The American War for Independence How was the Continental army able to win the war for independence from Great Britain?

1. Raise your hand if you have played the game, Capture the Flag. 2. What are the objectives and rules of Capture the Flag?

Complete the Preview in your handout on The American Revolution: List the three characteristics or skills that you think would be most important to look for if you were picking members of a team for the game Capture the Flag. Suppose you have a team of Capture the Flag players who have most of the characteristics and skills you listed playing against a team with very few of those skills. Which team do you think would win and why? What other factors might give the team with fewer skills a chance to win?

There are several factors involved in winning a game There are several factors involved in winning a game. Skills and experience are two important factors, but there are many more. In this lesson, you will learn about the two “teams” that participated in the American Revolution. One side had more skills and experience in fighting wars, but it was not the side that won.

1. Review the objective and rules of Capture the Flag 2. When you arrive at the playing field, we’ll form teams and we’ll play six rounds of the game

Rules: Hide your team’s flag Find your opponent’s flag and bring it back to your territory One or two handed tagging will place your opponent in jail No pushing or shoving

The diagram shows how we’ll set up the playing area. We can use backpacks to mark the four corners of the field. We’ll use rope to divide the field in equal halves.

The object of the game is to capture the other team’s flag and bring it back to your team’s side of the field without being tagged by a member of the other team.

When on your side of the field, play “defense” and tag members of the other team.

When on the other team’s side of the field, play “offense” and try to capture their flag and bring it back to your side without getting tagged. You may not throw or hand the flag to another teammate.

If you are tagged on the other team’s side of the field, you must leave the field immediately and sit next to the teacher. If you have the flag in your hand, you must return the flag first.

If I see you tagged and you do not come out immediately, you will not be allowed to play for the remainder of the game.

Only one student on each team can guard the team’s flag, and he or she cannot touch or move the flag. When you hear the whistle, stop playing and return to your side of the field.

Outside, you’ll stand in a single line, in order from those with the most experience playing Capture the Flag to those who have never played the game.

The quarter of the class with the least experience will be the Blue team. The half of the class with the most experience will be the Red team . . . *Except that the player with the most experience will be the captain of the Blue team. The remaining quarter of the class will be the White team.

Outside now—refer to game notes on game play

How was the Continental army able to win the war for independence from Great Britain?

Section 7.1 Read Section 7.1, Introduction, in History Alive! Carefully look at the both images. Which army looks better prepared for battle? Explain.

Section 7.1 In what ways was Joseph Martin an ideal soldier? How did the army in New York compare to the British army when Joseph Martin entered the war? What might have enabled the Continental army to win the war?

Section 7.2 – 7.3 1. Read Sections 7.2 and 7.3 and complete the Reading Notes in your handout. Be prepared to share your answers with the class. 2. The Blue team is smaller. It has not warmed up. It hasn’t played Capture the Flag as much as the Red team, just like . . . American forces were smaller and had less training and experience than the British.

Section 7.2 – 7.3 REVIEW American Strengths The Americans had patriotism on their side; people were willing to give their lives for their country. The Americans received secret aid from the French. George Washington was an experienced military leader who inspired courage and confidence. The war was fought on American soil. The Americans used guerilla warfare tactics.

Section 7.2 – 7.3 REVIEW British Strengths The British army had 50,000 soldiers, reinforced by 30,000 Hessian mercenaries, as well as Loyalists, Native Americans, and African Americans. British soldiers were well trained and experienced. British forces were well supplied with food, uniforms, ammunition, and weapons.

Section 7.2 – 7.3 REVIEW American Weaknesses British Weaknesses The Continental army was small and always short of soldiers. Few Americans were trained for battle. The army was plagued by shortages of guns, gunpowder, food, and uniforms. British Weaknesses Sending troops and supplies from Britain to North America was slow and costly. The British people were not passionate about defeating the rebels. The British had poor military leadership.

Section 7.2 – 7.3 REVIEW The Blue team is smaller. It has not warmed up. It hasn't played Capture the Flag as much as the Red team, just like . . . American forces were smaller and had less training and experience than the British. The Red team is larger. It has warmed up. It has played the game more than the Blue team, just like . . . the British army was larger, better trained, and more experienced than the American forces. The Blue captain has experience playing Capture the Flag, just like . . . George Washington was an experienced general. The White team cheers for the Blue team, just like . . . the French secretly aided the Americans at the beginning of the war. Half the Red team starts the game far from the field, just like . . . Britain was far from America and had to ship troops and supplies across the Atlantic.

Section 7.4 Read Section 7.4, Great Britain Almost Wins the War, and complete your handout.

Section 7.4 REVIEW Many Americans believed that freedom and independence were goals worth fighting for. The Declaration raised hopes and questions for African Americans. They wondered if the words "all men are created equal" applied to them and if independence would bring an end to slavery. The British, with their greater numbers and superior training, overwhelmed the inexperienced Americans at New York and in other battles in 1776.

Section 7.4 REVIEW The Blue team was told that they would get a prize if they win. This increases their motivation, just like . . . the Declaration of Independence increased the motivation of many Americans to fight and win the war. Because they have more experienced players, the Red team is almost able to steal the Blue flag, just like . . . the British, with more numerous and experienced soldiers, almost defeated the Americans in 1776. One Blue player is told he or she might not get a prize, even if the Blue team wins. That player must decide whether to stay on the Blue team or switch to the Red team, just like . . . African Americans were not sure whether fighting for independence would assure them either equal rights or the end of slavery. They had to decide whether to fight on the American or British side.

Before we continue, we’re going to watch, The Crossing Homework in Google Classroom: Write an account of the Battle of Trenton from the point of view of the Hessians in which you seek to briefly explain their loss to Washington's forces.

Section 7.5 Read Section 7.5, Pep Talk and Surprise Victories, and complete your handout. Mr. Hunt gave the Blue team a pep talk and encouraged them to keep fighting, just like . . . Thomas Paine’s pamphlet The Crisis encouraged Americans to hold onto their beliefs, even during hard times.

Section 7.5 REVIEW The message of Paine's The Crisis was to remind Americans that real patriots hold onto their beliefs, even in hard times. Washington had his troops cross the Delaware River on Christmas night and take the enemy by surprise early the next morning. Victories at Trenton and Princeton showed that the Americans could beat the British and their allies, which greatly boosted American morale.

Read Section 7.6, The Tide Begins to Turn, and complete your handout.

Section 7.6 REVIEW Washington avoided large battles that might put his army at risk. Instead, he fought a defensive war designed to tire out the British. After the Battle of Saratoga, the French become allies of the Americans, and Spain also entered the war against Britain. Baron Friedrich von Steuben of Prussia drilled the American soldiers and turned them into an organized fighting force. The Marquis de Lafayette of France used his own money to buy clothing for the soldiers.

Section 7.6 REVIEW Mr. Hunt tells the Blue team they do not have to capture the Red flag to win. Instead, they must keep the Red team from capturing all the Blue flags, just like . . . Washington told Congress that he would fight a defensive war to try to tire out the British. Mr. Hunt has one volunteer from the White team join the Blue team, just like . . . some Europeans, like von Steuben and Lafayette, aided the American cause. Mr. Hunt tells the Blue team that if they can hold on for one more round, they may receive help, just like . . . after the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga, the French became allies of the Americans.

Section 7.7 Read Section 7.7, The War Moves South, and complete your handout. Mr. Hunt adds a third Blue flag. This makes it harder for the Red team to win, just like . . . …Successful American hit-and-run tactics in the South made it even more difficult for the British to win the war.

Section 7.7 REVIEW Americans in the South used guerrilla tactics, like hit-and-run raids, against the British. The Continental army tired out the British in the South and eventually forced them to retreat to Yorktown, where they were defeated. French troops and warships helped the Americans to trap the British army at Yorktown.

Section 7.7 REVIEW Mr. Hunt adds a third Blue flag. This makes it harder for the Red team to win, just like . . . successful American hit-and-run tactics in the South made it more difficult for the British to win the war. The White team enters the game to help the Blue team, just like . . . the French sent troops and warships to help the Americans defeat the British at Yorktown.

Section 7.8 Read Section 7.7, The War Ends, and complete your handout. By the end of Round 6, many members of the Red team don’t want to play anymore, but some do, just like . . . …after Yorktown, many British were ready to accept, though King George did not want to accept defeat.

Section 7.8 REVIEW Most British people accepted the defeat at Yorktown, but King George did not want to accept defeat. Three key provisions of the Treaty of Paris were (1) Britain recognized the United States as an independent country; (2) Britain handed over territory from the Atlantic Coast to the Mississippi River; and (3) the United States agreed to return all rights and property taken from Loyalists during the war. The American Revolution helped inspire revolts against European rule throughout South America. The Americans also influenced the French Revolution.

Section 7.8 REVIEW By the end of Round 6, many members of the Red team don't want to play anymore, but some do, just like . . . after Yorktown, many British were ready to accept defeat, though King George did not want to accept defeat. At the end of the game, the Blue, White, and Red captains shake hands. The Blue and White teams receive their prizes. The Red captain hands over the Red flag. The Blue team promises to be nice to the Red team, just like . . . At the end of the war, the Americans, French, and British signed a treaty in Paris. In the treaty, the United States received its independence. The British handed over territory to the Americans. The Americans promised to respect the rights and property of Loyalists.

Next reading: “African Americans in the Revolution” (leads to a revolutionary war newspaper project)