Bellwork: 12/18/12 Map Skills Turn to page 205 in your textbooks Based on this map, where did the Patriot victories in the Revolutionary War take place?

Bellwork Answers Trenton, Princeton, Saratoga, Vincennes, Kings Mountain, Yorktown, Natchez, Baton Rouge, Mobile, Pensacola

Essential Question How were the Patriots able to defeat the British in the American Revolution?

Quebec  Some Patriot leaders wanted to fight a defensive war, which would help the army’s supplies last longer  Others wanted to be more aggressive and take control of British-controlled Canada  General Benedict Arnold led his troops on a long march through present-day Maine towards Quebec. Early British Victories

 Their strategy was to wait for a snowstorm. o The snow storm would provide cover while the Patriots got close to the city’s defenses  During a blizzard, on 12/31/1775, they attacked Quebec  The Americans suffered a crushing defeat o General Montgomery was killed in the battle o More than half of the troops were captured, killed, or wounded

New York  Patriot General Washington and his troops were stationed in New York, in July 1776  British General Howe and his troops drove the Continental Army off of Long Island. o Washington’s troops retreated to Manhattan Island o The British force was much larger and better equipped than the Patriots o Many Patriots were captured, killed, or tried to flee the army. o The Patriot troops eventually were forced out of New York

British Victories The British started out with major victories in Canada and New York This was a major low point for the Patriots Thomas Paine’s “The Crisis” papers called for Americans to support their troops even in times of doubt. “These are the times that try men’s souls”

Patriot Victories Battle of Trenton General Howe, responsible for defeating Washington in New York, allowed his troops to settle in New York City for the winter. This costly delay allowed Washington to gather reinforcements. Washington retreated from New York in the fall, convinced he needed to adopt more innovative tactics. During the eighteenth century, armies usually retired to winter quarters and resumed their campaigns in the spring

Washington decided to attack mercenaries from Germany at Trenton, New Jersey. Attacked on Christmas night 1776 Washington and 2400 soldiers silently crossed the Delaware River 12/26, patriots marched to Trenton to fight the Battle of Trenton, which lasted less than an hour 900 captured mercenaries vs. 5 American casualties Boosted the Patriot’s spirits

Battle of Princeton Washington followed with another key victory The British wanted to respond to prevent Washington’s army from gaining more ground Washington left a few hundred men behind to keep their campfires burning for the British to see, thinking they were in for the night. The remaining army, around 4000 left camp under cover of darkness and circled behind British troops for a surprise attack and victory The Battle of Princeton was another important victory

Turning Point After losses at Trenton and Princeton, British wanted to strike back Three groups of British troops would meet at Albany, NY to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies. Some Patriot leaders even ordered their men to specifically target officers, which was against British rules of war.

Daniel Morgan led a group of elite sharpshooters, at The Battle of Saratoga Morgan’s riflemen used Guerilla Warfare to attack British troops Tim Murphy, one of Morgan’s snipers, is said to have killed both General Fraser, and Senior Officer Francis Clerke leaving a large number of soldiers leaderless The Patriot victory at Saratoga was a turning point in the war It again boosted morale and led to more foreign support

Foreign Allies France and Spain, enemies of Great Britain, unofficially aided the Patriots Victory at Saratoga convinced France that America could win the war France and Spain joined the war in 1778 and 1779 Marquis de Lafayette – wealthy Frenchmen Fought for the colonies Gave $200,000 towards the revolution Spanish helped on the Western frontier

Valley Forge Help of France and Spain came at a crucial time Continental Army was running low on supplies Washington settled his troops at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Shortages of food and clothing, coupled with harsh weather led to 1/5 of the soldiers dying from disease and malnutrition Baron Friedrich von Steuben from Prussia helped to reorganize and retrain the troops at the fort. Became more efficient and more disciplined soldiers

War in the West Small battles between colonists and Britain’s Indian allies occurred in the western frontier George Rogers Clark Traveled the frontier, gathering soldiers from small towns Took a difficult trek through the wilderness to capture British trading village of Kaskaskia Forces also won the Battle of Vincennes

War in the South Francis Marion – Patriot known for his unique fighting style in the South He used guerrilla warfare- swift, hit and run attacks Worked especially well in the swamps of the South His soldiers attacked British communications and supply lines Eluded capture by the British for months, earning the nickname “The Swamp Fox”

Benedict Arnold 1781 Patriots were low on money to pay soldiers and for supplies Benedict Arnold Skilled officer; turned traitor Debts and corruption charges led to the switch Took command of West Point and tried to surrender it to the British. His plans were discovered when a British Major was captured carrying papers revealing his plans

Siege of Yorktown General Washington met with French General Rochambeau in New York Their forces joined and traveled to Yorktown, Virginia Meanwhile a French fleet surrounded and trapped British General Charles Cornwallis, preventing escape Patriots captured the largest British army in America Patriots held Yorktown under siege for weeks, finally causing a British surrender

Treaty of Paris June 1781 a committee from the Continental Congress began peace negotiations with the British It took delegates two years to come to an agreement Treaty of Paris of Great Britain recognized the independent United States Also set up nation’s borders Great Lakes in the North Mississippi River to the West British accepted American rights to settle and trade west of the original 13 colonies