Quiz (Thurs.) 03/23 (Fri.) 03/24 Based on list 6 vocab., Benedict Arnold, and the station notes we will complete today.

Essential Questions: How did European officers aid America in the Revolutionary War? What hardships did American troops endure during the winter at Valley Forge? How is Clark’s victory at Vincennes important to the revolutionary cause? What was John Paul Jones’s major contribution during the war, and why was it important?

I CAN.. Explain why & how Europeans helped the U.S. Gain insight into the hardships & sacrifices of the revolutionary forces Describe the war on the frontier Summarize important battles at sea

Station Notes Directions: You will be assigned a number. The number will indicate what station you will start at. 5 mins at each station. When the timer goes off, rotate clock wise.

Europeans help the U.S. To defeat the British, the U.S. needed a foreign ally. An ally is a country that agrees to help another country achieve a common goal. The ally had to be able to provide money, troops, & ships so the U.S. turned to France. After America’s victory at Saratoga, the French agreed to an alliance. France was still bitter over its defeat by Britain in the French and Indian War, in which France lost its N. American colonies. The French hoped to take revenge. In 1776, France began to give secret aid to the Americans.

Foreign Aid France sent badly needed funds, supplies, and troops to America. In 1779, France persuaded its ally Spain to help the Americans. Spain acted quickly capturing the British strongholds of Natchez, Baton Rouge, Mobile & Pensacola. These victories prevented the British from attacking the U.S. from the southwest. Like France, Spain’s motives were not simply to help the U.S. These victories helped Spain’s empire in N. America.

Foreign Aid Continued.. By entering the war on America’s side, France & Spain forced the British to fight a number of enemies on land and sea. The British had to spread their military resources over many fronts. This prevented the British from concentrating their strength to defeat the inexperienced Americans. Check Points: 1) How did America’s allies prevent Britain from focusing all its might on the Americans? 2) Why did France & Spain ally themselves with the U.S.?

Lafayette’s Contributions The Americans gained some of the military experience they needed from Europe. Several military officers came to Washington’s aid. Marquis de Lafayette was one of them - a French nobleman who volunteered to serve in Washington’s army. He was given the command of an army division. Lafayette won respect & love from his men by sharing their hardships. Called “the soldier’s friend,” he used his own money to buy warm clothing for his ragged troops.

Lafayette’s Contributions Continued.. Lafayette fought in many battles & also persuaded the French king to send a 6,000 man army to America. He became a hero in both France & the U.S. Check Point: How did European officer Lafayette aid America in the Revolutionary War?

Baron von Steuben European officer who helped turn the inexperienced Americans into a skilled fighting force In 1778, Steuben trained 100 of Washington’s men by teaching them how to move in lines & columns & how to handle weapons properly Soldiers practiced how to make charges with bayonets Once the 100 men succeeded with training, the rest of the army adopted Steuben’s methods

Winter at Valley Forge Beginning in the winter of 1777-1778, Washington & his army camped at Valley Forge in southeast Pennsylvania. On the march to Valley Forge, Washington’s army was so short on supplies that many soldiers had only blankets to cover themselves. They also lacked shoes. The barefoot men left tracks of blood on the frozen ground as they marched. Roughly ¼ of soldiers died from malnutrition (not having enough food), exposure to the cold, or diseases. Check Point: What hardships did American troops endure during the winter at Valley Forge?

Marquis de Lafayette describes Valley Forge: “The unfortunate soldiers were in want of everything; they had neither coats, nor hats, nor shoes; their feet and their legs froze till they grew black & it was often necessary to amputate them… The Army frequently passed whole days without food.” -Marquis de Lafayette Check Point: Is Lafayette mainly recounting facts or expressing opinions? Explain

Winter at Valley Forge Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iu_-0DjIJc Baron von Steuben Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acsra7kGC9M

Hard Times Washington appealed to Congress to send the soldiers supplies, but it was slow in responding. Despite the hardships, Washington & his soldiers showed amazing endurance. Under such circumstances, soldiers often desert, or leave military duty without intending to return. Some soldiers did desert, but LT. Brooks wrote that the army stayed together because of “Love of our Country.” The men also stayed because of Washington. Private Downing declared that the soldiers “loved him. They’d sell their lives for him.” Check Point: What are two different explanations for why American soldiers did not desert?

War on the Frontier George Rogers Clark – called the “Washington of the West,” Clark was one of the frontiersmen who offered help to fellow soldiers. Clark set out to recapture Vincennes. Clark knew he was outnumbered, so he devised a plan to make it seem that there were a lot more men than forty-seven storming the Fort. The British and the Indians thought there were thousands of soldiers outside. The Indians ran for their safety. That left about 150 British soldiers inside the fort.

War on the Frontier Continued.. To convince Hamilton that surrendering would be his only choice; he took two Indian prisoners and with a tomahawk killed them in front of the Fort. Colonel Hamilton and his men surrendered.

The Impact of Vincennes Clark had claimed for Virginia a territory that was more than half the size of the 13 colonies. By capturing British strongholds on the Western frontier, Clark not only provided the Americans with a claim to that territory but also opened another front that the British would have to guard. Check Point: 1)How is Clark’s victory at Vincennes important to the revolutionary cause? 2) How is opening another front for The British to guard an effective strategy for the Americans?

War at Sea By 1777, Britain had about 100 warships off the American coast. This allowed Britain to control the Atlantic trade routes. The American privateers began attacking British merchant ships. Privateers – a privately owned ship that a wartime govt. gives permission to attack an enemy’s merchant ships After capturing a British merchant ship, the crew of a privateer sold its cargo & shared the money. As a result, a desire for profit as well as patriotism motivated privateers.

War at Sea continued.. The states and Congress commissioned more than 1,000 privateers to prey on the British. During the war, they captured hundreds of British ships. This disrupted trade, causing British merchants to call for the war to end. Many men answered the privateers’ call for volunteers. Check Point: 1) Why did the Americans need to challenge Britain’s control of the seas? 2) What did privateers contribute to the war effort?

A Naval Hero – John Paul Jones Though outnumbered, the Continental Navy scored several victories against the British. An officer named John Paul Jones won the most famous sea battle. In September, Jones’s vessels approached a convoy in which two British warships were guarding a number of supply ships. Jones closed in on the Serapis, the larger of the two warships. As the two ships locked together, the confident British captain demanded that Jones surrender. Jones replied, “I have not yet begun to fight!”

A Naval Hero – John Paul Jones Continued.. Both ships blasted away, seriously damaging the other. After a fierce three-and-a-half-hour battle, the main mast of the Serapis cracked and fell. The ship’s captain then surrendered. Jones’s success against the best navy in the world angered the British and inspired the Americans. Check Point: 1) What effects did the victory of John Paul Jones have? 2) What are the two words that you think best describes Jones’s character? Explain.

George Rogers Clark Retakes Vincennes and Claims Western Lands for Virginia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNd_bX1uZ7g

Directions: Write down… Exit Ticket Directions: Write down… Two new facts that you have learned. Any questions that you still may have.