Chapter 7 Study Guide

1. Describe the events that led up to and the significance of the victory at Trenton. A divided country: (who) 20-30% were loyalists ( on the side of the British) 40-45% were Patriots 25-40% were neutral (not sure) Pacifists: people against war African Americans were allowed to join the army in the north but not in the south. Native Americans fought on both sides

Continental Army (CA) George Washington (GW) named commander of CA. (who) GW’s main goal: keep revolution alive. Win occasionally but avoid being crushed. (How) Enlistments were for 1 year. Continental Congress (CC2): couldn’t supply the army (What Problems)

Battle of NY GW and CA were in New York City fall/winter 1776 (Who & where) British attacked. CA was out numbered (what, why) British hired German soldiers known as Hessians (H) to fight CA. CA forced to retreat out of NYC into Penn. Late in the year, cold, army in bad condition, enlistments ending.

Trenton (T), New Jersey (NJ) (where) GW needed something to keep the war going (who) Christmas night (when) GW & CA crossed the ice covered Delaware River and attacked a large group of H’s at T and won. (what) Also won at Princeton, NJ Significance: Victories boosted the morale of the CA and boosted numbers of recruits. (Why)

2. Why has the Battle of Saratoga considered a turning point of the Revolution? British plan: control New York (the state) and cut off the New England colonies from the rest of the colonies. 3 generals would attack from different directions and meet in Albany, NY. Plan didn’t work. Gen. Burgoyne was left on his own.

Saratoga (S), NY (where) Burgoyne’s army was slowed by attacks and civilians. This meant they were running out of supplies. British (B) and CA (who) meet in Sept of 1777 near S. B and CA battle for days, Benedict Arnold, American General, makes many attacks. B win the battle but have to retreat to S. (what) Surrounded and constantly bombarded Burgoyne surrenders. Significance: prevented B from dividing the states, but more importantly it showed European countries, France & Spain, that US might win independence and would send assistance. (why)

4) Explain the hardships of Valley Forge(VF) (where) and how the American army transformed After losing to (B) at Brandywine trying to keep the B from taking Philadelphia, GW & CA winter 1777-1778 in VF. (why). Keeping a close eye on B in Phil. Washington’s army (who) lacked supplies such as blanket, shoes, and food. Over the hard winter, the soldiers grew weak from lack of food and warm clothing. (What) About ¼ died from malnutrition, exposure, or diseases such as smallpox and typhoid fever. Washington appealed to Congress for more supplies but they were slow to respond.

Transformed Army: During the winter, “German officer” the Baron von Steuben (BVS)(who) helped transform the inexperienced soldiers into a skilled fighting force. BVS taught (how) CA how to handle weapons and how to fight the formal battle of the B. The American army emerged from Valley Forge a more efficient and stronger fighting machine. (why)

3)Describe the role of France and Spain in the war. France was still bitter over the French and Indian War France became an official ally of the colonists after the Battles of Saratoga They promised to send badly needed supplies such as funds and troops They convinced their ally, Spain, to also help the colonists By entering the war, they forced B to fight a number of enemies on land and sea. The B now had to spread their military resources over many fronts. ( different areas). Marquis De Lafayette was a 19 year old French aristocrat who came to aid Washington’s army

5.Explain how Guerrilla warfare was used by the Continental army and the conditions that allowed it to be successful? In the southern colonies, the countryside was filled with more rebels than Loyalists Rebel guerrillas repeatedly attacked British messengers Countryside was a dangerous place for the British army Most Famous rebel guerrilla leader: Francis Marion – “The Swamp Fox” Despite lacking equipment and supplies, Marion and his men were able to cut the British supply line that led inland from Charles Town

6. Identify the individuals involved and the significance of the Battle of Yorktown. Lord Cornwallis (LC) had marched his troops up from the south to Yorktown, VA. GW and French General Rouchambeau trapped B by land. The French navy blockaded LC and his troops by sea. B’s could not get supplies or escape. Trapped and bombarded, LC surrendered on Oct. 19. 1781. Significance: Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the war.

The United States was declared independent 6.Treaty of Paris-1783 The United States was declared independent The boundaries would be set at the Mississippi River to the west, Canada to the north, and Spanish Florida to the south The United States was given permission to fish off of the Canadian coast Each side would repay debts to each other British would return any enslaved persons Congress would recommend that the states return any property they had seized from Loyalists Neither Britain nor the United States lived up to these terms. U.S. never repaid debts or returned Loyalist property Britain never returned runaway slaves