Who Would Win the Revolutionary War?

BRITISH

many officers

British navy ruled the seas

fighting 3000 miles away form home - had to ship men and supplies

Trained & experienced soldiers

AMERICANS

American army made up of citizen-soldiers who were badly trained

few officers with any experienceFrance helped by sending money and trained officers

 

Who Would Win the Revolutionary War?

BRITISH

army had trouble getting soldiers, many people had family members and friends in America.

fight was over a large area

Could control cities but not country side

AMERICANS

no navy

fighting at home defending family

Fighting on familiar ground

Critical Time

6 Chpt.- Sec. 2Pgs. 184-189

What Was the Struggle for the Middle States? Washington forced the British to

retreat from Boston in March 1776

He then rushed his army to New York City to Long Island

Washington expected Gen. Howe’s attack

Washington had fewer than 20,000 poorly trained troops

No navy

Howe’ army pushed ashore on Long Island (August)

34,000 trained soldiers 9,000 Hessians, & 10,000 sailors

with ships to ferry troops

British strategy in New York

Battle of Long Island

Battle of Long Island more than: 1400 Americans KIA, WIA, or captured Washington retreats to avoid capture

In Autumn Series of battles

In November Americans cross Hudson River into New Jersey

British pursued

Washington crossed Delaware R. into Pennsylvania

Nathan Hale

gathered intelligence behind British lines for Washington

captured by British, he was tried & hanged for being a spy

Nathan Hale as he was going to

be hanged he said “I only regret that I have only one

life to lose for my country.”

By December 1776 American troops were sick, dirty, lacked adequate clothing for that time of year

soldiers fled camp every day & went home

The Crisis ( written by

Thomas Paine) urged Americans to support their army

Washington had it read to the troops

The Crisis 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.

Washington planned a surprise attack on Trenton, NJ

December 25, 1776 Washington leads troops across icy Delaware R.

Morning of Dec. 26,1776 surprise Hessians guarding Trenton

Captured Trenton

Cornwallis set out to capture Washington

Washington slips behind Cornwallis’ lines & attacks Princeton NJ

It was a second victory for Washington

Washington moves troops to Morristown Pa for the winter

The two victories gave Americans new hope

New British Strategy 1777 Gen. Burgoyne presents new

plan to defeat Americans

seize the Hudson River Valley thus cutting New England off from the rest of the colonies

It called for 3 armies to march on Albany, NY from diff. Directions

Gen. John Burgoyne south from Canada

Lt. Colonel Barry St. Leger from Lake Ontario down the Mohawk River

Gen. Howe north up the Hudson R. from New York City

Gen. Howe instead captures Philadelphia

Gen. Howe defeats Americans at Battles of Brandywine & Germantown

(9/1777)

Then wintered in Philadelphia

British Gen. St. Leger attacks Fort Stanwix & was defeated by Benedict Arnold

(8/1777)

Gen. Burgoyne marched toward Albany

He retook Fort Ticonderoga (7/1777)

Fought the Battle of Bennington (Vermont)

Patriots capture or wound nearly 1,000 Redcoats (Aug. 16, 1777)

Americans surround Gen. Burgoyne at village of Saratoga

Oct. 17, 1777 Burgoyne surrenders to Americans

Who was the powerful new ally? Two consequences of the Battle of

Saratoga

Battle of Saratoga

1. Benedict Arnold is wounded

Over time he came to believe Congress had not rewarded him

enough for his victory at Saratoga & other battles

Battle of Saratoga

Influenced by bitterness Arnold & his wife betrayed his army

By attempting to over Ft. West Point

to the British (1780 )

The plot failed and he escaped

Battle of Saratoga

Battle of Saratoga turning point in the war

ended British threat to New England

Who Helped From Abroad? Help From Abroad

1776 France began to give secret aid to the Americans

After the Americans won at Saratoga, King Louis XVI recognized U.S. independence

1778 – France signs two treaties of alliance with the U.S.

France sent badly needed funds, supplies, & troops to America

1779 – France persuades Spain to help America

Britain had to fight France & Spain in many places

This made it impossible for Britain to concentrate its forces in America

How do Europeans Help Washington?

Europeans Help Washington

Volunteers arrive from Europe to help

Baron de Kalb German officer

who had served in the French Army

Baron de Kalb One of Washington’s Generals &

earned a reputation for bravery

At the Battle of Camden he was wounded 10 times the 11 time he died

French noble

Brought trained soldiers

Fought at Brandywine

One of Washington’s most trusted friends

The Marquis de Lafayette

Thaddeus Kosciusko Polish, an engineer

Help build forts and other defenses

Casimir Pulaski Polish

Train cavalry

Bernardo de Ga’lvez Spanish, governor

of Spanish Louisiana

Spain neutral

He secretly provided medicine, cloth, muskets, and gunpowder

Bernardo de Ga’lvez Spain enters war in 1779 Ga’lvez

seized British forts on the Mississippi R. & Gulf of Mexico

drove British out of West Florida

Fredrick von Steuben Prussian,

taught American soldiers skills

Bayonet skills and to march

What was the Winter at Valley Forge?

Beginning the winter of 1777-1778 Washington and his troops camp at

Valley Forge, Pa.

The army was very short of supplies

Many had only blankets to cover themselves, they also lacked shoes

Winter at Valley Forge

Soldiers grew weak, ¼ died from:

malnutrition (lack of food)

exposure to cold, (no warm clothing)

&disease

Washington asked Congress to send supplies but it was slow in coming

Sometimes private citizens came to the soldiers’ aid

Valley Forge came to represent the great hardships that Americans endured in the Revolutionary War.

Washington and his soldiers showed amazing endurance

The soldiers did not desert because of Washington and “Love of Country”

Spring 1778 the army at Valley Forge was much more hopeful.