1. The War Expands
Chapter 7: Section 2

2. Essential Question
How was it possible that American patriots gained their independence from the powerful British Empire?

3. Help from Abroad
France was still bitter over the French and Indian War
France lost their northern colonies
France hoped to weaken Britain by siding with the colonists
France became an official ally of the colonists after the Battles of Saratoga
They promised to send badly needed supplies such as funds and troops
They convinced their ally, Spain, to also help the colonists
By entering the war, they forced Britain to fight a number of enemies on land and sea.
The British now had to spread their military resources over many fronts

4. Help from abroad
Marquis De Lafayette was a 19 year old French aristocrat who came to aid Washington’s army
Believed in the American cause, came to help.
He would use his own money to buy warm clothes and food for his men
Nicknamed the “soldier’s friend”
Convinced the French king to send a 6,000-man army to America
Baron de Kalb was a German officer who had served in the French army
Became one of Washington’s generals with a reputation for bravery

5. Winter at Valley Forge
Washington’s army lacked supplies such as blanket, shoes, and food
Over the hard winter, the soldiers grew weak from lack of food and warm clothing
About ¼ died from malnutrition, exposure, or diseases such as smallpox and typhoid fever
Washington appealed to Congress for more supplies but they were slow to respond

6. Winter at Valley Forge
Some soldiers deserted due to the harsh conditions
Washington’s determination and patriotism inspired the rest to keep fighting
During the winter, German officer the Baron von Steuben helped transform the inexperienced soldiers into a skilled fighting force
He taught them how to handle weapons and how to fight the formal battle of the British
The American army emerged from Valley Forge a more efficient and stronger fighting machine