UNIT 7: MILITARY CONFLICT

LESSON 7.2: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, Part 1

Focus

• What do you already know about the American Revolution?

• How did we win?• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eytc9ZaN

Wyc• 3• 2• 1

American Revolution

Tory

Opposing Sides

British• Predicted short war • Strongest navy in world• Experienced, well-trained

army• Soldiers made military a

career• Population: 8 million people

Americans• “…long…and bloody war…”• Lacked regular army and

strong navy• Lacked military experience,

and weapons and ammunition were in short supply

• Most soldiers were volunteer and fought for short period of time

• Population: 2.5 million

AP

An American struggle• Not all Americans

supported the fight for independence

• Some were neutral, or didn’t choose a side- for example, the Quakers would not participate in war because they did not believe in armed war

• Others remained loyal to England

Loyalists or Tories• Remained loyal to Britain

and opposed war for Independence

• About 1 out of 4 Americans was a Loyalist

• Some changed sides during war, depending on which army was closer

• Most Loyalists were from Carolinas and Georgia

• Few Loyalists in New England

Why were they Loyalists?

• Members of Anglican Church

• Jobs• Fear of consequences• Did not understand

what the big deal was

Treatment of Loyalists• Every state had Loyalists• Some fought with British, as

well as spying on the Patriots

• Many fled America to England, Florida, or beyond Appalachian Mts. to Canada

• Those who remained faced difficult times

• Could be arrested for treason

• Few were executed

AP

• 5 words

Patriot Advantages

Patriots• Fighting on own land• More at stake than British

soldiers and Hessians- freedom of their land vs. money

• George Washington- courage, honesty, and determination

British problems• Fighting in faraway land• Forced to ship soldiers and

supplies thousands of miles• Relied on mercenaries, hired

soldiers- called Hessians after region in Germany where most of them came from

AP: Advantages of the Patriots

• 1 sentence the advantages.

Raising an ArmyMilitia• Each state had their own• Locals who were not trained• Only would fight within their

own state• Fought for special interests of

their state

Continental Army• Established by Continental Congress• Difficulty raising money and

enlisting soldiers• Relied on states to recruit soldiers• At first, one year of army service

when enlisting• Washington said he needed more

commitment• Enlistments offered for 3 years or

length of war• Most soldiers still signed up for only

a year

Differences between Militia and Continental Army

African Americans in the Revolution

• British offered enslaved people freedom if they fought for them

• Many ended up freemen in Canada and Sierra Leone

• Washington asked Congress to allow African Americans to enlist because of need of troops

• Southern states protested with fear of slaves with guns and possible revolts

African Americans in the Revolution• Some states ignored ban • Rhode Island had an all-African

American regiment by 1778• South Carolina was only state

to not enlist African Americans• About 5,000 Afr. Am. joined

the Patriots• Fought for same reasons as

other Americans• Some were runaway slaves,

while others fought to earn their freedom

AP: African Americans

• Create a test ?

Trenton and Princeton• British army settled in New

York for winter of 1776, with some troops in New Jersey

• Wars usually paused for the winter, so British did not expect to fight

• Washington saw British across Delaware River and decided he could catch them off guard

• Christmas 1776, crossed Delaware River at night and surprised British at Trenton, NJ

Battle of Trenton

Trenton and Princeton• Americans captured more

than 900 Hessians• British sent Lord Charles

Cornwallis with reinforcements, but Washington led his troops away

• Then marched towards Princeton, and drove away British

• Changed mindset of American Patriots to having hope again

AP 4

The Crossing

• 3• 2• 1• What did you learn about the Battle of Trenton from the

video that you did not know?• What did you like/dislike about the video?• Would you recommend the video for a USH class that is

learning about the difficulties in fighting the American Revolutionary War?

Learning Log

In your own words summarize what you have learned today.In fighting a war, what were advantages/disadvantages for both the British and Americans?Why did some colonists remain loyal to the British?What role did African Americans play during the Revolution?How was Washington able to achieve victory during the Battle of Trenton?What is the significance of Washington’s victory at Trenton?

7.2 part 1 Continued

• Focus• In fighting a war, what were advantages/disadvantages for both the

British and Americans?• Why did some colonists remain loyal to the British?• What role did African Americans play during the Revolution?• What state had an all African American Regiment? Which state refused to

enlist African Americans?• Why did Washington decide to take the risk and attack the Hessians at

Trenton?• How was Washington able to achieve victory during the Battle of Trenton?

Battle of Saratoga

British Plan for Victory

• 1777• To control Albany, NY

and control Hudson River (would separate NE and Middle colonies)

• Three sets of troops would meet in Albany and destroy the Patriot troops

Who would attack and from where?• General John Burgoyne with 8,000 troops from Canada• Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Leger from Lake Ontario• General William Howe from New York City

AP

• 1 sentence

What Happened to British Plan?• General Howe planned to take

Philadelphia before going to Albany

• September 1777, Howe’s troops won 2 battles near Philly and captured the capital

• Forced Continental Congress to flee

• After being attacked by Washington , Howe decided to postpone his move to Albany and spend winter in Philadelphia

What Happened to British Plan?

• St. Leger’s advance was stopped by American forces, led by Benedict Arnold, at Fort Stanwix, NY, forcing British troops to retreat

What Happened to British Plan?• Burgoyne, who loved

good food and fine clothes, was known for traveling with luxury goods

• Because of his 30 wagons of luxury, his army moved slowly through dense forests

• Americans blocked path by chopping down trees

What Happened to British Plan?• Burgoyne’s troops need food

and supplies• Sent 800 troops and Native

Americans to capture American supplies at Bennington, Vermont

• British troops’ uniforms made them easy targets in woods, and were attacked by the Green Mountain Boys

• Losing troops and being short on supplies caused Burgoyne to retreat to Saratoga in NY

AP

• Note to a buddy• What happened to the British plans to take

Albany NY?

Green Mountain Boys

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4KcJTP8nW8

Battle of Saratoga• Burgoyne expected to be

joined by other British forces at Saratoga, but they weren’t there

• General Horatio Gates and American troops blocked his path south

• Burgoyne was surrounded by American army 3 times the size of his own

• Made a desperate attack on October 7, but Americans remained strong

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s49MbxC8iw0

Battle of Saratoga• Burgoyne surrendered on

October 17, 1777• 5,700 British soldiers hand

over their weapons as a band played “Yankee Doodle”

• Plan to separate NE from Middle Colonies had failed

• Soon afterward, General Howe resigned from commander of troops in America and replaced by General Henry Clinton

Americans Gain Allies• Victory at Saratoga, not

only boosted American spirits, but also caused European nations to realize America had a chance

• Ben Franklin had been in France for over a year by end of 1777 trying to gain friends and assistance

• France gave US money secretly, but did not commit to an alliance

France becomes Ally• News of Saratoga arrived

to Paris in early 1778• French and Americans

made trade agreement and alliance in February 1778

• France declared war on England and sent money, equipment, and troops to help American cause

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzRhFH5OyHo

AP 5

Valley Forge• http://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=wtb9W3mPVtE• 20 miles west of Philadelphia,

where British set up camp for winter 1777

• Word had not arrived of French-American alliance

• Conditions horrible for Americans• Many men deserted the

Continental Army• Troops somehow survived the

harsh winter• April 1778, word of alliance was

shared and new soldiers joined

AP

• 5 words

Marquis de Lafayette• French nobleman who

spent winter at Valley Forge

• Dec. of Ind. made him want to buy a boat and sail to America to join the cause

• Offered his services and those of his followers to Washington

• Became a trusted aide to Washington

Friedrich von Steuben• Former army officer from

Germany• Drilled American troops

at Valley forge, teaching them military discipline

• Turned Continental Army into a more effective fighting force

• His methods are still used today in drills for the military, but were the standard through the War of 1812

AP

• Talking Heads

Reteaching Activity 7

• The American Revolution

Learning Log

• Summarize the British Plan for Victory.• What role did Benedict Arnold and the Green

Mountain boys play in regard to Britains plan for victory?

• What is the significance of the Battle of Saratoga?

• Who was Marquis De Lafayette?• What role did Friedrick von Steuben play in

regard to the success of American forces?