110 likes | 197 Views
Early Years. American Revolution. Issue for early United States: Separating from Great Britain Patriots: people who wanted to separate from Great Britain Loyalists: wanted to stay under British rule. African American Involvement . Fought on both sides
E N D
Early Years American Revolution
Issue for early United States: Separating from Great Britain • Patriots: people who wanted to separate from Great Britain • Loyalists: wanted to stay under British rule
African American Involvement • Fought on both sides • British government offered African Americans freedom if they enlisted • Many slaves joined the British • Approximately 5,000 African American soldiers served in the Continental Army
Early Years of the War • Since there were Loyalists and Patriots, creating an army was difficult • June 1775 George Washington became commander of the Continental Army • Soldiers were untrained and undisciplined • Each soldier served a 1 year term
Supply Problems: soldiers needed blankets, food, guns, and ammunition • Women’s Involvement: • Followed husbands to army camps • Cooked, did laundry, nursed the sick & wounded • A few also fought • British view Americans as disorganized and inexperienced.
Washington’s goal was to survive, keep a standing army, and avoid defeat • 1776 Washington forced the British to retreat from Boston • Washington moved to New York City • Knew the British would work to occupy coastal cities and cut off shipping
July 1776 Boston General William Howe arrived in New York. • By August, reinforcements arrived in New York with 9,000 Hessian (German) mercenaries. • Mercenary: professional soldier hired to fight for a foreign country.
Washington had to retreat. • December, Continental Army crossed the Delaware River to Pennsylvania. • Supplies very low.
December 25, 1776 Washington’s troops rowed across the Delaware River to Trenton, New Jersey. • Goal: To ambush the Hessians • Hessians were sleeping after their Christmas celebration • Washington was victorious