1. The War Continues
Chapter 6, Lesson 2

2. Prologue
The Continental Congress sent Jonathan Austin of Boston to France to inform of the victory at Saratoga
Ben Franklin was already there trying to get the assistance of France.
When Austin arrived Franklin asked nervously, “Is Philadelphia taken?
He replied, “It is, sir. But, sir, I have greater news than that. General Burgoyne and his whole army are prisoners of war.”

3. Gaining Allies
The victory at Saratoga in October 1777 raised American spirits.
This was also a turning point of the war.
European nations (including France) started to believe the Americans could actually win the war.
Now was the perfect opportunity to request support from Great Britain’s rivals.
Hence, Franklin being in Paris for a year, attempting to get support.
His skill and charm earned them many friends and gave money secretly but they had not committed an alliance.

4. France
When France caught wind of the victory in Saratoga, they publicly announced supporting the United States.
In February 1778, the French and the Americans worked out a trade agreement and an alliance.
France declared war on Britain and sent money, equipment, and troops to aid the American Patriots.

5. Spain
Others helped the Americans mostly because they hated the British.
Spain did not recognize American independence until after the Revolution, but they did declare war on Britain in 1779.
The Spanish governor of Louisiana, Bernardo de Galvez, raised an army.
His soldiers forced British troops from Baton Rouge and Natchez.
They then captured British forts at Mobile in 1780 and Pensacola in 1781.
Galvez’s campaign through hundreds of miles of wilderness diverted British troops from other fronts.

6. Winter at Valley Forge
Word of the new alliance between the French and Americans did not reach the United States until spring of 1778.
During this time Howe spent winter in Philadelphia.
Washington set up camp at Valley Forge, located 20 miles west from the British.
They endured a terrible winter suffering, lacking decent food, clothing, and shelter.
Washington’s greatest challenge was keeping the Continental Army together.

7. Winter at Valley Forge
Joseph Martin, a young private from Connecticut, spent the winter at Valley Forge.
“We had a hard duty to perform… and little to no strength to perform it with”
Most men lacked basics like blankets, shoes, and shirts.
Martin made himself a makeshift pair of moccasins for himself out of spare cowhide believing it was better than going barefoot.
Also thought they could be tracked by their blood. (bloody feet)

8. Winter at Valley Forge
Unsurprisingly, many men deserted, or left without permission, while the Continental Army was camped at Valley Forge.
Some officers resigned.
The army seemed to be falling apart.
Somehow with strong determination, the Continental Army survived the winter and conditions gradually improved.
They did so for example, by building huts and gathering supplies from the countryside.

9. Winter at Valley Forge
Volunteers (including Washington’s wife, Martha) made clothes for the troops and cared for the sick.
Washington believed that no army had ever suffered “such uncommon hardships” with such “patience and fortitude.”
New soldiers joined up in the spring.
In April 1778 Washington told his troops of the Patriots’ alliance with France.
Everyone’s spirit rose at the though of help from overseas.
The celebrated with a religious ceremony and parade.

10. Help from Overseas
Among the soldiers at Valley Forge was Marquis de Lafayette.
After hearing the ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence he purchased a ship and set a course for America.
He rushed to join the battle for freedom.
He often wrote to his wife and children in France,
“The future of America is closely bound up with the future of all mankind.”
Lafayette offered the services of himself and his followers to General Washington, becoming a trusted aide to him.

11. Help from Overseas Other notable volunteers include:
Thaddeus Kosciusko (kawsh-CHUSH-koh) – Engineer.
Casimir Pulaski – A cavalry officer who died in 1779 fighting for the continental army.
Friedrich von Steuben (STOO-buhn) – Army officer from Germany assisting Washington by drilling Patriot Troops at Valley Forge.
Juan de Miralles (mee-RAH-yays) – arrived in Philadelphia as a representative of Spain urging Spain, Cuba, and Mexico to financially aide the cause.

12. Thaddeus Kosciusko
Casimir Pulaski
Friedrich von Steuben
Juan de Miralles
Marquis de Lafayette
Martha Washington

13. Money Problems Getting money to finance the war was still difficult.
Congress could not tax to raise money.
They did receive some money from states and foreign countries, but it was still not enough to fund the war.
To pay for the war, the Congress and the states printed hundreds of millions of dollars worth of paper money.
They quickly lost value because the amount in circulation was more than the incoming gold and silver.

14. Money Problems
This led to inflation (takes more and more money to buy the same amount of goods)
They stopped issuing the paper money because people refused to use it.
However, we are now left with little options to fight the war.

15. Life on the Home Front The war had changed the life of Americans.
This included those who stayed away from the fighting at home.
With thousands of men away in military service many women took over duties of their fathers or husbands.
Some ran their husbands’ or their own business.

16. Changing Attitudes
The ideals of liberty and freedom caused some women to question their place in society.
Judith Sargeant Murray of Massachusetts argued in an essay on education that women’s minds were just as good as men’s.
She argued that girls should receive an education as good as boys. (a radical idea for the time since girls weren’t very well educated)

17. Changing Attitudes
Abigail Adams also supported women’s interest, writing to her husband…
“I cannot say that I think you are very generous to the ladies, for, whilst you are proclaiming peace and good will to men, emancipating all nations, you insist upon retaining an absolute power over wives.”

18. Treatment of Loyalist Every state had some loyalists.
Thousands fought in support of the British.
Other spied and informed on Patriots.
Many loyalist fled the colonies during the Revolutionary War.
Some packed whatever they could, sold the rest, and moved to England.
Some just hurriedly left for England.
Others took to Florida.
Some moved into the Frontier beyond the Appalachian Mountains and into Canada.

19. Treatment of Loyalist Those who remained faced difficult times.
Neighbors often shunned them.
Some were victims of Mob violence.
Those caught spying were arrested and tried as traitors.
Some were even executed but such extreme measures were unusual.

20. Hope for Equality
The ideals of Freedom and liberty inspired some white Americans to question slavery.
As early as the Stamp Act crisis, religious and other groups had voted to condemn slavery.
In 1778 Governor William Livingston of New Jersey asked the legislature to free all enslaved people in the state.
He said slavery was…
“utterly inconsistent with the principles of Christianity and humanity.”

21. Hope for Equality African Americans made similar arguments.
In New Hampshire enslaved Africans asked the legislature for their freedom:
“so that the name of slave may not be heard in a land gloriously contending for the sweets of freedom.”
From the beginning of the war at Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill Africans American soldiers fought for the American cause.

22. Hope for Equality
The Revolution seemed to bring nearer the day when slavery would be abolished.
Several states (New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania attempted to rid slavery in their states.
It would be many years before the issue of slavery would be settled.