1. The Struggle for Liberty
Section 3

2. Supporting the War Effort
George Washington chief task was to raise troops
More than 230,000 soldiers served in the Continental Army and another 145,000 served in local militias.
It was hard keeping dedicated soldiers, so Continental Congress required states to supply soldiers.
Men who could afford it paid for others (slaves and apprentices) go in their place.
Washington opposed allowing African Americans fighting until the British promised freedom to African Americans if they fought with the British.

3. Women and African Americans Supporting the War Effort
Women ran farms and businesses; others helped by raising money for supplies or clothing
African Americans enlisted in the army at higher rates than did whites.
Mary Ludwig Hays brought water to the troops getting the nickname “Molly Pitcher”; she took her husband’s place when he died.
Deborah Sampson dressed like a man and fought in several battles.
James Armistead,
Mary Ludwig Hays
aka Molly Pitcher brought water to the troops getting the nickname she took her husband’s place when he died.
James Armistead worked as a double spy giving false info to the British and good info to the Americans
Deborah Sampson dressed like a man and fought in several battles

4. Defeats and Victories Canada
Some Patriots favored invading Canada and making it the “14th Colony”
Gen. Benedict Arnold and Gen. Richard Montgomery troops joined together to attack Quebec; they were crushed by the British.
New York
Gen. Washington (and 23,000 troops) were defeated by Gen. Howe (and his 32,000 troops)
The Redcoats captured the Patriots and the supplies

5. Battle of Trenton
In November 1776, the Continental Army was tattered and on the run.
The soldiers were tired and discouraged; one-year contracts ended Dec. 31.
British Gen. Howe left New Jersey in the hands of Hessian mercenaries (Germany)
Washington needed a victory to revive his troops
2,400 Patriots soldiers silently crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night 1776
Hessians were drunk and fast asleep after holiday celebrations when Patriots attacked
PatriotsTook 900 prisoners

6. Princeton Sneak attack
Gen. Charles Cornwallis tried to stop the Patriots at Princeton after the attack on the Hessians
Jan. 2, 1777, Patriots left their campfires burning, slipped into the darkness and circled behind the Redcoats
They attacked in the morning and the Redcoats fled.
Trenton and Princeton revive the army and saved the Revolution
Hessian Mercenaries
Gen. Charles Cornwallis

7. Battle of Saratoga
British General John Burgoyne decided to cut off the rest of New England by pushing through NY
The plan was to recaptured Fort Ticonderoga, sweep south to Albany, and meet Gen. Howe in NYC on the Hudson River.
PROBLEM: It required perfect timing and Gen. Howe had left NY already (Gen. Howe captured Philadelphia and the Continental Congress was forced to flee)
The Patriots cut down large trees, dammed the river creating obstacles for the enemy attacked Redcoats and surround Gen. Burgoyne forcing him to surrender.
Gen. John Burgoyne
Gen. William Howe

8. Winter at Valley Forge
December 1777 – Washington settled his 12,000 troops at Valley Forge (north of Philadelphia)
No Battles took place at Valley Forge
The soldiers were in terrible conditions
Built shelter that gave little protection against the weather
Low on supplies
Some soldiers did not have shoes or were low on clothes or didn’t have proper clothing.
About 2000 soldiers died because of disease and malnutrition
Soldiers who survived not only stayed, but they also drilled and marched to the orders of Baron von Steuben becoming better soldiers.
While Patriots suffered, British soldiers lived in luxury in Philadelphia.

9. Two Remarkable Europeans
Marquis de Lafayette
“The welfare of America is closely bound by the welfare of mankind”
Baron Friedrich von Steuben
“You say to your soldier, 'Do this' and he does it. But I am obliged to say to the American, 'This is why you ought to do this' and then he does it.”
Wealthy Frenchman inspired by the ideas of the Revolution
Bought with him his own ships and a group of well- trained soldiers and volunteered to fight in the Continental Army without pay.
Successfully led 2,000 Patriots to pursue 6,000 Redcoats
Wrote home to many powerful friends & family in France asking for aid for the Patriot cause.
Experienced military officer from Prussia
Trained military troops in basic military drills
Turned the Continental Army into a “finely tuned fighting force.”
-Didn’t speak much English, never seen battle and earned the rank of major general
-A historian called von Steuben’s feat “perhaps the most remarkable achievement in rapid military training in the history of the world.

10. Help From France and Spain
Ben Franklin ask for support from King Louis XVI, who was convinced Patriots’ win at Saratoga
May 1778 – Continental Congress ratified a treaty with France and France increased its help
Spain
Spain joined the war in 1779
Spanish Louisiana Gov. Bernardo de Galvez gathered Spanish soldiers, French Americans, colonists and Native Americans, and seized British posts from Louisiana to Pensacola, FL.
King Louis XVI
Gov. Bernardo de Galvez

11. -Enslaved people in New Hampshire
Questioning Slavery
African Americans fought for the cause hoping the Revolution would bring them freedom.
Slavery is “utterly inconsistent with the principles of Christianity and humanity.” I order all enslaved people in New Jersey be set free.
-Gov. Wm. Livingston
Pennsylvania legislature adopted a plan to gradually free enslaved people in 1780; was the first to legislation in the world to take action against slavery
Give us our freedom so “that the name of slave may not be heard in a land gloriously contending for the sweets of freedom”
-Enslaved people in New Hampshire

12. War at Sea and John Paul Jones
Fall 1775 – Continental Congress made plans to build four American warships; established the marines and the Continental Navy.
The American fleets attacked the British supply base in on Nassau in the Bahamas rather than attack the British fleets directly.
Afterwards Continental Navy focused on seizing British ships and weakening the British naval forces in the West Indies.
Much of naval success is credited to John Paul Jones.
Jones was an outlaw who accidentally killed the leader of a mutiny.
Considered a pirate by the British.
He was given seven (7) vessels by France; named his flagship vessel Bonhomme Richard (Gentlemen Richard) in honor of Ben Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac.
Continental Navy used less than 100 ships over the course of the war and Britain lost more than 200 ships to the small, effective American navy force.

13. War in the West
George Rogers Clark was a surveyor who volunteered to lead the western campaign
Created an army from scattered settlements in the area.
One of the best-known groups was the “Over the Mountain Men” (a band of settlers from present-day Tennessee)
Clark and troops targeted trading villages
The British were more successful at winning Native American support, but Clark’s many campaigns undermined British support in the west.