Chapter 7

The American Revolution

On July 9, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read for the first time in New York in front of George Washington and his troops. In reaction to what had been read, soldiers and citizens went to Bowling Green, a park in Manhattan, where a lead statue of King George III on horseback stood. The mob of people pulled down the statue, and later the lead was melted down to make musket balls, or bullets for use in the war for independence. Careful records were kept, and it is known that 42, 088 bullets were made.

Weapons of the Revolution

ArtilleryMuskets & Ammo

Long and Bloody War

John Adams predicted a “long and bloody war”.

Few people believed him.

Colonists predicted the British would lose interest after a few battles.

British predicted a slaughter in their favor.

Revolutionary WarRevolutionary War• Colonists (Patriots)

− VS.

• British (Loyalists)

• Fighting for independence from British rule in the colonies

Americans DividedAmericans Divided

•20-30% of colonists were Loyalists (Tories)

•40-45% of colonists were Patriots

•The rest remained neutral – not siding with one country or the other

Continental ArmyContinental Army

•Continental Army – colonists fighting for independence• untrained & undisciplined volunteers

- G. Washington – commanding General

• Divided families• fathers and sons fought for different sides• Benjamin Franklin’s son fought for the British

African AmericansAll states with the exception of South Carolina eventually allowed black soldiers to enlist.

It is estimated that about 5,000 joined the Patriots.•Reasons they fought:

• Believed in the Patriot cause• Fought for a chance to earn money• Allowed to enlist by their owner or ran away

Many were afraid that arming blacks would lead to a slave revolt

Peter Salem

• A slave from Massachusetts who fought at Concord and Bunker Hill

• Would win his freedom in return for his service

Wentworth Cheswell

• Made a midnight ride like Paul Revere

• Warned Patriots of British movements

• Later fought at Saratoga

Women SoldiersWomen were usually not allowed to fight in battles.

Three women of note who did fight for the Patriots:

• Margaret Corbin• Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley• Deborah Sampson

Margaret Corbin

• Traveled with her husband in the Continental Army

• Took his place after his death

Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley• Nicknamed “Molly

Pitcher”• She carried water

pitchers to soldiers during battle

• Legend has it that she also fought in some battles

Deborah Sampson

• Disguised herself as a man in order to join the Continentals

The CrossingThe Crossing• The British troops tried to capture coastal

cities so their navy could land troops and supplies.

• Washington’s troops crossed the Delaware river on Christmas Day, 1776

• mercenary – a professional soldier hired to fight for another country.• Hessians (German soldiers) were hired to fight for

the British.

British strategyBritish strategy

• The British strategy• seize the Hudson River Valley

•NEW YORK• strategy – an overall plan of action

• If successful, they would have cut off access to New England colonies.

Battle of SaratogaBattle of Saratoga

• Saratoga• turning point in the Revolutionary War• U.S got help from the French after this battle

• The British were being defeated in many battles• British troops became tired and many died in battles

• At Saratoga, the Continental Army fired day and night on the British troops and the British surrendered

First American FlagFirst American Flag

• On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the stars and stripes design for the U.S. flag

• Betsy Ross sewed the first flag for George Washington

U.S. gets help!U.S. gets help!• As a result of the Battle of Saratoga

the U.S. got help

• To defeat the mighty British, the U.S needed an ally

• ally – a country that agrees to help another country to achieve a common goal.

• They needed an ally that had money, troops & ships.• Also needed to be a British enemy.

•FRANCE – began to give aid to the Americans

France & others help outFrance & others help out

• France began to send supplies and troops to America in 1778.

• Spain, Germany & Poland began to send officers to help Washington and the Americans.

• Marquis de Lafayette • 19-yr-old French nobleman• volunteered to serve in Washington’s army• given command of a whole division• Washington considered him like a son

Marquis de Lafayette

Came to the U.S. to fight after reading the Declaration of Independence.

Believed the American cause represented the future of humankind.

Germans train militaryGermans train military

• German soldiers helped to train the U.S. troops

• Taught U.S. soldiers how to move in lines and handle weapons properly

• Taught U.S. soldiers to use bayonets – long steel knives attached to the ends of guns

Winter at Valley ForgeWinter at Valley Forge• Washington and his army

camped at Valley Forge in Penn. in the winter of 1777

• VERY COLD!

• Men lacked shoes & blankets• Some men's legs froze and had to be amputated

(cut off)

• 25% of the soldiers died at Valley Forge• Became a symbol of hardships of war

• Some soldiers would desert – leave military duty without returning

The Crisis by Thomas PaineDecember 23, 1776

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER" and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.

Frostbite

Gangrene

Life on the Home Front

• Soldiers were not the only ones that made sacrifices• Women had to run their families

without their husbands• Children had to make due without a

father present• Many wealthy citizens gave their

wealth to fund the Patriot cause

Funding the War

• Haym Saloman• Went bankrupt likely due to his large

contributions of his personal wealth

Abigail Adams

• Wife of John Adams

• Wrote many letters to her husband arguing for women’s rights

Letters from Abigail

“If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice, or representation.”

- Abigail Adams

Treatment of Loyalists

Loyalists were known to fight for the British and some even spied on the Patriots.

Others fled to England, those who remained in the colonies were often shunned by their neighbors or subjected to violent acts, and some were even executed.

War at SeaWar at Sea

• By 1777, Britain had about 100 warships

• American privateers attacked British ships• A privateer is a privately owned ship that is

given permission during wartime to attack an enemy’s ship

• During the war over 1,000 privateers captured hundreds of British ships

John Paul JonesJohn Paul Jones

• John Paul Jones•won most famous sea battle

•against the ship Serapis

• Jones’ success against the best navy in the world angered the British and inspired the Americans• “I have not yet begun to fight!”

British try the SouthBritish try the South

• The British could not capture the North, so they tried to capture the South

• General Lord Cornwallis led the British army

Militia help in the SouthMilitia help in the South

• Francis Marion (called the Swamp Fox) led the militia out of South Carolina to help fight

• Like Benjamin Martin in The Patriot

• The militia fought more like guerrillas• small bands of fighters who weaken the

enemy with surprise raids and hit-and-run attacks

• Remember The Patriot??

The End of the WarThe End of the War• General Cornwallis set up

his base in Yorktown• A large French fleet of boats

arrived in Yorktown and trapped the British

The End of the WarThe End of the War•The Battle of Yorktown was the

last battle of the Revolutionary War

•Cornwallis surrendered and America won the war!

America WINS!America WINS!

• Americans won independence even though they faced many obstacles

American Advantages in Rev. War

1. Better leadership – never gave up

2. Foreign help – French

3. Knowledge of Land – familiar with roads, landforms (geographical)

4. Motivation – wanted independence

The Treaty of ParisThe Treaty of Paris

• The Treaty of Paris 1783• ended the Revolutionary War

• The United States was independent• Boundary of the United States was

Mississippi River, Canada, Spanish Florida

US in 1783