The American Revolution, 1774-1783: The Struggle for Liberty United States History 8 Unit 1, Chapter 4, Section 3

Main Ideas Many Americans supported the war effort The Patriots both won and lost battles during the years 1775-1777 France and Spain helped the Patriots fight the British The winter at Valley Forge tested the strength of Patriot troops The war continued at sea and in the west.

Defeats and Victories: Canada Some favored a defensive war because they were short on supplies, others wanted to invade Canada General Benedict Arnold failed at taking Quebec on January 1, 1775

Defeats and Victories: New York New York was next battleground In 1776, British General Howe’s redcoats outnumbered Washington’s continentals 32,000-23,000 Wash forced to retreat over the Hudson into New Jersey

Defeats and Victories: New Jersey Nov. 1776: 6,000 Continentals down from 23,000 in NY due to enlistments ending On Christmas night 1776, Washington and his men rowed across the Delaware to attack the Hessians in New Jersey at the Battle of Trenton, a huge Patriot victory

Defeats and Victories: Saratoga British general Burgoyne’s strategy was to travel down Hudson River, retake Fort Ticonderoga, then proceed to New York City to link up with the British fleet, but was stopped by patriot forces that dammed up the river and created obstacles Burgoyne surrendered to General Horacio Gates on October 17,1777 Battle of Saratoga in New York was the turning point of the Revolutionary War for American forces

Help from Europe France and Spain lost territory to Britain during the French and Indian War, so they were happy to fight against them, which they did following the Patriot victory at Saratoga In 1777, Marquis de Lafayette, a Frenchmen, fought for the Patriots without pay In 1778, Baron Friedrich von Steuben, a Prussian, trained American troops

Marquis de Lafayette

Baron Friedrich von Steuben

More Help from Europe Benjamin Franklin persuaded King Louis XVI that America could win the war, after Saratoga in 1777 May 1778, Continental Congress ratified treaty with France, their navy proved the decisive factor in Patriot victory 1779 Spain joined the war. Bernardo de Galvez, French Americans, and Native Americans, marched from Spanish Louisiana to capture a British post in Pensacola, FL

Winter at Valley Forge Continental camp winter of 1777-1778 Not enough food, no replacement clothing, only temporary shelters

Valley Forge (continued) 2,000 soldiers died of disease and malnutrition

War at Sea War at Sea: French navy greatly helped colonists, U.S. navy and marines born in 1775, had 8 merchant vessels used for combat, attacked Britain’s bases in the Bahamas John Paul Jones: Battled the British of the coast of Britain, Continental Navy used 100 ships, British lost 200 ships