The Revolutionary War Begins Chapter 4 Section 3 The Revolutionary War Begins
Deborah Sampson Read about Deborah Sampson on page 125. Answer the following questions: 1) Why did Robert Shurtleff keep to himself? 2) Why was Sampson able to pass for a man? 3) What happened to Sampson?
Activity: Class breaks into 4 groups, each representing one of the following: Soldiers Women African Americans Natives Each group will identify the role those people played in the Revolution. Class will create a chart on the board.
Continental Army Strengths Strong military leadership Fighting on home territory Alliance with France Passionate about cause Weaknesses Small, untrained military Shortages of resources Weak central government
British Army Strengths Well-trained military Ample resources Alliances with Loyalists Weaknesses Fighting in unfamiliar territory Fighting far from home Not as passionate
Problems with money and morale Inflation led to food shortages Private financiers like Salomon helped fund Revolution Thomas Paine’s The Crisis” written in 1776 George Washington read to his troops to rally them to fight Discuss answer to “the Crisis” questions
New York, Fall 1776 Gen. Howe & Adm. Howe met on Staten Island with 32,000 soldiers Washington rallied 23,000 soldiers Outnumbered, they retreated across NJ and into PA, only 8,000 men remained Morale very low, British held largest city in colonies
Trenton – December 26, 1776 Continental Army scored first victory Crossed the Delaware River on Christmas Night Surprise attack on Hessians in Trenton, killed 30, took 918 captive, 6 cannons Scenes from “the Crossing” A few days later, Patriots win at Princeton (January 1777) Read letters from Henry Knox to Lucy, answer questions
General Howe wanted to seize capital Philadelphia – Spring 1777 General Howe wanted to seize capital Congress fled, British captured city British camped for winter, Washington headed to Valley Forge
Saratoga – October 1777 British Gen. Burgoyne led an army from Canada to meet Howe in Albany, Howe didn’t leave Philly Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys – as well as other militiamen attacked Continental Army surrounded him at Saratoga, British surrendered Turning Point -British changed strategy – stayed on coast, went South -French decided to support Americans
Valley Forge Winter camp, 1777-1778 10,000 soldiers, 2,000 died during time there Marquis de Lafayette appealed to France for help Friedrich von Steuben – Prussian drillmaster who helped train men and make them more effective military (read Diary of a Soldier)