Chapter 6, Section 3 Battlegrounds Shift

Fighting in the West Patriot Propaganda More Native Americans sided with the British. They seemed less of a threat than the Americans. Why would the Native Americans see the Patriots as less of a threat? West of the Appalachian Mountains, the British and their Native American allies raided American settlements. Mohawk war chief Joseph Brant led a number of brutal attacks in southwestern New York and northern Pennsylvania. Farther west, Henry Hamilton, British commander at Detroit, paid Native Americans for settlers' scalps. This practice earned him the nickname, the "hair buyer."

The West (Cont.) George Rogers Clark- Kaskaskia is Captured Virginia militia leader George Rogers Clark set out to end attacks in the West. In July 1778, Clark led a force of 175 westward down the Ohio River and over land. The Patriots captured a British post at Kaskaskia in present-day Illinois. British troops under Hamilton recaptured Vincennes that December. In February 1779, Clark and his troops braved harsh winter conditions to surprise the British and force their surrender. Clark's victory strengthened the American position in the West and allowed the Patriots to claim the territories after the war. George Rogers Clark Father of the Western Country George Rogers Clark- Kaskaskia is Captured

Help in the West From Spain Along with France, Spain also declares war on Britain.. The Spanish governor of Louisiana Bernardo de Galvez helped the Patriots by shipping tons of supplies and ammunition up the Mississippi River from Louisiana. These supplies were crucial to George Rogers Clark and his efforts to capture the key posts of Kaskaskia and Vincennes. Galvez also raised an army to fight the British. His forces drive the British out of the Gulf of Mexico area. Britain is now fighting wars at five different locations in the world.

The War at Sea At sea, Great Britain's powerful navy enjoyed a major advantage. British vessels formed an effective blockade keeping ships from entering or leaving American harbors. How would this affect the Patriots? Congress ordered 13 warships to break the blockade, but only two of the ships made it to sea. The American navy was too weak to operate well.

Privateers Congress also authorized some 2,000 ships to sail as privateers- a privately owned merchant ship outfitted with weapons. The goal of the privateer is to capture enemy merchant ships and cargo. Sailors from the whaling and fishing ports of New England signed on eagerly for the profitable privateering trade. During the war, privateers captured more British ships than the American navy did. What’s this guy look like? ---------

John Paul Jones Takes a British Warship An American Naval Hero John Paul Jones and his ship, Bonhomme Richard defeated the British warship Serapis. In the heat of battle just when it looked like the British had beaten John Paul Jones, the British captain asked whether Jones wished to surrender. Jones is said to have answered, "I have not yet begun to fight." John Paul Jones Takes a British Warship

Pair Up and Complete the 3 Column Chart West At Sea South Use the guiding propts to find 7 details Use the guiding prompts to find 4 details Use the guiding prompts to find 10 details

Regional Characteristics of the Revolutionary War: The West, At Sea, The Southern Campaign Native Americans mostly sided with the British because they seemed less of a threat Americans lived amongst the Native Americans and often took Native American lands Virginia Militia leader George Robert Clark led the patriots in battle in the west. Kaskaskia was captured by Clark in 1778 British Town of Vincennes was re-captured by Clark in 1779 Clarks victories in the West strengthened the Patriot position in the west. Spanish Governor of Louisiana Bernardo de Galvez shipped tons of supplies and ammunition up the Mississippi river to help Patriot forces. At Sea: The British Blockaded major shipping ports in the Americas. Congress ordered 13 warships but only 2 made it to sea. Privateers were authorized (paid by) the Continental Congress to capture enemy merchant ships and cargo. John Paul Jones raided many British ports and captured many enemy ships including the British “Serapis” off the coast of Britain.

Regional Characteristics of the Revolutionary War: The West, At Sea, The Southern Campaign (cont.) The Patriots saved the important shipping port of Charles Town in the first battle of Charles Town After many losses to the Patriots in the north, the British focused on winning the South. The British planned on using loyalist support and their navy to win the South. The British won the second Battle of Charles Town. General George Cornwallis took over for the British and General Nathanael Greene took over for the Patriots. Patriot General Horatio Gates lost the Battle of Camden to the British. The Patriots, including Francis Marion, appeared suddenly, fired their weapons and then disappeared. The Mountain people were angered by British threats to “…Hang their leaders, and lay their country to waste…” Patriot Nathanael Greene took over for Horatio Gates. After suffering great losses at Cowpens, South Carolina and Guilford Courthouse (Greensboro) North Carolina, Cornwallis gave up the fight for the southernmost colonies.

Fighting in the South In 1776 Patriot forces crushed Loyalists at the Battle of Moore's Creek, near Wilmington, North Carolina. They also saved the key port of Charles Town, South Carolina, from the British. By 1778, Patriot victories such as Saratoga and the first battle of Charles Town, had convinced the British that bringing their old colonies back into the empire would not be easy so they changed their strategy. The new British plan focused on the South, where there were more Loyalists than in the north. The British hoped to use sea power and the support of the Loyalists to win important victories in the Southern states.

The South-British Victories British general Henry Clinton sent 3,500 troops from New York to take Savannah, Georgia. After the British failed in their first attempt to capture Charles Town (now called Charleston) South Carolina, Clinton personally lead another British force in an attack on the city. This time the city surrendered after more than a month long siege. What is Siege Warfare? It marked the worst American defeat of the war for the Patriots. American General Benjamin Lincoln surrendered almost 5,000 troops after holding out in the city of Charles Town in which British General Henry Clinton had surrounded.

After the loss of Charles Town (Charleston) South Carolina General Charles Cornwallis was left in command of British forces in the South. General Horatio Gates was sent as commander of the Patriots to face Cornwallis. The British won this first encounter at Camden, South Carolina. General Horatio Gates’ was seen fleeing the battle on his horse. He was reported to have fled 170 miles. He has been blamed for the loss at the Battle of Camden because of his poor military decisions and lack of preparation. Where else do we know Mr. Horatio Gates from?

Angered and Offended After their win in Camden, the British threatened the local people to give up their fight for independence or the British would, “…hang their leaders, and lay country waste…” The Americans who received these threats were mountain people, who had remained neutral until this point, they never claimed to be Patriot or Loyalist. The threats angered the Mountain Men who many were poor people who lived in the Backwoods of the Appalachian Mountains. They were not like the sophisticated people who lived in the bigger cities in the east Coast. They formed their own Militia to fight against the British led Loyalist Militias. At Kings Mountain, the American militia force killed or captured a British-led Loyalist force of about 1,000. The Patriot victory brought new support for independence from Southerners.

Guerilla Warfare Bands of Patriot soldiers appeared suddenly, fired their weapons, and then disappeared. This hit-and-run technique caught the British off guard. Francis Marion, who was known as the "Swamp Fox," operated out of the swamps of eastern South Carolina. He was quick and smart. One British colonel grumbled that "the devil himself" could not catch Marion.

American Successes In October 1780, Nathanael Greene replaced Gates as commander of the Continental forces in the South. Rather than lead one attack on Cornwallis's forces, Greene split his army in two. In January 1781, one section defeated the British at Cowpens, South Carolina. Another section joined Francis Marion's raids. Greene then combined his forces and he met Cornwallis's army at Guilford Courthouse, in present-day Greensboro, North Carolina. Greene's army was forced to retreat, but the British sustained great losses in the process. General Cornwallis gave up the campaign to conquer the Carolinas and other southern states to focus on Virginia. Nathanael Greene Charles Cornwallis

It’s Almost Over… In April 1781, Cornwallis marched north to Virginia. His troops carried out raids throughout the region. General Washington sent Lafayette and General Anthony Wayne south to push Cornwallis back. Meanwhile, Cornwallis took shelter at Yorktown, on the Virginia coast. The battle for the South was entering its final phase.