CHAPTER 7-1

The American Revolution

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

HOW WAS IT POSSIBLE THAT AMERICAN PATRIOTS GAINED THEIR INDEPENDENCE FROM THE POWERFUL BRITISH EMPIRE?

The Early Years of the War

Americans divided on the issueApprox 20-30% LoyalistsApprox 40-45% PatriotsThe rest were Neutral

Patriots Loyalists

“Shall a body of men in Great Britain who know nothing of us – invest themselves with a power to command our lives and properties...”

“They call me a brainless Tory ; but tell me, which is better – to be ruled by one tyrant 3000 miles away, or my 3000 tyrants not one mile away?”

Primary Sources

Preparing for War

AMERICAN George Washington –

commander of Continental Army

Enlist for only one year – then go home

Inability to supply army with blankets, food, guns

Women helped in the camps – cooked, nursed sick & wounded

BRITISHGeneral William

HoweExperienced armyBut some not want to

fight AmericansSigned up for life –

which discouraged enlistement

So hired mercenaries German hessians

WAR in MIDDLE STATES

(In Chapter 6) Washington forced British out of Boston March 1776

July 1776 British arrived in New York – British won Battle of Long Island August 1776

August to December continuous fighting – Washington forced to retreat and cross Delaware River into New Jersey

Before enlistment end Dec 31...Washington plan to row across Delaware River on 12/25/1776 – surprised British and won Battle of Trenton and Battle of Princeton

THESE TWO VICTORIES SHOWED THAT WASHINGTON AND AMERICAN ARMY COULD

WIN

IT ATTRACTED MORE NEW RECRUITS INTO AMERICAN

ARMY

Victory at Trenton & Princeton

BRITAIN’S NORTHERN STRATEGY

CONTROL THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY 1. General John Burgoyne – march down from Canada 2. Lt. Colonel Barry St. Leger – march down Mohawk

Valley 3. General Howe – march north along Hudson from NYC

BRITISH STRATEGY UNRAVELS1. General Burgoyne – waiting for Howe & Leger2. Lt.Col Leger – tricked into retreating3. General Howe – changes course and captures Philadelphia instead

GENERAL BURGOYNE DEFEATED BY GENERAL HORATIO GATES

A MAJOR TURNING POINT IN THE WAR

BRITISH WOULD NOT ISOLATE NEW ENGLAND

SHOWED EUROPEANS THAT AMERICA MIGHT WIN WAR

SOME EUROPEANS JOINED AMERICANS TO HELP

BATTLE of SARATOGA