Early Years of the American Revolutionary War: A Critical Time

1. Chapter 6THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR1776-1783Section 2A Critical TimePages 179-184 LEQ: How were the early years of the war a critical time?

2. Key terms & PeopleWhat you will know Nathan Hale Mercenary Alliance Marquis de Lafayette Cavalry Horatio Gates Hessian Baron Friedrich von Steuben

3. What you will do • Analyze the important battles and places. • Examine why the Battle of Saratoga was the turning point in the American Revolution. • List the foreign nations and volunteers that helped the American fight for independence.

5. Background Knowledge • In the last section, you saw how the 13 colonies proclaimed their independence. This section • In this section, you will learn how American fortunes shifted back and forth on the battlefield in 1776 and 1777.

6. Retreat From New York In your HRT group, read Retreat from New York, including Attack and Retreat, and Nathan Hale. Page 179-180. • In the mid-1776, heavy fighting shifted from the New England colonies to where? • What happened in June of 1776? Who was the British commander? • How many soldiers did the British have waiting for Washington in New York? • How many soldiers did Washington have in New York? • Describe the Battle of Long Island. • What happened the following month? • Which American legend was given the task to collect information about British battle plans? • Describe what happened to this American legend. What were his last words?

7. The Crisis • Reading of The Crisis • reading

9. Surprises for the British Under relentless British pursuit, the Continental army kept retreating. • In December of 1776 • Washington and his troops cross the Delaware River into Pennsylvania • What happened? • British now threatened Philadelphia • Patriot spirits are low • Many American soldiers are deserting • Many soldiers went home after their service

10. Surprises for the British Thomas Paine traveled with the American army as they retreated • To raise morale he wrote… • The Crisis • To urge American support for the army in hard times • Washington reads this to his soldiers • To boost their morale • While preparing his troops for a bold attack

11. Surprises for the British

12. Checks on Learning • Who helped to inspire the troops and raise morale by writing The Crisis? • What is the name of the river that Washington and his troops cross by the cover of night? • What problems did Washington face due to the low spirits of his troops?

13. HRT groups In your HRT groups, read “Crossing the Delaware” and “An American Victory” and answer the following questions. • Describe what happened on Christmas Day of 1776. • Describe what happened on December 26, 1776. • What soldiers where in Trenton? What type of fighters were they? • How did Washington escape from Trenton undetected? • How did Washington attack Trenton?

14. Saratoga: A Turning Point To end the war, British general John Burgoyne came up with a plan to end the rebellion. • Goal • To cut New England off from the rest of the colonies • British plan • British forces to drive towards Albany, NY from three directions • From the north from Canada • From the west through the Mohawk Valley • From the south from New York

16. Problem with Burgoyne’s plan • King George III orders… • Howe and his troops to attack Philadelphia • Does not take Philadelphia • Howe and his troops suffer large casualties • American forces cut off the British troops from the west from the Mohawk Valley • Burgoyne’s plan is unsuccessful

17. Surprises for the British By early June of 1777… • Burgoyne and his men recapture • Fort Ticonderoga • Continue to move south towards • Saratoga, NY By September of 1777…Battle of Saratoga • Gen. Horatio Gates - American commander (NY) • 6,000 men ready to fight at Saratoga • Surrounds Burgoyne and his men • Burgoyne surrenders in October of 1777

18. Surprises for the British Results of the Battle of Saratoga • Major turning point in the war • Ended the British threat to New England • Lifted Patriot spirits • Helped convince Europeans that the Americans had a good chance of winning

19. Help from Overseas The French Alliance • February 1778 • France agrees to an alliance with United States • Formal agreement to support American independence • Monetary and Military support • France, Spain, and Netherlandsdeclare war on Britain in… • Europe • Caribbean • Britain is forced to wage war on many fronts • Fewer troops to fight in North America

20. Help from Overseas Europeans volunteer to serve with the American forces. Inspired by the American struggle for liberty • Marquis de Lafayette – France • High ranking officer in Washington’s army • Close friend to Washington • Thaddeus Kosciusko – Poland • engineer • Casmir Pulaski – Poland • Trained the cavalry or troops on horseback • Baron Von Steuben – Germany • Helped transform recruits into soldiers

21. Valley Forge • Valley Forge

22. Valley Forge When? • Winter of 1777-1778 Where? • Valley Forge, Pennsylvania • 22 miles away from Philadelphia Problem… • 11,000 Continental soldiers without sufficient • Socks, shoes, shelter, and food Outcome • Help from surrounding colonies • Soldiers grew stronger • Better trained and disciplined • By the spring of 1778, the army was ready to fight

23. Checks on Learning • Which British general developed a plan to end the colonial rebellion? Was the plan successful? • What was the goal of this British plan to end the rebellion? • Which fort was recaptured by the British in June 1777? • Which American general won the Battle of Saratoga? • What country signed a formal agreement of alliance with America?

24. Checks on Learning 6. What battle if considered the turning point of the Revolutionary War? • List the three countries that helped the American colonies in the American Revolution. • Describe the winter of 1777-1778. • Answer the LEQ. • Summary. In your own words, summarize what you learned in this section.

25. Valley Forge page 185 In your HRT groups, read Valley Forge by Maxwell Anderson • What is Teague's position or argument? Cite examples from the reading. • What is General Washington position or argument? Cite examples from the reading. • Who do you think is right? Give reasons from the passage that persuaded you.