6.2 Alliances/ Home front

Recap Battle of Saratoga• After losing many men, Burgoyne surrendered in Oct.

1777.• Victory at Saratoga boosted American spirits,

Europeans realized Americans had a chance at defeating British

• Franklin and Adams were in Paris in 1777 petitioning for French support for America

• News of Burgoyne's surrender was instrumental in formally bringing France into the war as an American ally

Adams and Franklin in France• Adams and Franklin vastly differed in their manner of

approach in negotiating an alliance with France. – Adams took a more urgent and direct approach. – Franklin was more nuanced in his approach to the

French. • “A good diplomat observes much, adds little and

speaks softly”• Why is it strange for America to ask for an alliance

with France?• Why would France be inclined to help the Patriots?• Eventually Franklin becomes sole diplomat as Adams

is reported to have regressed in diplomatic progress

Franklin in France

European Contributors

– Friedrich von Steuben (German military man),• Trained recruits at Valley

Forge– Bayonet usage

• Provided much needed combat skills as well as logistical and organizational input – Disease prevention

(keeping clean water away from waste)

Valley Forge• Von Steuben helped make the Continental Army

more effective during their stay at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-1778

• During this winter, they lacked food, clothing, shelter and medicine.

• Washington’s greatest challenge at this time was keeping his army together– Washington commented that no army had been through

such “uncommon hardships. Naked and starving as they were, we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery.”

Valley Forge 2

• Many soldiers became sick and died

• Others deserted• Army seemed to have

been falling apart– Lafayette and Von

Steuben helped reshape and improve Washington’s army

European Contributors• Marquis de Lafayette– (French-aid to Washington)– Helped organize troops– Helped secure French Alliance

European Contributors– Casimir Pulaski (Polish cavalry officer),

• Distinguished himself throughout the revolution, most notably when he saved the life of George Washington (Battle of Brandywine).

• Pulaski became a general in the Continental Army, created the Pulaski Cavalry Legion and reformed the American cavalry as a whole.

European Contributors• Thaddeus Ko’sciuszko (Polish engineer),

• Colonel in the Continental Army.

• An accomplished military architect, he also built state-of-the-art fortifications, perhaps most notably at West Point, New York. In 1783,

• In recognition of his services, the Continental Congress promoted him to brigadier general.

European Contributors– Juan de Miralles (aid from Spain).

• Helped convince Spain to aid the Patriots with money

• Helped convince Spain to declare war on Great Britain

Change 1: MoNeY$

• Paying for the war came through raising taxes• Money they didn’t have was simply printed

which hurt the economy very badly – Leads to inflation– Decreases value of the money

• Inflation: when it takes more and more money to buy the same amount of goods.

Change 2: New way of thinking• Idea of freedom spread to other areas of

thinking:• People began questioning:– Women’s rights• Ex: Abigail Adams wrote letters to her husband arguing

for women’s rights.

– Morality of slavery• Idea of freedom would eventually make some

Americans question the practice

– Treatment of Loyalists• Shunned and acts of violence committed against them

Day 1 Closing

• Pick one European contributor. Make an award highlighting this person’s achievements. Be prepared to give the award speech at the podium saying why this person is awesome.