1. The War Widens
Pages

2. Discover the role that African Americans played in the American Revolution
Find out hoe the war affected women and other civilians
Learn about the progress of fighting on the western frontier and at sea
Objectives

3. How did the effects of the war widen?
Focus Question

4. African Americans in the War
African Americans fought on both sides of the American Revolution
In the beginning, free African Americans took part in the war
At least nine served as minutemen at Lexington and Concord
African Americans in the War

5. African Americans in the War
Enslaved people served as well
The British offered freedom to enslaved people who deserted and joined the British
On the American side, George Washington refused to accept African American soldiers
After the British offered freedom to enslaved people, Washington changed his policy
African Americans in the War

6. African Americans in the War
By the end of the war, 7,000 African Americans served on the American side (in the north)
2,000 served in the navy (in the north)
HOWEVER, most southern states refused to accept African American soldiers
Slave owners feared slave revolts
African Americans in the War

7. A number of northern states took steps to end slavery during the Revolution
A Pennsylvania law (1780) provided for a gradual end to slavery
Barred slaveholders from getting more slaves
Freedom Beckons

8. Civilians Civilians = people not in the military
Also faced hardships – were often subject to food shortages and military attack
Civilians

9. Women in the Revolution
The added responsibilities gave many women a new confidence
War actually opened up new opportunities for women
Women took over many duties that were typically done by men
Planted crops, cared for livestock, ran businesses
Some accompanied husbands in military camps
Women in the Revolution

10. Women in the Revolution
Deborah Sampson: joined the army, disguised as a man
Wounded in battle – tended to own wounds to keep her secret
Women in the Revolution

11. Financial Burdens Congress had limited resources
Had no power to tax (had to plead to the states for money!)
BUT, states had limited money themselves!
To pay troops, Congress printed “continentals,” or paper money
The more money Congress printed, the less money was worth
By the end of the war, paper money had lost almost all its value
Financial Burdens

12. Some tribes split when they couldn’t decide which side to join
Many villages left to avoid the fighting
Some attacked white settlements
Americans tried to keep Native Americans neutral
Most Native Americans sided with the British
Feared an American victory would mean more settlers moving out west
Native Americans

13. Native Americans Smallpox – disease spread in Quebec first (1775)
By 1779, reached New Orleans
By 1782, more than 130,000 whites and Native Americans died from smallpox
To put that in perspective: about 8,000 soldiers died in battle during the same period
Native Americans

14. Defending the Frontier
Frontier = land that forms the furthest extent of a nation’s settled regions
George Rogers Clark attacked British forts beyond the Appalachian Mountains
Clark’s victories allowed settlers to remain on the frontier
Defending the Frontier

15. Eager to get back Florida (was lost to Britain after the French and Indian War)
Bernardo de Galvez began helping the Americans in 1779
Provided money and supplies to Americans (like Clark!)
Gave American ships refuge in New Orleans harbor
Captured British forts on the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico
Financial help also came from the Spanish colony, Cuba
Help from the Spanish

16. Americans could only build a few warships against a strong British navy
Became skilled at hit-and-run attacks
However, Britain still dominated on the sea
The War at Sea

17. The War at Sea Most famous battle took place off the coast of England
American ship “Bonhomme Richard” under the command of John Paul Jones fought the larger British ship “Serapis”
Jones refused to give up
Declared, “I have not yet begun to fight!”
Finally, the captain of the Serapis surrendered
The War at Sea

18. Focus Question Re-visited
How did the effects of the war widen?
Focus Question Re-visited