BACKGROUND INFORMATIONCHAPTER 7-1

Events on the road to the American Revolution

the freedom to govern on one’s own.

declaration : (n)

an official statement

Who was involved?Benjamin FranklinJohn AdamsRobert R.

LivingstonRoger ShermanThomas Jefferson

Who was the main author?

Parts of the Declaration1234

THE AMERICANSTHE AMERICANS

SUPPORTSUPPORT40-45% colonists were Patriots

Native Americans who lived near and interacted with the Americans

5000 African Americans served in the army

Women- followed camps, cooked, did laundry, were nurses

African Americans in the American RevolutionSlave Owners were afraid African Americans who had guns would lead slave revolts, so few states allowed them to enlist

Women and the American Revolution

Mary Hays ("Molly Pitcher") carried water to soldiers during battle and Deborah Sampson dressed as a man, enlisted, and fought in several engagements

Deborah in Combat

LEADERSLEADERSGEORGE WASHINGTON

Leader of the Continental Army

BENEDICT ARNOLDMarquis de LafayetteHoratio Gates

Washington’s StrategyWashington’s StrategySURVIVE!KEEP AN ARMY ON THE FIELD

WIN SOME BATTLESAVOID CRUSHING DEFEATHe avoids situations that

might destroy his army.His leadership kept army

together event when defeat seemed inevitable.

ARMYARMYInexperienced- little training!LACKED IMPORTANT SUPPLIES

BLANKETS, FOOD, WEAPONSCongress’ inability to provide these supplies

angered Washington. MANY DIDN’T STAY LONG

WASHINGTON NEVER HAD MORE THAN 17,000 MEN IN THE ARMY (Congress did not require men to serve long terms in the service)

LOW MORALETHOMAS PAINE WROTE THE AMERICAN CRISIS

NEED A VICTORY…

Struggle for New YorkAfter forcing the British out of

Boston (chapter 6). Washington hurried to New York. Several months later British troops arrived.

The British and the American armies fought for New York state for several months.

Finally, the British forced Washington to retreat through New Jersey.

The American army was in terrible condition!!

Thomas Paine witnessed the soldiers low spirits on the retreat and the hard condtions. He wrote a series of pamphlets called The American Crisis to urge them to keep fightingWashington’s

retreatThese are the time that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink form the service of their country; but he that stands it NOW, serves 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.”-excerpt from The American Crisis

Things get better: Things get better: DECEMBER 25, 1776BATTLE OF TRENTONWASHINGTON SURPRISED THE HESSIANS (German troops paid to fight for the British) THEY WERE SLEEPY DUE TO THEIR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Results: MORE THAN 900 HESSIAN CASULATIES

PATRIOTS GAINED A MORAL BOOST AND MUCH NEEDED SUPPLIES

Washington and his troops crossed the icy Delaware River to New Jersey

Washington's army won a battle at Princeton 8 days later. Result- his army

began to attract new recruits!Date: January 3rd,

1777 Location: Princeton, New Jersey Weather: ~28`F; clear; windy American Casualties: 40 British Casualties: 86 American Leaders: Sullivan/Hand/Mercer British Leaders: Col. Mawhood

THE BRITISHTHE BRITISH

SUPPORTSUPPORT20% OF AMERICANS WERE

LOYALISTSNATIVE AMERICANS WHO FEARED

THAT IF THE AMERICANS WON THE WAR- THEY(AMERICANS) WOULD TAKE NATIVE AMERICAN LAND

AFRICAN AMERICANS – A BRITISH GOVERNOR OFFERED FREEDOM TO THOSE WHO WOULD ENLIST

LEADERSLEADERSGENERAL GEORGE BURGOYNEGENERAL HOWELT. COLONEL ST. LEGERLORD CORNWALLIS

British Generals: Burgoyune (left) and Howe

ARMYARMYGREATEST ARMY IN THE WORLD (AT THIS TIME)

DID NOT THINK THE AMERICAN ARMY WOULD LAST

STRATEGYSTRATEGYOCCUPY COSTAL CITIES (so the navy could land troops and supplies)

USE HESSIAN MERCENARIESSEIZE THE HUDSON RIVER

THIS WOULD CUT OFF NEW ENGLAND FROM THE REST OF THE COLONIES

IN ORDER TO DO THIS, 3 ARMIES WOULD RENDEVOUS AT ALBANY, NEW YORK

Howe a no-showBurgoyne expected to meet up with Lt.

Colonel St. Ledger and General Howe at Albany New York (rendezvous).

Burgoyne received a letter from Howe that he would not be coming because he decided to invade Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “Success be ever with you” he wrote.

Howe did defeat but did not capture Washington in Pennsylvania at the Battle of Brandywine. Howe then occupied Pennsylvania.

At the same time Burgoyne received Howe’s letter…..St. Ledger was trying to defeat a small American force at Fort Stanwix in the Mohawk River valley of New York.Benedict Arnold wanted to chase the British away from the fort, so he sent Iroquois allies to spread a rumor that a large American army was coming.St. Ledger’s army immediately fledNO ONE WAS LEFT TO RENDEZVOUS WITH BURGOYNE!

Benedict Arnold and Lt. Col. St. Ledger

5Ws of Saratoga

Who? BURGOYNE (BRITISH) GATES / ARNOLD (AMERICANS)

What? SERIES OF SKIRMISHES (LED BY ARNOLD AND GATES) THAT ENDED AT SARATOGA, THE EXHAUSTED BRITISH MET THE CONTINENTAL ARMY. THE AMERICANS FIRE ON THE BRITISH ALL DAY AND NIGHT UNTIL BURGOYNE SURRENDERS.

When? 1777

Where?

Saratoga, New York

Why? ORGINALLY, BURGOYNE’S ARMY WAS RUNNING OUT OF SUPPLIES, SO HE SENT A RAIDING PARTY TO VERMONT (THE BRITISH WERE DEFEATED). BURGOYNE THEN DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO ALBANY. ON HIS WAY, HE MET THE CONTINENTAL ARMY LED BY GENERAL GATES. BURGOYNE DECIDEED TO BREAK THROUGH FORTIFICATIONS AND ATTEMPT TO PROCEED TO ALBANY

Battles of SaratogaMap of British retreat (red+=British)

As Benedict Arnold rode around the battlefield “like a madman,” he was shot in the leg.

BENEDICT ARNOLD- MARRIES A LOYALIST AND BECOMES BITTER, EVENTUALLY TRIES TO BETRAY THE ARMYCAUSED EUROPEAN NATIONS TO THINK THAT THE AMERICANS MIGHT WIN THE REVOLUTION. THIS EVENT CASUED EUROPEAN NATIONS, SUCH AS FRANCE, TO SUPPORT THE AMERICANS.