingfacts about your individual? RUBRIC

15. Where do I start my research?!?!?! • The Ultimate Resource • Famous History People • Educational Links • Books in the back from LMC • The Encyclopedia World Biographies in the LMC: Huge Index! (920 ENC)