8.3 The Colonies at War (pt. 1) pp. 224-227

Objective: Evaluate George Washington’s management of the early phase of the war.

Review 1. List three advantages of the Continental Army. 2. List three disadvantages of the Continental Army. 3. List three advantages of the British Army. 4. Define Hessians— 5. List three disadvantages of the British Army. 6. Who was the leader of the Green Mountain Boys? 7. Where did Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys capture a valuable supply of ammunition and 50 cannons? 8. What famous order did an American officer at Bunker Hill give his soldiers and why? 9. On what hill was the Battle of Bunker Hill actually fought?

Review: 10. Who wrote the pamphlet Common Sense? 11. Who introduced a resolution on June 7, 1776, to declare independence from Great Britain? 12. Who was the chief author of the Declaration of Independence? 13. On what day did the Continental Congress officially approve the Declaration of Independence? 14. Who signed the document in large, bold letters? 15. What 3 basic rights are listed in the second section of the Declaration? 16. Define Loyalists— 17. Define Patriots—

A. The War in the North (p. 224) In November 1775, American forces under Richard Montgomery marched north from Fort Ticonderoga into Canada and captured Montreal. Meanwhile, Benedict Arnold led an American force against Quebec. The attack failed and many of Arnold’s troops froze to death during an unsuccessful siege conducted throughout the harsh winter.

B. Dorchester Heights (p. 225) In March 1776, Washington placed the cannons from Fort Ticonderoga on Dorchester Heights and aimed them at Boston. This convinced the British to abandon the city and retreat north to Halifax, Canada. But King George put all colonial ports under a naval blockade, the use of ships to prevent goods and people from moving in and out of the area.

C. The New York Campaign (pp. 225-226) In June 1776, the British returned, but this time to New York City instead of Boston. During the Battle of Long Island, Washington’s troops fought bravely, but suffered losses of over a thousand killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. Washington and his army were forced to retreat through New Jersey, across the Delaware River and into Pennsylvania.

D. Spying on the Enemy (p. 226) When captured, spies were labeled as traitors and typically sentenced to death by hanging. Nathan Hale, a 24-year-old spy for George Washington, was captured by the British during the New York campaign. His last words were “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

E. The American Crisis (p. 227) The long retreat from New York to Pennsylvania was one of the low points of the war for American forces. Some soldiers, sensing defeat, gave up and left for home. But as Washington began formulating a daring new plan for his soldiers, he ordered Thomas Paine’s new pamphlet The American Crisis to be read to them. “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of every man and woman.”

Washington Crossing the Delaware

F. “Victory or Death” (p. 227) After a string of defeats, and with enlistments ending soon, Washington was desperate for a victory. On Christmas night, 1776, Washington led 2400 soldiers across the icy Delaware River, capturing sleeping Hessians the next morning at Trenton. A few days later, on January 3, 1777, Washington’s troops won another victory at Princeton.

Review: 18. Define blockade— 19. Who was Nathan Hale and what were his famous last words? 20. In his pamphlet The American Crisis, Thomas Paine wrote “These are the times that ___________ __________ ___________.” 21. What is the subject of this famous image (see page 213)? 22. Where did Washington’s troops defeat an army of Hessians on December 26, 1776?