1. Chapter 8: Section 2 The Colonies at War

2. The War in the North
1775 – Continental Army wants support from French Canadians
Richard Montgomery captures Montreal
Benedict Arnold goes to Quebec through blizzards
Men eat bark, candles, shoe leather
Attack unsuccessful
Leaders killed or wounded
Men too tired/ hungry to fight
British reinforcements arrive
Canada remains British

3. Dorchester Heights British supplies low after Bunker Hill
Stay in Boston to wait for goods
Washington moves cannons to Dorchester Heights pointing them at Boston
General William Howe evacuates Boston
King George blockades Boston and ports
No goods can come in or leave the colonies

4. The New York Campaign 1776 – General Howe returns from Canada
Wants to take New York City
Why?
Can easily march troops north or south
Splits the northern and southern colonies

5. The Battle of Long Island
Washington moves 19,000 untrained troops to defend the island
No navy to challenge the British
No match for Howe’s professional troops
Washington leads a retreat into New Jersey, then crosses the Delaware river into Pennsylvania
Washington lost New York until the end of the war

6. Spying on the Enemy Spying was a common practice
If caught, spies were labeled traitors and hanged
Nathan Hale
Spied for George Washington in New York
Caught and put to death
“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

7. Victories at Trenton and Princeton
Washington's army in bad shape
Little or no food
Rotten meat seasoned with salt to cover the taste
Hard peas, moldy bread
Washington plans a surprise attack on a British camp in Trenton, New Jersey

8. Surprise Attack
Washington’s army crosses the Delaware River unseen to attack Hessians at Trenton
December 25, 1776
Christmas Day
Hessians surrender
Howe sends General Charles Cornwallis to pursue Washington’s army
Americans defeat the British at Princeton
January 3, 1777
Continental Army now has confidence

9. Turning the Tide British are embarrassed by their losses
General John Burgoyne plans to control the Hudson River
Cut off New England from the rest of the colonies

10. The Battle of Saratoga Burgoyne’s Plan
Three armies would attack Albany, NY at the same time from different directions
Burgoyne – north
Howe – south
Colonel Barry St. Leger – west
Plan failed because of no communication
Change of plans

11. Battle of Saratoga Continued
Americans attack Burgoyne in Saratoga
British try to retreat but Americans surround them
October 17, 1777
Burgoyne surrenders
Americans take 6000 British soldiers prisoner

12. War in the North

13. The Treaty of Alliance King Louis XVI signs Treaty of Alliance
February 1778
France now supports Americans in the war

14. Brutal Winter at Valley Forge
Soldiers stayed the winter here waiting for French aid to arrive
Living Conditions
14 x 16 ft huts with dirt floors crawling with lice
12 soldiers per hut
Ate firecakes
Thin dough strips
Barefoot/ Shoeless
2,500 American soldiers died
Spring/ French aid arrives
Washington makes new battle plans

15. Winter at Valley Forge

16. Help From Europe Baron Friedrich von Steuben Marquis de Lafayette
Prussian soldier trained Washington’s troops
How to work together, advance, retreat, carry weapons, use bayonets
Marquis de Lafayette
French soldier turned American general at 19
Thaddeus Kosciuszko
Polish engineer built trenches and forts for Americans
Casimir Pulaski
Poland, trained 1st cavalry unit
Soldiers on horseback
Bernardo de Galvez
Spanish Governor secretly sent supplies and troops to help Americans fight

17. The War in the West Native Americans join British forces
Hoping it would drive white settlers from their land
George Rogers Clark
Leads Virginia volunteers to raid British in Ohio Valley
Captures forts at Kaskaskia and Cahokia
With help from Miami NA
Captures Fort Vincennes
Weakens British in Ohio Valley

18. The War at Sea Continental Navy established in 1775
Privateers – armed private ships used to protect ports
John Paul Jones
Captain of the Bonhomme Richard
Sailed to British coast to attack Serapis, British warship
“I have not yet begun to fight!”
Heavily damaged, Jones defeat the British
“Father of the American Navy”