Revolution=Tough Work
Battle for Quebec Many patriots want to take Canada We capture a few key forts but need Quebec Benedict Arnold leads attack, no cannons, many troops leaving soon Wait to attack during snowstorm, fails badly, half Americans are causalities– killed, wounded, missing
Battle for New York British General Howe has 32,000 troops, Washington has 20,000 Battle of Long Island– Americans badly defeated, war could have been lost if not for Washington Nathan Hale– American spy caught by British, “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”
Rough Time for the Patriots US soldiers don’t have proper clothes, shoes, supplies Many deserters– leave army w/o permission, cause is about to collapse Thomas Paine writes “The Crisis” –written to inspire the troops and citizens Washington wants slaves to be able to fight, southern colonies against it New England colonies let them fight anyway
Victory in New Jersey British do not plan to fight in the winter, plan to stay in NY, leave Hessians in Trenton and Princeton Washington sneaks across the Delaware River on Christmas night and defeats Hessians in Trenton
Battle of Princeton– Americans leave fires burning, draw British in, surround them Big victory, lifts spirits
A British Plan for Victory British plan to take Albany/Hudson River– will cut off New England colonies from other colonies 3 Way Plan: Gen. Burgoyne- goes south from Canada Gen. St. Leger- goes east from Lake Ontario Gen. Howe- goes north from NY
Howe decides to take Philly on the way to Albany but Washington attacks at Brandywine and Germantown Both American losses but slows down British
St. Leger is stopped by Benedict Arnold at Fort Stanwix Burgoyne takes back Ft. Ticonderoga but moves to slow in the woods He runs out of supplies, sends some troops to find more and they get captured by Green Mtn. Boys at Ft. Bennington
Battle of Saratoga Burgoyne retreats to Saratoga, NY He expects help from Howe & St. Leger Americans surround him, led by Gen. Horatio Gates Burgoyne tries to break out once but then is forced to surrender Saratoga shows the world we might actually win– France and Spain now help
Foreign Allies France has been sending $, but now also sends troops Spain and France declare war on England, now England has to worry about Europe Spain captures British forts on the Miss. River– Bernardo de Galvez
Marquis de Lafayette (French) helps led troops in battle, good friends w/ Washington Pulaski (Poland)– designs forts and trains cavalry Von Stueben (Germany)– drill sergeant, whips troops into fighting shape
Valley Forge Washington spends winter camped 20 miles outside of Philly at Valley Forge Lack of food, warm clothes, shoes, blankets, tents Many die of starvation, exposure, many also desert the army
Fighting at Sea British use their navy to blockade our coast– lack of supplies Congress calls for ship building and privateers attack British ships John Paul Jones destroys the British ship “Serapis”– “I have not yet begun to fight!”