1. The American Revolution The Struggle for Liberty Chapter 4, Section 3 Pages 126 – 134

2. Building Background Many colonists struggled for the Patriot cause. Men, women, and children all made important contributions. They fought, kept farms and shops running, and provided food and supplies. In some of their efforts, winning the war was a great challenge.

3. Supporting the War Effort During the American Revolution, more than 230,000 soldiers served in the Continental Army. The typical soldier was young, often under the age of 16, and had little money or property. The army offered low pay, harsh conditions, and a big chance of becoming a casualty. So why did people fight for their independence?

4. Supporting the War Effort One of the biggest decisions for Washington was to allow African Americans to serve in the army or not. He initially banned African Americans from serving, but the British promised them their freedom if they fought on their side. Thousands of African Americans joined the Redcoats and in response, the Continental Army began allowing free African Americans to serve.

5. The Role of Women While men served as soldiers, many women ran farms and businesses. Others helped the army by raising money for supplies or making clothing. Women also served as messengers, nurses, and spies.

6. Defeats and Victories As the Revolution progressed, it became more deadly. At first the Continental Army suffered a number of defeats. In time, the Patriots’ patience began to pay off.

7. Defeats and Victories Canada Patriot forces lead by General Richard Montgomery captured Montreal in November 1775. The next major target was the city of Quebec. Benedict Arnold led his men north and arrived about the same time that Montreal fell to Montgomery. Arnold’s first attempt to take Quebec failed and he then waited to join forces with Montgomery. They attacked during a fierce blizzard and were defeated.

9. Defeats and Victories New York Washington moved his men to New York City expecting to encounter the British. A fleet of British ships arrived in June 1776. General Howe led the British and forced the Continental Army off Long Island. Howe led 32,000 well-trained soldiers, and was able to easily defeat Washington’s 23,000 men, most of whom were militia (volunteers).

10. Defeats and Victories New Jersey In November 1776, the Continental Army was on the run. Washington’s remaining 6.000 men were tired and discouraged. The one year contract for many of them was due to expire on December 31. Obviously, Washington was very concerned about his army falling apart.

11. Defeats and Victories New Jersey British General Howe had left New Jersey in the hands of the Hessians (German mercenaries). On December 7 Washington retreated across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. He was very afraid that the end would soon come without his army. He decided to take a chance and planned an attack on the Hessians.

12. Defeats and Victories New Jersey On Christmas night, 1776, with a winter storm in the area, Washington led his men and attack the German forces in Trenton, New Jersey. The Hessians, having celebrated the holiday the night before, were fast asleep when the Patriots sprang upon them. The Battle of Trenton was an important Patriot victory. American soldiers took more than 900 prisoners.

14. Defeats and Victories New Jersey British General Charles Cornwallis rushed to stop Washington as he marched toward Princeton. On the night of January 7, 1777, the Patriots left their campfires burning, then slipped into the darkness and surrounded the British forces. Washington attacked the next morning and defeated the Redcoats. The victories at Trenton and Princeton were critical in saving the Continental Army.

15. Defeats and Victories Saratoga The British planned a major campaign in order to counter the two Patriot victories. British General John Burgoyne planned to push through New York state and cut off New England from the rest of the colonies. General Howe, in New York City, was suppose to sail up the Hudson River and meet Burgoyne’s forces at Albany. Instead Howe left New York and sailed up the Chesapeake Bay and captured Philadelphia.

16. Defeats and Victories Saratoga Burgoyne’s forces met Patriot resistance along the way and did not progress as planned. As his men neared Saratoga, New York, Burgoyne found himself surrounded by the Patriots. On October 17 1777, Burgoyne was forced to surrender his army to Patriot General Horatio Gates.

17. Turning Point The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the American Revolution. It was the greatest victory for the Americans. It also encouraged other nations to help the American cause. Both the French and Spanish realized that the Americans had a real chance of defeating the British.

19. Help from Europe The victory at Saratoga gave the Patriots something that they had been desperately seeking – foreign help. Marquis de Lafayette – Inspired by the ideas of the revolution, Lafayette bought his own ship and arrived in America in 1777. He brought with him a group of well-trained soldiers and volunteered to serve in the Continental Army.

20. Help from Europe Baron Friedrich von Steuben – an experienced military officer from Prussia, came to America and helped in the training of the American forces. He turned the Continental Army into a finely tuned fighting force. Given the credit for “the most remarkable achievement in rapid military training in the history of the world.”

21. Help from Europe France – Benjamin Franklin ad gone to France in 1776 to ask for support from King Louis XVI. After the Battle of Saratoga, the king agreed to an alliance with the Patriots.

22. Help from Europe Bernardo de Gálvez – the governor of Spanish Louisiana. Became a key ally to the Patriots. Gálvez gathered and led a small army of Spanish soldiers, French Americans, colonists, and Native Americans. They made their way east from Louisiana, seizing British posts which including those in Mobile and Pensacola.

23. Winter at Valley Forge After the initial years of the war, the Continental Army was running very low on food and clothing. In December 1777, Washington settle his 12,000 men at Valley Forge, north of Philadelphia. Washington’s men lacked protections against the deep snow. In spite was Washington’s repeated requests for supplies, Congress did not fulfill his needs because the colonies were arguing as to who would pay for the materials.

24. Winter at Valley Forge During the horrible winter, some 2,000 soldiers died of disease and malnutrition. Many of the soldiers simply walked away refusing to continue the fight. Washington realized that he had to keep the army together in order to be successful. To this day, Washington’s greatest accomplishment during the American Revolution was to keep the Continental Army together and motivated.

26. War at Sea In the fall of 1775 the Continental Congress made plans to build four American warships. Soon afterward the Congress formally established the marines and the Continental Navy. By adapting merchant ships, the navy grew to a total of eight (8) fighting ships ready for combat by February 1776.

27. John Paul Jones The Continental Navy owed most of its success to John Paul Jones. Jones, once considered to be an outlaw, was born in Scotland and began working on ships at a young age. He came to America after he was involved with the killing of a leader of a mutiny on board a ship. When the war broke out, Jones volunteered his services to the newly created navy. He quickly established himself to be a brave and clever sailor.

28. John Paul Jones Jones captured many British supply ships – he was considered to be a pirate by the British. The French admired Jones and gave him the Bonhomme Richard, a bigger warship. On September 23, 1779, Jones engaged the British warship Serapis. Early in the battle, the British knocked out the heaviest artillery on the Bonhomme Richard. When the British commander asked for Jones’s surrender he replied, “I have not yet begun to fight.”

29. John Paul Jones The battle continued for another two hours. Finally, the Americans worn down the British, who finally surrendered. Jones took command of the Serapis, and watched as his ship sank.

31. War in the West The lands west of the Appalachian Mountains were controlled by Native American nations. Both the British and the Americans tried to enlist the various groups in their cause. George Rogers Clark volunteered to lead the western campaign. Determined to weaken British support systems, Clark targeted trading villages. Clark’s forces set out on a 120-mile overland trek to Kaskaskia (in modern day Illinois).

32. War in the West Clark’s men easily won the battle there and other Patriots captured Cahokia without a fight. In February 1779 Clark launched a surprise attack on Fort Sackville near the town of Vincennes. Despite the bad weather conditions, Clark was able to outwit the British and easily captured the fort. Clark’s success undermined British support in the West.