Chapter 6 The American Revolution Section 1: The Early Years
Vocab. Mercenary Recruit Transfer Previous
The Opposing Sides War was unavoidable British had early advantage Larger military Better training Strong Navy Not all Americans supported war
The Loyalists About 1 of every 5 colonists Opposed the war Carolina and Georgia most loyalist colonists New England least loyalist colonists
African Americans in the War Early, many sided with British loyalists Lord Dunmore Royal Governor of Virginia Promised freedom in return for fighting
Patriot Advantages Environment Patriots fighting on familiar ground Determination Fighting for freedom and own land British mercenaries only fighting for money Patriots must win situation Leadership George Washington
Raising an Army Each state recruited soldiers for the Continental Army Short terms 1 year Few experienced officers Women in the war Some disguised as men to fight for Patriots Many filled other important roles Molly Pitcher
Patriot Defeats and Victories Early battles involved few soldiers 1776: Britain sends 32,000 soldiers Hoped to win with numbers
Defeat on Long Island Battle of Long Island Outnumbered Continental Army suffers great loss Ran out of supplies Nathan Hale Teacher from Connecticut who spied on British Discovered and hanged I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country
A Low Point Winter 1776-1777 Patriots near collapse Number of soldiers fell George Washington Asked congress for more troops Wanted to allow free African Americans to enlist
African Americans Join the Fight Rhode Island Enlisted all African American regiment in 1778 Other states followed By end of war every state except South Carolina enlisted African Americans Estimated nearly 5,000 joined the Patriots
American Victories in New Jersey Washington catches British off-guard December 25, 1776 Lead 2,400 troops across a frozen Delaware River to Trenton, New Jersey Continued on to drive the British out of Princeton, losing only a few men
British Plan for Victory Saratoga Campaign: 1777 Plan to cut-off New England Planned to take Albany, New York Control the Hudson River
The British Capture Philadelphia September 1777 Howe s forces capture Philadelphia Continental Congress forced to flee Howe decides to spend winter in Philadelphia
Saratoga Campaign
Patriots slow the British Fort Stanwix, New York Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Leger lead attack Benedict Arnold holds off British forces General John Burgoyne (British) Captured Ticonderoga and slowly moved south Ran out of supplies Defeated by Green Mountain Boys and forced to retreat to Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga General Horatio Gates (American) Blocked Burgoyne s path south Burgoyne s troops isolated St. Leger s force stopped at Stanwix William Howe s force still in Philadelphia October 17, 1777 General Burgoyne surrenders Saratoga Campaign officially failed
Chapter 6 The American Revolution Section 2: The War Continues
Vocab Desert Inflation Aid Issue
Gaining Allies France February 1778 Openly announce support for U.S. Allied with U.S. and declared war on Britain Spain Did not officially recognize U.S. Independence Declared war on Britain 1779 Distracted British troops on American front
Winter at Valley Forge Camp Valley Forge Washington and troops set up for winter Lacked food, clothing and shelter Winter of terrible suffering Many soldiers deserted; officers resigned After winter Conditions improve New recruits join
Help From Overseas Marquis de Lafayette French Noble Became important officer under Washington Other Europeans Thaddeus Kosciusko and Casimir Pulaski Friedrich von Stauben Juan de Miralles
Money Problems Raising Money for the War Congress could not collect taxes Began printing more paper money; value of the bills dropped Inflation the price of goods slowly increased
Life on the Home Front War Affects Everyone Men away fighting Women Managed affairs at home Ran businesses
Changing Attitudes Women question their place Judith Sargeant Murray Argued for education of women Abigail Adams John Adams wife Stood up for women s interests
Hopes for Equality Idea of Slavery Questioned during war for independence New Jersey Governor Livingston Asked that slaves be freed Issue not settled for many years
Treatment of Loyalists Loyalists During the War Many fled from the colonies Some stayed and faced challenges Shunned by neighbors Victims of mob violence Arrested and tried as traitors Some even were executed
Chapter 6 The American Revolution Section 3: The War Moves West and South
Vocab Blockade Privateer Impact Sustain
War in the West Native American Concerns Native became involved to protect territory Involved in several important battles on western frontier Most natives sided with British
The British and the Natives Joseph Brant Led native attacks western states Henry Hamilton British commander nicknamed hair buyer Paid native Americans for American scalps
Victory at Vincennes Lieutenant Colonel George Rogers Clark Captured western British forts Kaskaskia (present day Illinois) Vincennes (present day Indiana) Vincennes strengthened American effort in west
Glory at Sea British Blockade Prevented supplies and reinforcements from reaching continental army Privateers Privately owned merchant ships with weapons Congress paid crews to fight British navy
John Paul Jones American Naval Officer Captain of the Bonhomme Richard Defeated the British Serapis before sinking Became American naval hero to patriots
Struggles in the South American Success Patriots win several early battles British concentrate efforts Battle of Charles Town (S.C) 1780 British capture thousands of prisoners Worst American Defeat in war General Charles Cornwallis Strong British commander in south
Guerrilla Warfare British suffer losses in south Surprise hit and run attacks Militias seemed to appear and disappear Francis Marion: The Swamp Fox Launched attacks from South Carolina swamps Force was quick and smart
Help from Spain Bernardo de Galvez: Louisiana Governor Loaned thousands to Americans Shipped supplies and ammunition to Raised an army of Spanish, Creole, Native, and African American soldiers Attacked British forts on southern Mississippi
Patriot Victories Kings Mountain North Carolina Patriots force British retreat Increased support from Southerners Nathanael Greene Took command of American forces in south Split his army and dealt Cornwallis heavy losses
British Retreat Cornwallis marches on Virginia Carried out raids across state Nearly captured Jefferson and the Legislature Yorktown General Cornwallis set up camp along Virginia coast Awaited further orders from Henry Clinton
Chapter 6 The American Revolution Section 4: The War is Won
Vocabulary Ratify Ambush Strategy Pursue
Victory at Yorktown Newport, RI French warships arrive in July 1780 British ships arrive soon after trapping the French at Newport Washington Waits north of New York for almost a year for second French fleet
Change in Plans Washington learns 2 nd French fleet is headed towards Chesapeake Bay Decides to attack British at Yorktown Rochambeau s troops join Washington's All troops know is they are marching south Marched 200 miles in 15 days
Siege of Yorktown Lafayette s troops meet Washington s and Rochambeau s in Yorktown British troops are not only confused, but outnumbered 14,000 to 8,000 Arrival of 2 nd French fleet keeps Cornwallis from retreating by sea British troops in NYC not aware of attack
Cornwallis s Defeat American s and French launch a tremendous attack on October 9, 1781 By October 14 many British soldiers are dead or wounded and supplies are running low Alexander Hamilton leads an attack that captures key British defenses October 19- Cornwallis surrenders 8,000 troops along with 200 guns are captured
Independence Yorktown defeat costly for British Treaty of Paris Great Britain recognized U.S. independence and promised to withdrawal troops U.S. agreed to allow British merchants to collect debts and return loyalists property In November 1783 British forces leave December 4 th 1783 Washington formally resigned
Why Americans Won American Advantages Fought at home Help from other nations MOST IMPORTANTLY: Revolution was a peoples movement Patriots had great determination and spirit
Influence of the American Revolution Liberty, Equality, and Rights of man Inspire French Revolution in Europe Ideas from American and French Revolution impact entire world Saint Domingue French colony in Caribbean Enslaved Africans took up arms and achieved independence from French rule