The War Widens Pages 186-195

Discover the role that African Americans played in the American Revolution Find out hoe the war affected women and other civilians Learn about the progress of fighting on the western frontier and at sea Objectives

How did the effects of the war widen? Focus Question

African Americans in the War African Americans fought on both sides of the American Revolution In the beginning, free African Americans took part in the war At least nine served as minutemen at Lexington and Concord African Americans in the War

African Americans in the War Enslaved people served as well The British offered freedom to enslaved people who deserted and joined the British On the American side, George Washington refused to accept African American soldiers After the British offered freedom to enslaved people, Washington changed his policy African Americans in the War

African Americans in the War By the end of the war, 7,000 African Americans served on the American side (in the north) 2,000 served in the navy (in the north) HOWEVER, most southern states refused to accept African American soldiers Slave owners feared slave revolts African Americans in the War

A number of northern states took steps to end slavery during the Revolution A Pennsylvania law (1780) provided for a gradual end to slavery Barred slaveholders from getting more slaves Freedom Beckons

Civilians Civilians = people not in the military Also faced hardships – were often subject to food shortages and military attack Civilians

Women in the Revolution The added responsibilities gave many women a new confidence War actually opened up new opportunities for women Women took over many duties that were typically done by men Planted crops, cared for livestock, ran businesses Some accompanied husbands in military camps Women in the Revolution

Women in the Revolution Deborah Sampson: joined the army, disguised as a man Wounded in battle – tended to own wounds to keep her secret Women in the Revolution

Financial Burdens Congress had limited resources Had no power to tax (had to plead to the states for money!) BUT, states had limited money themselves! To pay troops, Congress printed “continentals,” or paper money The more money Congress printed, the less money was worth By the end of the war, paper money had lost almost all its value Financial Burdens

Some tribes split when they couldn’t decide which side to join Many villages left to avoid the fighting Some attacked white settlements Americans tried to keep Native Americans neutral Most Native Americans sided with the British Feared an American victory would mean more settlers moving out west Native Americans

Native Americans Smallpox – disease spread in Quebec first (1775) By 1779, reached New Orleans By 1782, more than 130,000 whites and Native Americans died from smallpox To put that in perspective: about 8,000 soldiers died in battle during the same period Native Americans

Defending the Frontier Frontier = land that forms the furthest extent of a nation’s settled regions George Rogers Clark attacked British forts beyond the Appalachian Mountains Clark’s victories allowed settlers to remain on the frontier Defending the Frontier

Eager to get back Florida (was lost to Britain after the French and Indian War) Bernardo de Galvez began helping the Americans in 1779 Provided money and supplies to Americans (like Clark!) Gave American ships refuge in New Orleans harbor Captured British forts on the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico Financial help also came from the Spanish colony, Cuba Help from the Spanish

Americans could only build a few warships against a strong British navy Became skilled at hit-and-run attacks However, Britain still dominated on the sea The War at Sea

The War at Sea Most famous battle took place off the coast of England American ship “Bonhomme Richard” under the command of John Paul Jones fought the larger British ship “Serapis” Jones refused to give up Declared, “I have not yet begun to fight!” Finally, the captain of the Serapis surrendered The War at Sea

Focus Question Re-visited How did the effects of the war widen? Focus Question Re-visited