Chapter 6The American Revolution

1776 – 1783

Section 1: The Early Years of the War

Main Idea: The British and Americans each had advantages and disadvantages as

they faced each other in war.

The Opposing Sides

British advantages:• Strong navy• Experienced, well-trained army• Wealthy• Larger population: 8 million in England and 2.5

million in United States

British disadvantages:• Faraway land• Soldiers & supplies had to be shipped from

England.

The Opposing Sides

American advantages:

• Familiar with the land• have a personal stake• George Washington was their leader.

American disadvantages:

• Lack regular army & navy• Lack military experience• Small supply of weapons & ammunition• Not everyone was for the war. Some were still

loyal to England. Many people were nuetral – taking neither side

African Americans Join the Fight

• George Washington asks Congress to enlist free African Americans– Whites did not want African Americans to have

access to weapons– Many people in the south feared a revolt by African

Americans.– It was banned for African Americans to fight in the

war. – By the end of the war, all states except South

Carolina had enlisted African Americans in the War– 5,000 joined as Patriot soldiers

British Plan for Victory

• The plan was to take control of Albany, New York then take control of the Hudson River. This would separate the New England colonies and the Middle colonies.

• However, before going to Albany, the British captured the American capital of Philadelphia

Battle of SaratogaOctober 17, 1777

• British General Burgoyne was in Saratoga, New York waiting for more British soldiers to arrive before attacking Albany.

• Americans arrived before the soldiers had arrived in the colonies. They had 3 times more soldiers than the British

• General Burgoyne surrenders to the Patriots.

• Americans win!• 5700 British soldiers gave up their

weapons to the Americans• After this terrible loss, General William

Howe resigns from the British army and General Henry Clinton becomes the new general in charge.

• Turning point of the war– French decide to join the war at this point

because it looks like the Patriots have a chance of winning.

Section 2The War Continues

Gaining Allies- The victory at Saratoga lifted the

spirits of many Americans and encouraged France to form an alliance with America in 1778.

- Then in 1779, Spain declared war on Great Britain and Spanish governor of Louisiana Bernardo de Galvez raised an army that forced British troops out of areas in Louisiana.

- While waiting for the French troops, George Washington set up camp at Valley Forge- Very cold winter, little clothing, shelter,

or food

Winter at Valley Forge• While the British were 20 miles east in

Philadelphia, the Americans were stuck in Valley Forge for the winter– Terrible suffering: no decent food, clothing, or

shelter, lack of blankets, shoes, shirts

Winter at Valley Forge (cont’d)

• George Washington’s biggest challenge: keeping the Continental Army motivated and together– Many men deserted – left without permission, the

army– Some officers resigned– The army was falling apart– 2500 men died of illness

– George Washington gave several speeches to the soldiers in hopes of keeping them motivated to stay in the army

Help from Overseas

• Marquis de Lafayette - French– Became an aide to George Washington– Helped train the soldiers and gave military

suggestions

• Friedrich von Steuben - German– Drilled Patriot troops– Taught military discipline

• Juan de Miralles – Spain– Urged Spain, Cuba, Mexico to send financial aid

Financial Problems

• Getting $ to finance the war was a major problem– Continental Congress had no power to raise

money through taxes– Congress printed millions of dollars worth of

paper money• Quickly lost its value because the amount of paper

bills grew faster than the supply of gold and silver backing them.

– Led to inflation – took more and more money to buy the same amount of goods

Women in the Revolution

• Margaret Corbin – went with her husband; were Patriots• Molly Pitcher – carried water pitchers out to the soldiers• Deborah Simpson – disguised herself as a boy; were Patriots

• The idea of freedom caused many women to question their place in society and many Americans if slavery was right or not.

Life on the Home Front

• Judith Sargeant Murray – argued women and men should receive as good of an education as men. Considered to be a radical idea, at the time.

• Abigail Adams – stood up for women’s rights and even questioned her own husband, John Adams, who was a member of the 2nd Continental Congress.

Help From Spain• Bernardo de Galvez

– Governor of Spanish territory in Jan 1777– At the time, Spain was neutral– However, Galvez lent the colonists thousands of

dollars and opened the Port of New Orleans to free trade for the colonists.

– Organized the shipping of tons of supplies and ammunition up the Mississippi River to those fighting in the Northwest

– Summer 1779 – Spain declares war on Great Britain• Galvez attacks British posts in the Spanish territory• March 1780 – captures the British capital of West Florida

(Pensacola)• Opened up supply lines for the colonists between Spain,

France, Cuba, and Mexico

Section 4: The War is WonVictory at Yorktown

• In 1780, George Washington camped north of New York City waiting to attack Henry Clinton’s army. He had to wait a year until he could attack because he was waiting on the French to arrive.

• Change in Plans – August 1781– Washington learned the French would be arriving in Virginia

instead of New York– He did not want Clinton to know he was not going to attack

so he had to sneak out of New York City– The French fleet, headed by General Rochambeau,

Washington’s men, and Lafayette’s troops would all meet at Yorktown and attack Cornwallis’s army.

Siege at Yorktown

• By the end of September 1781, the American and French armies had 14,000 troops trapping Cornwallis’s 7,500 British and Hession troops at Yorktown

• On October 9th, the Americans and French began to bombard Yorktown• British supplies began to run low, and many soldiers were wounded or sick.

It was a hopeless situation• On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered

Independence• The fighting did not end with Yorktown, but the British realized,

after the Patriot victory at Yorktown, that the war was too expensive to continue

• Both sides sent delegates to Paris to work out a peace treaty. – Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay were sent to represent

the United States– Treaty of Paris was ratified, or approved, on September 3, 1783

• Great Britain recognized the states as an independent nation• Now the new nation extended from Mississippi River to the Atlantic Ocean

and from Canada to Florida.

Washington’s Farewell• December 4th, 1783 – said farewell to his troops

and returned to his home in Mount Vernon

The Influence of the American Revolution

• In 1804, Saint Domingue (present-day Haiti), became the second nation in the Americas to receive independence from colonial rule.

• They were inspired by talk of freedom

• Enslaved Africans overtook Haiti