The Early Years of the Revolutionary War: Divisions in America

1. Chapter 7: The Early Years of the War

2. Divisions in America • Opinion polls didn’t exist at the time, but we estimate the following • 30% Patriots • 30% Loyalist • 40 Neutral

3. Iroquois nations fight for the British Other indian nations help the colonists Native Americans

4. African Americans • Salem Poor- Was at Bunker Hill • Cited by 14 officers for bravery in the battle

5. African Americans fought on both sides • The British offered freedom to any slave that fought for them • 5,000 African Americans fought with Washington in the Continental Army

6. Creating an Army

7. Washington became commander of the Continental Army in June 1775 • Raising the Army was tough

8. Army units were made up from state militias • Untrained and undisciplined

9. Also, most of the men didn’t stay long • They only signed up for a year • Then they went home • Washington’s army never got bigger than 17,000

10. Supply problems will follow Washington through the entire war

11. A Woman’s Touch…

12. Women cooked, did laundry, and acted as nurses Mary Hays – called “Molly Pitcher” for carrying water to soldiers during a battle

13. Deborah Sampson – fought in several battles

14. Struggle for the Middle States • Washington surrounds the British at Boston in March 1776 • After they leave, Washington moves to New York • The British are trying to take over the coastal cities as bases to move troops • The highways of the day

15. General Howe arrives in July with a large army • 9,000 Hessians arrive a month later

16. The Invasion of New York • 32,000 British and Hessian troops land on Staten Island in August 1776 • This is the largest invasion from sea until D-Day in World War II • They attack the Continentals under Washington on Aug. 22

18. The Army was in BAD shape

19. Thomas Paine writes The American Crisis

20. “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman”

21. December 1776 • Washington needs a victory BADLY • On January 1, most of his army will go home • He’s desperate, which means he’s dangerous

22. Washington Crosses the Delaware

23. Christmas, 1776: The Battle of Trenton • The Continentals defeat the Hessians while they were sleeping off their Christmas “celebration” • Just like Bunker Hill, Trenton sends a message • The British have underestimated Washington • The Continental Army begins to get new recruits

26. The British strategy • 3 armies to take the Hudson River Valley • This will cut New England off from the rest of the colonies

27. Burgoyne, St. Leger, and Howe

29. Howe, Burgoyne, and St. Leger were all supposed to rendezvous (meet), but everybody was late • This helps us win the war!!

31. Burgoyne is late because of the route, and Americans delay him by chopping down trees along the road • Howe doesn’t show up at all. He goes into Pennsylvania after Washington • He defeats Washington at Brandywine but doesn’t capture him

33. St. Ledger doesn’t show up either because of…

34. Benedict Arnold

35. This is one of those moments in history when one little thing becomes something BIG

36. Arnold sends a Loyalist and a few Iroquois scouts to tell the British that they are outnumbered. • The Brits run so fast they leave all kinds of supplies behind. • Now Burgoyne is alone, and Washington is ready.

37. Chapter 7, continued

38. Let’s recap a little… • The Revolution divided the American population into Loyalists and Patriots • African Americans and Native Americans served on both sides • Washington and the Army struggle with supply problems while the British begin taking coastal cities to move troops • Washington wins a desperate victory at Trenton, Christmas 1776

39. Three British generals try to cut New England off from the other colonies, it doesn’t work out • Howe invaded Pennsylvania to chase Washington • St. Leger is turned back by a crazy Iroquois and Benedict Arnold • Burgoyne is alone in New York

40. Now we come to the Battle of Saratoga

41. For once, the British are running low on supplies, and Burgoyne moves towards Albany to resupply • The Continentals are waiting for him on built up earthen walls at a place called Bemis Heights • Led by General Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold

42. Day 1: Freeman’s Farm • Gates is a cautious kind of guy • Wants to keep his troops on Bemis Heights • Arnold is a more aggressive type • Wants to move forward and hit the British head on

44. September 19, 1777 • Arnold moves forward with his division only, and slugs it out with the British • Arnold leads from the front • The British hold their line with heavy losses

45. A few days go by with both sides staring each other down • Gates is in a great defensive position, with reinforcements coming in all the time • Burgoyne is running out of supplies, getting more and more outnumbered

46. Finally, on Oct. 7, Burgoyne acts • He tries to get around the American Army, but again Benedict Arnold leads his men and slams into the British

48. Benedict Arnold charges his horse into the battle like a madman • He gets wounded in the leg, and is taken from the battlefield

49. Burgoyne and his men are badly beaten to he retreats to an old camp near Saratoga • His men are exhausted, hungry, and soaking wet from the rain • The Americans surround the British in their camps, and Burgoyne is forced to surrender (wuss!)