1. Chapter 7 Section 1
Early Years of the War

2. Americans Divided

3. Americans Divided Colonists start choosing sides
20-30% are Loyalists-NYC and the South
40-45% are Patriots-New England and Virginia
Rest are neutral
British are able to persuade some Native Americans and African-Americans to join

4. George Washington and the Army
George Washington is the leader of the Continental Army.
Soldiers only have a one year enlistment and Continental Army never exceeds 17,000

5. Strategy George Washington has a strategy of survival Keep Army Small
Win Small Battles
Avoid large battles until army gets larger

6. War in the Middle States
Washington forced the British to retreat from Boston in 1776.
9k Hessian Mercenaries- soldiers hired to fight for another country
Washington is forced to retreat

7. Crossing Delaware Continental Army really needs a victory
Washington plans on crossing the Delaware to surprise the Hessians on Christmas Day

8. Battle of Trenton
Attacked Hessian troops who were sleeping on Christmas Day.
Killed or captured over 900 Hessians, and gained valuable supplies
Won at Trenton, and Princeton

9. British Strategy Britain’s Strategy- plan Seize Hudson River Valley
Burgoyne (Canada), Howe (NYC) and Leger (West) rendezvous-meet in Albany
Plan to end war quickly

10. Britain’s Strategy Unravels
Burgoyne is slow in getting to Albany
Instead of going North, Howe decided to capture Philadelphia
St. Leger is tricked by Benedict Arnold and retreats as well

11. Battles of Saratoga
Battles of Saratoga- series of battles that become the turning point of the war
Burgoyne loses and surrenders to Horatio Gates-Continental General

12. Importance of Saratoga
It prevented the British from dividing the states
Showed the Europeans that the Americans might win the war.
Spain and France decide to help U.S. in the war
Burgoyne surrenders and Arnold trades sides