8.6 The War Moves South (pt. 2) pp. 235-237

Objective: Discuss the role African Americans and women played in 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—

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?

Review: 23. What 1777 battle is generally considered the turning point of the Revolutionary War? 24. Which European nation pledged to provide military assistance to America with the signing of the Treaty of Alliance in 1778? 25. Where did Washington’s army spend the harsh winter of 1777-1778? 26. Identify four foreign officers who helped train American forces. 27. Who led an American force to victory at Vincennes in 1779? 28. Define privateers-- 29. Who became known as the “Father of the American Navy?”

Review: 30. To which region did the British turn their attention in 1778? 31. Which trusted American general was caught spying for the British? 32. What type of military tactics did American forces in the South devise? 33. Which American guerrilla leader was known as the “Swamp Fox?”

A. African Americans and the War (p. 235) When the American Revolution began, the population of the colonies was approximately 2.5 million. More than a half million were African Americans. Slaveholders were afraid to give guns to either enslaved or free African Americans. In November 1775 orders went out to discharge all African American soldiers from the Continental Army.

B. Encouraging Enlistment (p. 235) Soon after, the British offered enslaved persons their freedom in return for military service. In need of troops of their own, Americans changed their policy in order to encourage the enlistment of those who were free or enslaved. In all about 5,000 African Americans served as soldiers, minutemen, scouts, sailors, spies, laborers, fifers, and drummers in the Continental Army.

C. Fighting for Freedom (p. 236) At least 12 African Americans fought for the American cause at Bunker Hill. American commanders singled out Salem Poor and recommended that the Continental Congress recognize and honor him for his bravery. By the end of the war, some enslaved Africans had gained their freedom, but those who returned to the South were not freed.

D. Women and the War (p. 237) Women also contributed to the war effort. With the men away on the battlefield, many women took on the responsibility of running the family farms and businesses. Some followed their husbands to the army camps, where they cooked, sewed, carried ammunition, or served as nurses.

E. Courageous Women (p. 237) A woman who became known as Molly Pitcher actually took her husband’s place operating a cannon after he was wounded in battle. Disguising herself as a man, Deborah Sampson joined the Continental Army, participated in several battles, and was wounded twice. Others, like Lydia Darraugh, worked as spies for the Continental Army.

F. Financing the War (p. 231) The Continental Congress did not have the power to tax either the people or the individual colonial governments. In 1775 the congress began to print huge amounts of paper money called Continental dollars. So many were printed that they soon became worthless because there was no gold or silver to back them in the colonial treasury. France, Spain, and the Netherlands gave financial aid to the colonies, and a few wealthy American businesspeople chipped in as well.

Review: 34. Why did many African Americans decide to join the British forces? 35. Which African American was commended by the Continental Congress for his bravery and valor at Bunker Hill? 36. Who took her husband’s place operating a cannon after he fell wounded in battle?