1. Revolutionary War

2. #armyproblems Continental Army Many women helped
Made up of poorly trained, undisciplined volunteers
Congress was unable to supply the army
Lacked blankets, shoes, food, weapons
Many women helped
Cooked
Nursed sick & wounded
Disguised as men to fight
Managed husbands farms & Businesses

3. British Army
Many weren’t enthusiastic about the war, it was difficult to recruit soldiers
Britain had to hire mercenaries
They were called “Hessians” because many came from the German region of Hesse

4. Trenton
In the beginning of the war, Washington’s Continental Army forced the British to retreat from Boston
He then moved into to New York City; The British arrived with a large army
Washington was forced to retreat
Washington needed to encourage his weary men

5. On Christmas, 1776 Washington’s troops rowed across the icy Delaware River for a surprise attack at Trenton, New Jersey
The Americans captured or killed more than 900 Hessians
Victory proved the American army was capable; attracted new recruits

6. On Christmas, 1776 Washington’s troops rowed across the icy Delaware River for a surprise attack at Trenton, New Jersey

7. The Americans captured or killed more than 900 Hessians
Victory proved the American army was capable; attracted new recruits

8. Benjamin Franklin

9. Five Funny Franklin Facts
Franklin designed a musical instrument that was used by Mozart and Beethoven: the glass armonica.
One of his sons was a Loyalist.
He could speak 5 languages: English, French, Latin, Italian, & Spanish.
He was a fashion icon in France – at 70 years old!
He’s a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Bonus: Franklin was a serious ladies man.

10. Benjamin Franklin
Franklin was sent to Paris by Congress in the fall of 1776
His job was to persuade France to become an ally of the United States
France had been secretly aiding the Americans
They were still bitter about losing the French and Indian War
France did not want to openly declare allegiance until they were convinced Americans could win

11. Saratoga
British General John Burgoyne attempted to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies
He was stopped on a ridge near Saratoga, New York and was forced to retreat
The Continental Army surrounded Burgoyne’s army and fired on it day and night until they surrendered

12. The victory at Saratoga was a turning point
It showed that Americans could win the war for independence
Some of Great Britain’s European rivals decided to help

13. Help From Other Nations
After the American victory at Saratoga, France signed treaties of alliance with the Americans
France is now at war with Britain
Sent badly needed money, supplies, and troops
France persuaded Spain to join the fight
Another rival of Britain
Britain was now forced to spread military resources over many fronts

14. Valley Forge
In the winter of Washington’s army camped at Valley Forge after being forced to retreat from Philadelphia
Despite severe hardships, the army stayed together under Washington’s leadership
German officer Baron von Steuben trained the inexperienced soldiers
The army emerged from Valley Forge as a much stronger fighting force

15. Hardships at Valley Forge
Not enough food
Many local farms were Loyalist and refused to sell food to the army
Not enough warm clothing
Many got frostbite which required amputations
Diseases such as typhus and dysentery spread throughout the camp
About a quarter died from malnutrition and disease!

16. War in the South The British decided to move the war to the South
They believed most Southerners were Loyalists who would support their Army
The Americans suffered their worst defeat of the war at the Battle of Charles Town in South Carolina
They lost almost their entire Southern army

17. British general Lord Cornwallis discovered that there were actually more active Patriots than Loyalists in the South
His army suffered many setbacks after the Battle of Charles Town

18. FUN FACT! Benedict Arnold
- Arnold was an American general who secretly offered to turn over the fort at West Point to the British in exchange for money

19. - Before he could be convicted as a spy, Arnold escaped and fought for the British

20. Battle of Yorktown (1781)
British General Cornwallis believed Southern rebels were relying on Virginia for supplies
Cornwallis moved in and set up camp in Yorktown, Virginia

21. Battle of Yorktown (1781) Help!!
• A French naval fleet, under the leadership of Admiral de Grasse, blocked the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, preventing Cornwallis from receiving supplies from the British navy
Help!!

22. Battle of Yorktown (1781) Help!! I surrender!
• George Washington, along with 6,000 French troops led by General Rochambeau, marched to Yorktown from New York
• The U.S. and French troops cornered Cornwallis. He had no choice but to surrender
Help!!
I surrender!

23. Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, October 19, 1781, by which over 7,000 British and Hessians became prisoners.

24. The Treaty of Paris September 3 1783
- The British recognized the U.S. as an independent nation
- U.S. territory stretched from Canada to Florida and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River
- Britain returned Florida to Spain
- The U.S. promised to ask state legislatures to pay Loyalists for the property they lost in the war (However, most states paid the Loyalists nothing)

26. Legacy of the War Around 25,700 Americans died in the war
1,400 missing
8,200 wounded
British Military suffered 10,000 deaths
The war turned the colonies into states that would have to learn to cooperate with each other
The newly independent nation was now tasked with creating a government for itself . . .