The American Revolution Chapter 6 Section 1

Who were the Patriots? Americans who supported independence Another name was “Rebels”

Patriot Advantages over the British More accurate long rifles 30,000 Men Experienced in Wilderness fighting Defending Homes Fighting for Beliefs Support of French Troops and Navy

Disadvantages suffered by the Patriots Untrained and Undisciplined Lack of Artillery Short Enlistments (3 Months) Little Ammo and Supplies Lack of Weapons

Inexperienced in building forts Inexperienced in British style of combat No Money Americans were divided over the issue of independence

Advantages the British had over the Patriots Money--Wealth of a worldwide empire $$$ Professional Army (5 years experience) Soldiers load and fire quickly Strong Navy German Mercenaries and Indian Allies British had a much larger population than the United States

British Disadvantages Low quality of officers Recruited from jails and slums Distance from home (supplies) War not popular in England Not used to terrain/weather Spain and France oppose them

The Loyalist/Tories Americans who remained loyal to Great Britain and opposed the war for independence Others Remain Neutral

Location of the War a Big Advantage to the Americans!!! The Americans knew the land and fought with great determination to protect it Home Field Advantage!!!! A reason to Win!!!!

Hessian Soldiers Hessians were fighting for money Hessians were from the Germany and the British hired them to fight the Patriots Mercenaries---Hired soldier

Famous Women of the Revolution Margaret Corbin –“Molly Pitcher” Took her husbands place in a battle after he was killed Deborah Sampson –Disgused herself as a boy and enlisted in the Army

Nathan Hale “I only regret that I have but one life to lose my country” He was a American spy who was caught and hanged by the British

Thomas Paine Wrote the inspiring pamphlet “Common Sense” Everybody in the Colonies read it He blamed the King for all the taxes!! Made people want independence

“The American Crisis” Thomas Paine wrote this Pamphlet also “These times are the times that try men’s soul Washington read American Crisis to his troops to inspire them to continue fighting

African Americans and the War White Southerners were afraid that if enslaved African Americans had guns they would revolt Some states used freed African Americans anyway Many fought VERY bravely –Lemuel Hayeys –Peter Salem

Battle of Trenton Washington’s army is almost defeated---recruitment very bad Decided to make a last ditch surprise attack Crosses Delaware on Christmas Night 1776 Defeats Hessians MAJOR moral victory for the Americans

British General Burgoyne and the Plan for Victory Devised plan to separate New England colonies from Middle Colonies Hoped to split them up in Albany, New York Burgoyne from the North, Howe from the South and Leger from the West

The British Capture Philadelphia Instead of following directions and moving North up to Albany, Howe captures the capital of the Patriots. General Howe moves South and captures Philadelphia. Howe decided to stay in Philadelphia for the winter

The Battle of Saratoga Burgoyne (B) is running out of supplies Green Mountain Boys (Local Militia Group) keep attacking British troops General Gates (American) blocked Burgoynes path south Benedict Arnold (A) was a major reason for the victory British forced to surrender 5,700 soldiers in lose MAJOR VICTORY!!!!

The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the Revolutionary War. On October 17, 1777, 5,895 British and Hessian troops surrendered their arms. General John Burgoyne had lost 86 percent of his expeditionary force that had triumphantly marched into New York from Canada in the early summer of The success at Saratoga gave France the confidence in the American cause to enter the war as an American ally.