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The American Revolution. The War Continues p. 172 - 176. Gaining Allies. The victory at Saratoga boosted American spirits and marked a turning point in the war. European nations, especially France , realized that the U.S. might actually win its war against Great Britain.
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The American Revolution The War Continues p. 172 - 176
Gaining Allies • The victory at Saratoga boosted American spirits and marked a turning point in the war. • European nations, especially France, realized that the U.S. might actually win its war against Great Britain. • Benjamin Franklin had been in Paris for a year, trying to get the French to support the Americans’ fight for independence. France secretly gave America money, but would not commit to an alliance.
France & Spain • Victory at Saratoga made France realize the Americans had a chance at defeating Britain. • The French announced support for the U.S. • February 1778, the French and Americans worked out a trade agreement and an alliance. • France sent money, equipment, and troops to aide the American Patriots. • France declared war on Great Britain. • Spain declared war on Britain in 1779.
Winter at Valley Forge • British general Howe spent the winter in comfort in Philadelphia. • Washington set up camp at Valley Forge. • Washington endured a winter of terrible suffering, lacking decent food, clothing and shelter. • Washington's greatest challenge at Valley Forge was keeping the army together. • Most men lacked blankets, shoes, and shirts. Some made shoes from scrap cowhide.
Winter at Valley Forge • Men deserted, or left without permission, while at Valley Forge; some resigned. • Somehow the army survived the winter and conditions gradually improved. • Troops built huts and gathered supplies. • Martha Washington made clothes for the troops and cared for the sick. • In April 1778, the troops learned of the alliance with France. • This raised the spirits of the troops.
Help From Overseas • A French nobleman, Marquis de Lafayette, spent the winter at Valley Forge. • Lafayette was excited to join the Patriot cause and offered his services to General Washington. • He became a trusted aide to Washington. • Thaddeus Kosciusko and Casimir Pulaski from Poland helped the Patriot cause. • Friedrich von Steuben, a former army officer from Germany, also came to help Washington.
Help From Overseas • Von Steuben turned the ragged Continental Army into a more effective fighting force by drilling and teaching the army discipline. • Juan de Miralles, a representative of Spain, urged Spain, Cuba, and Mexico to send financial aid to the colonies. Miralles lent money to the Patriot cause.
Money Problems • Raising money to finance the war was a major problem because the Continental Congress had no power to raise money through taxes. • To pay for the war, the Congress and the states printed hundreds of millions of dollars worth of paper money. • These bills quickly lost their value because the amount of bills in circulation grew faster than the supply of gold and sliver backing them.
Money Problems • This led to inflation, which means it took more money to buy the same amount of goods. • Congress stopped issuing the paper money because no one would use it. • The Americans had no other way to finance the fighting of their war for independence.
Life on the Home Front • With thousands of men away in military service, women took over the duties that had once been the responsibility of their husbands or fathers. • Other women ran their husbands’ or their own businesses.
Changing Attitudes • The ideals of liberty and freedom that inspired the American Revolution caused some women to question their place in society. • Judith Sargeant Murray argued women’s minds are as good as men’s. • Girls should get as good an education as boys. (At this time girls received little schooling.) • Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, also championed women’s interests.
Treatment of Loyalists • Thousands of Loyalists fought with the British against the Patriots. • Some spied on Patriots. • Many Loyalists left American during the Revolutionary War. • Loyalists who stayed were often shunned or victims of mob violence. • Active Loyalists could be arrested and tried as traitors.
Hopes for Equality • Many white Americans began questioning the act of slavery. • Some religious groups voted to condemn slavery. • From the beginning of the war African American soldiers fought for the American cause. • Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania attempted to end slavery in their stated but eh issue of slavery would remain unsettled for many years.
