Unit 3-Creation of a New Nation Lesson 16: Early Years of Revolutionary War

Review After the British government established new laws and taxes in the colonies, the colonists were unhappy. Americans responded with boycotts and protests, even attempting to come to peaceful agreements with the king. When the British troops and colonists began fighting, the Americans believed it was time to declare independence and become the United States of America.

British vs. Americans

Both sides believed the war for independence would be short, but for different reasons. The British believed they would crush the Americans because of experience, discipline, and numbers. The Americans thought the British would give up if they lost one or two major battles.

British Advantages

They had the strongest navy in the world. The British army was well trained and experienced. The empire had great wealth. Population for England was much larger than America’s – 8 million people in England compared to 2.5 million in the United States.

America’s Disadvantages

The colonists lacked a regular army and navy. Soldiers did not have military experience, and weapons and ammunition were in short supply. Most of the Patriots were volunteer soldiers who planned on fighting for a short time period and then returning home.

America’s Disadvantages One of the biggest disadvantages for the colonists was that not all Americans supported the war. Some people remained neutral, not choosing sides, including the Quakers who did not believe in armed conflict. Other Americans remained loyal to England.

Loyalists Loyalist, also known as Tories, opposed the war for independence and remained loyal to England. About 25% of Americans were Loyalists. Many times, people would change sides depending on which army was closer to their town. Most Loyalists were from the Carolinas and Georgia.

Loyal to King George III

Loyalists Being a member of the Anglican Church, which was led by the king, was one reason for remaining loyal. Others remained loyal because they relied on England for their jobs. Some colonists feared that challenging the government would lead to disorder in the colonies. Others just didn’t understand what the big deal was that led to the fighting.

Effects of Choosing Sides Relations for many Americans were challenged when it came to the idea of independence. Friends and families were often divided over the choice of being a Loyalist or Patriot. Benjamin Franklin’s son, William, was a loyalist and served as the royal governor of New Jersey.

Benjamin and William Franklin

Patriot Advantages The Patriots were fighting on their own land, while the British troops had to travel thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean. The British relied on mercenaries, or hired soldiers, from Germany who were fighting for money. The Patriots were fighting for freedom, giving them something more at stake to fight for.

Patriot Advantages Many believe the greatest advantage for the American’s was their leader, George Washington. Few men were able to match his courage, honesty, and determination. He also had experience of fighting with the British, knowing their strategies and methods.

George Washington

Raising the Army Americans valued liberty and personal freedom, and due to this, refused to give power to the Continental Congress. The American Revolution was like 13 separate wars because each state was focused on its own interests. Due this, there was difficulty enlisting soldiers and raising money to fight the war.

Raising the Army The militias were important to the war, but the United States needed a regular army that was well-trained and could fight anywhere in the colonies. Although the Congress created the Continental Army, they depended on the states to enlist soldiers.

Continental Army Initially, soldiers signed up for one year of military service, but George Washington said he needed commitment from them. Congress then offered enlistments for three years or the length of the war, but many soldiers still only signed up for one year.

Fight Moves to New York During the summer of 1776, 32,000 British troops arrived in New York. The British commander, General William Howe was hopeful that the Patriots would give up after seeing the size of the British forces.

General William Howe

Battle of Long Island Although they were greatly outnumbered, Washington and the Patriots wanted to fight. Being outnumbered and outmaneuvered, the Patriots suffered great losses at Long Island and were defeated. The Patriots showed bravery, but ran low on supplies for the army.

Battle of Long Island Following the loss, Washington’s troops retreated to Manhattan, but were pursued by the British. The Continental Army retreated across New Jersey and arrived in Pennsylvania by late November.

Winter of During the winter of 1776, many Patriot soldiers terms of service ran out and they returned home, while others ran away. Washington knew that the war would be lost without more American soldiers. He asked the Continental Congress to enlist more troops.

African Americans Join Washington asked Congress to allow free African Americans to enlist in the army. The Southern States persuaded Congress to not allow them to enlist. Southern whites were uncomfortable with giving weapons to African Americans, fearing it may lead to revolts by their African slaves.

African Americans Join As the need for soldiers grew, many states ignored the ban and allowed African Americans to enlist. By the end of the war, every state had enlisted African Americans to fight, with the exception of South Carolina. In 1778, Rhode Island raised and all- African American regiment.

African Americans Join Around 5,000 African Americans enlisted in the fight for independence. Many believed in the cause of the Patriots or needed money. Some of the enlistments were runaway slaves from the South who were trying to earn their freedom.

Trenton and Princeton During the winter of 1776, most of the British army returned to New York, but left some troops in New Jersey at Trenton and Princeton. In Europe, armies usually stopped fighting during the winter, so the British were not expecting a fight.

Trenton and Princeton Across the Delaware River from the British troops in New Jersey, George Washington saw a chance to surprise the British. On Christmas night of 1776, Washington went across the icy, cold river with about 2,400 soldiers.

Crossing the Delaware

Trenton and Princeton The next morning at about 8:00 a.m., the Americans surprised the British forces. The Patriot forces blocked the main streets into Trenton and defeated the Hessians, German mercenaries hired by the British.

Battle of Trenton

Trenton and Princeton British reinforcements, led by Lord Charles Cornwallis were sent to Trenton, but Washington quickly led his troops away. The Continental Army then marched to Princeton and pushed the British troops out. Many, including British soldiers, saw this as a huge victory and possible turning point of the war.

New Plan of Victory for British The British planned to capture Albany, New York, giving them control of the Hudson River and splitting the Middle Colonies from New England. They would sent three different groups of soldiers to Albany, all attacking from different directions.

Plan to Capture Albany General John Burgoyne would attack from Canada in the north with about 8,000 troops. Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Leger would come from Lake Ontario and attack the western part of Albany. General Howe would attack from the south after marching troops from New York City.

Plan to Capture Albany John Burgoyne Barry St. Leger

Plan to Capture Albany. All three British forces would meet in Albany and destroy the Patriots. Before marching to Albany, Howe wanted to capture Philadelphia. After winning two battles near Philadelphia, Howe took control of the city, forcing the Continental Congress to leave.

Plan to Capture Albany Washington and the Continental Army attacked Germantown, the main British camp, near Philadelphia. Although the Patriots were forced to retreat, it delayed the British troops long enough that General Howe postponed the march to Albany and stayed in Philadelphia for the winter.

Plan to Capture Albany Benedict Arnold, an American leader, and Patriot troops forced St. Leger’s troops to retreat back to Lake Ontario. Burgoyne’s troops captured Fort Ticonderoga, but his personal interests got in the way of completing the march to Albany.

Plan to Capture Albany Burgoyne enjoyed good food and elegant clothes, and traveled with 30 wagons of luxury goods. His troops were moved slowly through the forests because of the heavy load. Patriot forces blocked Burgoyne’s troops by cutting down trees to block the path to Albany.

Plan to Capture Albany Needing food and supplies, Burgoyne sent his troops, along with some Native Americans, to capture an American supply base in Vermont. The local militia, called the Green Mountain Boys, attacked and defeated these redcoats who were easy targets with their bright red uniforms. Needing supplies, Burgoyne retreated to Saratoga, New York.

Battle of Saratoga Burgoyne was expecting the other two forces of troops to be in Saratoga. American troops, led by General Horatio Gates, blocked the British troops from retreating South. The British troops were surrounded by an American army that was about three times the size of Burgoyne’s men.

Battle of Saratoga On October 7, 1777 Burgoyne made a desperate attack on the Patriot forces. On October 17, General Burgoyne finally surrendered and over 5,700 British soldiers surrendered their weapons to the Americans.

Burgoyne Surrenders

Change In Command General Howe’s plan to capture Albany and split New England from the Middle Colonies had failed. Howe resigned as commander of the British troops in America and was replaced by General Henry Clinton.

General Henry Clinton

Conclusion Americans faced many disadvantages in the Revolutionary War, including the ability to maintain an army. Just as the situation looked like the Americans were going to lose, George Washington surprise attacked the British forces. This led to new hope for the Patriots and, with the help of a failed British plan, some major victories, changing the course of the war.

Assignments Answer the four review questions for this lesson. Look at the picture of Washington crossing the Delaware River on slide 24. Why do think the artist may have portrayed this event to look like this? Explain. You will have a Unit 3 test after you complete Lesson 18