4.3 The Struggle for Liberty

Supporting the War Effort 230,000 soldiers served in the Continental Army 145,000 enlisted as local militias Continental Congress eventually required states to supply soldiers Rich men might pay a slave or apprentice to fight for them

Supporting the War Effort Britain offered freedom to any slave who fought for them The Continental Army would then allow free African Americans to serve Women worked on farms, in businesses, raised money, were spies, nurses, and messengers Mary Ludwig Hays (aka - Molly Pitcher) brought water to soldiers Deborah Sampson dressed like a man so she could fight

Defeats and Victories Canada November 1775 (BV) - General Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold’s armies were defeated - hopes were to make Canada the 14th colony New York June 1776 (BV)- General William Howe gets his revenge from his defeat at Boston by making Washington retreat Patriots fought a defensive war - low on supplies Patriots go on the offensive New Jersey December 1776 (PV) Washington attacks on Christmas night catching the Hessians off guard leading to a victory at the Battle of Trenton

Defeats and Victories January 2, 1777 (PV) - Washington uses fire to surprise the British leading to a victory at the Battle of Princeton October 17, 1777 (PV) - John Burgoyne is forced to surrender to Horatio gates at the Battle of Saratoga...Turning point of the war Patriot Strategy: Surprise attacks- day after Christmas Snow storms Fire Chopped down trees Dammed up rivers

Help from Europe Baron Friedrich von Steuben ●Experienced military officer ●Trained American troops ●Led with respect and fear Marquise de Lafayette ●served without pay ●never seen battle ●brought trained soldiers ●became a general ●gave $200,000 of own money

Help from Europe Spain - ●Joined the war in 1779 ●Bernardo de Galvez, the governor of Spanish Louisiana provided an army ●Seized British posts France - ●Had been providing supplies and ammunition ●Patriot victory at Saratoga convinced France to send more supplies and soldiers ●Provided naval support

Winter Valley Forge ●Winter of ●No battle fought ●Soldiers low on supplies ●2,000 soldiers died of disease and malnutrition ●Some had no shirts or shoes ●Von Steuben helped train the soldiers/made them better

War at Sea and in the West ●Small Continental Navy could not fight large battles/attacked supply base and supply ships ●Sunk hundreds of individual British ships ●John Paul Jones was commander of the Bonhomme Richard/Became a naval hero Sea

War at Sea and in the West In the West ●American Indians controlled land west of the Appalachians ●George Rogers Clark was surveyor of the OH & KY rivers ●Clark captured British trading village of Kaskaskia, Illinois in 1778 ●Won battle of Vincennes in 1779 (Fort Sackville)