The American Revolution Chapter

British Resistance  On May 10,1775, Americans attacked Britain’s Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain. Ethan Allen led this band of backwoods fighters known and the Green Mountain Boys.  The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and created the Continental Army.  George Washington was the commander.  Future First President of the United States

Colonies Divided  Patriots  From New England Colonies and Virginia  Congregationalist, Presbyterians, and Baptists  Loyalist  Judges or members of the Church of England.  Quakers  Pacifist

Colonies Divided

Strategies of Each Side The ColoniesBritish Military Untrained and Undisciplined Volunteers Small Skirmishes ( avoid a crushing defeat) Soldiers were only enlisted for one year Lacked supplies Experienced and Professional For personal and Political reasons many soldiers didn't’t want to fight Had trouble recruiting soldiers ( They were signed up for life) Hessians

Early Stages of the War  George Washington and his men successfully pushed Britain out of Boston in March  General Howe and Britain made a push back, they won the Battle of Long Island and forced Washington’s men retreat through New Jersey.  Moral was low for the colonies  Thomas Paine- The American Crisis

Battle of Trenton  Late December 25,1776 Washington’s troops rowed across the icy Delaware River to New Jersey. Hessians were celebrating a recently victory and caught off guard.  The Americans Captured more than 900 Hessians and needed supplies.  Washington’s victory helped get more soldiers to join his army because they now believed he could win

Battle of Saratoga  The British wanted to cut off New England by controlling the Hudson River Valley.  Three British armies were to meet at Albany, New York  General Burgoyne would lead a force south from Canada  Lt Colonel Barry St. Leger would come down the Mohawk Valley  General Howe was to follow the Hudson river north from New York City.  Burgoyne army got near Albany but could not penetrate the fortifications.  The American victory at Saratoga shoed that Americans could win the war.  European nations joined the war

Help from Abroad  Foreign Officers lead American Troops.  France joined the war as their ally, or partner. King Louis XVI promised to send money supplies ad soldiers to America. Spain soon then joined.  Britain had to fight on all different fronts.

Winter at Valley Forge  Washington’s army were desperate for food an supplies.  Soldiers died of malnutrition and small pox  On New Years 1778 women drove ten teams of oxen into the camp  2,000 shirts  Baron von Steuben transforms the army.

Frontier Fighting & War on the Water  George Rogers Clark victories on the frontier gave America Much more land.  Britain had to spread their troops over an even larger area.  Without control of the high seas they couldn’t receive any supplies.