1. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution
Section 1 – The Early Years of the War

2. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution
Chapter 7.1 – The Early Years of the War
Historians estimate that roughly percent of Americans were loyalists; and roughly percent were patriots – the rest were undecided
Most Americans did not support the Revolution: Loyalists were numerous in cities, New York State and in the South; Patriots were numerous in New England and Virginia
Native Americans and African Americans fought for both sides
Some Native Americans fought with the British because they were afraid Americans would take their land if they won the war
Enslaved African Americans were offered their freedom if they joined the British Army – about 5,000 others served in the Continental Army after restrictions on their enlistment were lifted
Americans Divided

3. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution
Chapter 7.1 – The Early Years of the War
In June 1775, George Washington, commander of the Continental Army, had serious problems
The militia were untrained and had only signed up for one year – when their time was up they went home; as a result, Washington never had more than 17,000 troops at a time
Poor supplies and a lack of equipment also frustrated Washington – his men needed shoes, blankets, food, muskets, and ammunition
Women like Martha Washington helped by cooking, nursing the sick, and fighting alongside the men
Mary Hays – nicknamed Molly Pitcher – carried water to tired soldiers during a battle
British thought the Americans were disorganized, inexperienced rebels and hoped a decisive battle would make them give up – Washington’s goal was to survive until he could build his army
Creating an Army

4. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution
Chapter 7.1 – The Early Years of the War
After Boston, Washington took his troops to New York to confront General Howe and the British army
Howe hoped to occupy coastal cities to help launch his campaigns – July of 1776, Howe arrived in New York along with 9,000 professional German mercenaries called the Hessians hired by King George III.
After months of struggling for control of New York State, Washington was forced to retreat through New Jersey – by December, 1776 the American army had crossed the Delaware into Pennsylvania and was in terrible shape
Thomas Paine urged them to keep fighting in his series of pamphlets the “American Crisis”
Late on December 25, 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware into New Jersey and marched to Trenton where they surprised the Hessians – 900 Hessians were killed and Washington captured much needed weapons and supplies – after another victory at Princeton, new recruits began to enlist
Struggle for Middle States

5. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution
Chapter 7.1 – The Early Years of the War
Britain’s strategy was to cut off New England from the other states by seizing the Hudson River Valley – the strategy called for three armies to meet in Albany, New York
General Burgoyne’s army marched south from Canada capturing Fort Ticonderoga – from there he moved slowly, allowing Washington time to block his path
Swampy terrain and delays on the way to Albany cost Burgoyne four weeks – to make matters worse, Howe wrote telling him he had decided to invade Pennsylvania to capture Washington and would not be able to meet him as planned
Britain’s Strategy

6. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution
Chapter 7.1 – The Early Years of the War
In the summer of 1777, British Colonel Barry St. Leger tried to capture Fort Stanwix in the Mohawk River Valley of New York
General Benedict Arnold led a small force to confront St. Leger at Ft. Stanwix – using a captured loyalist and Iroquois allies to spread a rumor, he tricked St. Leger into believing he led a large American force – the trick worked so well, St. Leger left his tents, supplies, and cannon behind trying to escape
Because of St. Leger’s retreat and Howe’s failure to follow the plan, no one rendezvoused with Burgoyne
Battles Along the Mohawk

7. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution
Chapter 7.1 – The Early Years of the War
By August of 1777, Burgoyne was almost out of supplies forcing him to send raiding parties out for supplies and horses
After a defeat at the Battle of Bennington, Burgoyne continued on to Albany – on the way, he met a powerful Continental Army force led by General Horatio Gates near Saratoga, New York
After a series of battles, Arnold led a charge against the British on October 7, galloping like a madman through the battlefield – terrified, the Hessian mercenaries pulled back forcing Burgoyne to retreat
Exhausted, Burgoyne’s troops marched back to camp at Saratoga – the Continental Army surrounded Burgoyne and fired on him day and night – Burgoyne decided he had no choice but to surrender
Saratoga: A Turning Point

8. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution
Chapter 7.1 – The Early Years of the War
The Battles of Saratoga were the turning point of the war with two different consequences
Arnold met and married loyalist woman while he recovered from his wounds – angry over not being rewarded enough for his actions at Saratoga, he decided to betray the Americans
Europeans like the French began to think the Americans might win so they decided to help them
Saratoga: A Turning Point

9. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution Section 2 – The War Expands

10. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution
Chapter 7.2 – The War Expands
To defeat the British Empire America needed a foreign ally
In the fall of 1776, Congress sent Benjamin Franklin to France to persuade King Louis XVI to provide money, troops, and ships
Despite his popularity in France, Franklin could not persuade France to agree to a formal alliance until America proved it could win battles
After the victory at Saratoga, France formally recognized America’s independence
In 1778, France signed two treaties of alliance with the United States
France went to war against Britain
France sent money, troops, and ships to America
In 1779, France persuaded Spain , another of Britain’s rivals, to join the fight
Help From Abroad

11. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution
Chapter 7.2 – The War Expands
The Spanish Governor of Louisiana General Bernardo de Gálvez quickly captured British strongholds at Natchez and Baton Rouge
From there, he captured Mobile and Pensacola in 1781 effectively preventing the British from attacking the U.S. from the Southwest
France and Spain joining the Americans forced The British to fight a number of enemies on land and sea and spreading their military resources over many fronts
Spread thin, the British were unable to exploit the inexperience of the Americans and defeat them
Help From Abroad

12. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution
Chapter 7.2 – The War Expands
As European military officers came to help the Americans, they brought with them some of the military experience the Americans needed
Wanting a military career and believing in the American cause, the Marquis de Lafayette, a 19 year-old French nobleman volunteered to serve in Washington’s army
He quickly gained Washington’s respect and was given command of an army division
He used his own money to buy his men warm clothes
He fought in many battles and convinced the French king to send 6,000 troops to America
He later took part in the French Revolution
Europeans Help Washington

13. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution
Chapter 7.2 – The War Expands
Baron de Kalb was a German officer serving in the French army who fought in the Battle of Camden in 1780 where he received 11 wounds and died
Baron von Steuben turned the inexperienced Americans into skilled army
Washington asked him to train the army in basic combat skills
In 1778, he took 100 men and trained them to move in lines and to fight with bayonets
Once von Steuben’s company succeeded, other army units adopted his methods
Europeans Help Washington

14. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution
Chapter 7.2 – The War Expands
In late 1777, General Howe forced Washington to retreat from Philadelphia
Beginning in the winter of General Washington and his men camped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
During the cold march to Valley Forge, many of his men had only blankets to cover themselves – many lacked shoes and left trails of blood on the frozen ground
Valley Forge came to symbolize the suffering and hardships Americans endured in the Revolutionary War
Over the winter soldiers grew weak from lack of food and warm clothing - roughly 25% of them died from malnutrition, exposure, and disease
Despite Washington’s repeated appeals to Congress for supplies, they were slow in responding
Despite the hardships, the men stayed together for their love of country and for Washington
Winter at Valley Forge

15. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution
Chapter 7.2 – The War Expands
In 1777, 24 year-old George Rogers Clark got permission from Virginia governor Patrick Henry to defend the Western frontier – in what is now Indiana and Illinois– from the British
Rogers stated that “if a country is not worth protecting, it is not worth claiming”
In May of 1778, Clark and a small band of men started down the Ohio River recruiting close to 200 men along the way
Clark captured Kaskaskia without a fight and moved on to take Fort Sackville which was under Henry Hamilton
Clark and his men made their way through miles of icy swamps and surprised Hamilton
Clark captured several Native Americans allies of Hamilton who were wearing American scalps on their belts
He then executed them in full view of the fort and threatened to do the same to Hamilton if he didn’t surrender – the British gave up
War on the Frontier

16. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution
Chapter 7.2 – The War Expands
By 1777, Britain had about 100 warships off the American coast allowing Britain to control the Atlantic trade routes
Patriotism and profit motivated privateers – Congress commissioned 1,000 privateers to prey on British ships
American privateers attacked British merchant ships and sold their cargo
The success of the privateers prompted British merchants to call for an end to the war
In 1780, 14 year-old James Forten – the son of a free African American sail maker – enlisted to sail on the Royal Louis – after his capture by the British in 1781 he refused a free trip to England and was imprisoned until after the war
After his release he walked barefoot from New York to his home in Philadelphia
He later became famous for his efforts to end slavery
War at Sea

17. Chapter 7 - The American Revolution
Chapter 7.2 – The War Expands
Though outnumbered, the Continental navy won several victories against the British
In September 1779 John Paul Jones won the most famous sea battle
Jones and his crew aboard the Bonhomme Richard – along with four other ships – attacked two British warships guarding a number of supply ships
Jones attacked and rammed the larger Serapis getting so close their cannon muzzles almost touched
With the two ships locked together, the British captain demanded Jones surrender to which Jones responded, “I have not yet begun to fight!”
After a vicious battle, the mast of Serapis snapped and fell – the British captain surrendered
The Bonhomme Richard was so full of holes it sank forcing Jones and his crew to take the Serapis
Jones’s success angered the British as much as it inspired Americans
A Naval Hero
British caricature of John Paul Jones
Action between the Serapis and Bonhomme Richard