Chapter 6: The American Revolution (1754-1783) A Critical Time
Why did many colonists favor declaring independence?
Objectives: 1) Identify the major battles of the American Revolution 2) Explain how Washington forced the British to surrender at Yorktown 3) Describe the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1783)
of Americans actively supported the revolution Introduction: A Country Divided ► Only a minority of Americans actively supported the revolution ► Patriots (about 40%) ► Loyalists (about 20%) ► Neutral (about 40%)
Introduction: A Country Divided ► Patriots: ► Most came from New England & Virginia ► Loyalists: ► In New York and the coastal port cities ► Neutral: ► Quakers and Germans in Pennsylvania ► Most Indians sided with the British ► Believed a Patriot victory would bring land-hungry settlers ► A British victory would allow them to live in peace
Introduction: Lack of Money and Equipment ► Throughout the war, George Washington would face the challenge of how to hold his army together. ► The soldiers needed everything ► To raise funds, the Continental Congress issued paper money ► Continental paper money lost so much value that suppliers reused to accept it ► Washington had trouble getting men to enlist for long terms. As a result, his troops were often inexperienced. ► Many free black men enlisted for longer periods (About 5,000)
Introduction: Lack of Money and Equipment ► Throughout the war, George Washington would face the challenge of how to hold his army together. ► The soldiers needed everything ► To raise funds, the Continental Congress issued paper money ► Continental paper money lost so much value that suppliers reused to accept it ► Washington had trouble getting men to enlist for long terms. As a result, his troops were often inexperienced. ► Many free black men enlisted for longer periods (about 5,000)
The Northern Campaigns (1776-1778) March of 1776 - The British left Boston Washington felt they would reappear in New York City trying to capture the Hudson valley… dividing the colonies
The Northern Campaigns July of 1776 The British forced Washington from New York with the help of 8,000 Hessian soldiers Washington is chased across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania Winter came and Patriot spirits fell
The Northern Campaigns December 1776 - Washington gambles and his troops rowed across the icy Delaware River to the New Jersey shore. ► Catch the Hessians sleeping ► Seized a great quantity of supplies ► Washington’s victories at Trenton and Princeton gave the Patriots a new hope
WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE by Emanuel Leutz (1851) Emanuel Leutze (American: 1816–1868), Washington Crossing the Delaware, 1851, Oil on canvas; 149 x 255 in. (378.5 x 647.7 cm): The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of John Stewart Kennedy, 1897 (97.34) Photograph © 1992 The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The Northern Campaigns Summer 1777 General Howe began a campaign to capture Philadelphia
The Northern Campaigns
The Northern Campaigns The American victory at Saratoga persuaded France to back the Patriot effort ► It now recognized America’s independence and entered an alliance with the new nation ► It also persuaded Spain to join the American side ► Spain and France donated badly needed funds ► Other European countries were drawn into the war (Holland)
The Northern Campaigns Winter of 1777-78 Driven from Philadelphia by General Howe, Washington spent the winter at Valley Forge
The Northern Campaigns 25% died from the cold, smallpox, typhoid, and lack of food Many soldiers deserted
to Valley Forge to fight The Northern Campaign Many Europeans came to Valley Forge to fight
The Northern Campaign ► Marquis de Lafayette (French) ► Served without pay and was a popular leader
The Northern Campaign Casimir Pulaski and Thaddeus Kosciusko (Poland) planned defenses along the Hudson River
The Northern Campaign Baron von Steuben (German) trained them all winter long in European military formations