Unit 1, Lecture 3 The American Revolutionary War Mr. Smith 8 th grade U.S. History August 16 th /17 th & 20 th /21 st, 2012

Help From Abroad  France and Great Britain had a history of fighting  France lost the French and Indian War and lost its American colonies  1776 – France was giving secret aid to the Americans  Battle of Saratoga – Americans actually beat the British…seeing this Louis XVI came to our assistance  Spain joined in 1779, forcing Britain to fight multiple enemies on land and at sea

Europeans Help Washington  Marquis de Lafayette –19 year old French nobleman –Bought his ragtag group warm clothing with his own money  Baron de Kalb –German officer who formerly served in the French army  Baron von Steuben –Trained the Americans how to fight  Charging with bayonets

Winter at Valley Forge  Washington had to retreat from Philadelphia  Made it to southeastern part of Pennsylvania, Valley Forge  Winter was brutal –Troops lacked supplies to begin with –¼ died from malnutrition, exposure to cold, or diseases (typhoid fever)  While Congress was not able to provide the best support (supplies), private citizens picked up the slack  There were deserters (understandable with the conditions), but so many men loved Washington – they remained with him throughout this very difficult winter.

The Treaty of Paris  Ended the American Revolutionary War –Gained freedom from British rule –Established boundaries for our new nation –The U.S. can fish off the Atlantic coast –Debts would be paid by both Britain and the U.S. –Captured Americans would be returned –The seized property of Loyalists would be returned  Loyalists – colonist loyal to the King of Britain during the American Revolution  Neither side honored the terms of the treaty

Costs of the War  25,700 Americans died  1,400 Americans went missing  8,200 Americans were wounded  10,000 British died  America had war debts totaling $27 million  60,000 to 100,000 Loyalists left the U.S. –Went to Canada and Britain

Issues After the War  How will we govern our nation?  Will we allow our citizens freedom of religion?  Will we have slavery in our new nation?

The French Revolution  The French people heard about the American Revolution and began to question revolting against their King  America initially supports the French Revolution  The extreme violence causes them to change their (America) mind  The British came to Louis XVI’s aid because fear of revolution coming to Britain  1793 – George Washington says America will remain neutral

Remaining Neutral  Britain began seizing American ships  Two treaties to deal with this –Jay’s Treaty  Forced Britain to pay for damage to U.S. vessels –Pickney’s Treaty  #1 Americans could freely travel down Mississippi River  #2 American can store grains in New Orleans for free  #3 31 st parallel established southern boundary