1. The Revolutionary War Begins
Chapter 4 Section 3
The Revolutionary War Begins

2. Deborah Sampson
Read about Deborah Sampson on page Answer the following questions:
1) Why did Robert Shurtleff keep to himself?
2) Why was Sampson able to pass for a man?
3) What happened to Sampson?

3. Activity:
Class breaks into 4 groups, each representing one of the following:
Soldiers
Women
African Americans
Natives
Each group will identify the role those people played in the Revolution. Class will create a chart on the board.

4. Continental Army Strengths Strong military leadership
Fighting on home territory
Alliance with France
Passionate about cause
Weaknesses
Small, untrained military
Shortages of resources
Weak central government

5. British Army Strengths Well-trained military Ample resources
Alliances with Loyalists
Weaknesses
Fighting in unfamiliar territory
Fighting far from home
Not as passionate

6. Problems with money and morale
Inflation led to food shortages
Private financiers like Salomon helped fund Revolution
Thomas Paine’s The Crisis” written in 1776
George Washington read to his troops to rally them to fight
Discuss answer to “the Crisis” questions

7. New York, Fall 1776
Gen. Howe & Adm. Howe met on Staten Island with 32,000 soldiers
Washington rallied 23,000 soldiers
Outnumbered, they retreated across NJ and into PA, only 8,000 men remained
Morale very low, British held largest city in colonies

8. Trenton – December 26, 1776 Continental Army scored first victory
Crossed the Delaware River on Christmas Night
Surprise attack on Hessians in Trenton, killed 30, took 918 captive, 6 cannons
Scenes from “the Crossing”
A few days later, Patriots win at Princeton (January 1777)
Read letters from Henry Knox to Lucy, answer questions

9. General Howe wanted to seize capital
Philadelphia – Spring 1777
General Howe wanted to seize capital
Congress fled, British captured city
British camped for winter, Washington headed to Valley Forge

10. Saratoga – October 1777
British Gen. Burgoyne led an army from Canada to meet Howe in Albany, Howe didn’t leave Philly
Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys – as well as other militiamen attacked
Continental Army surrounded him at Saratoga,
British surrendered
Turning Point
-British changed strategy – stayed on coast, went South
-French decided to support Americans

11. Valley Forge Winter camp, 1777-1778
10,000 soldiers, 2,000 died during time there
Marquis de Lafayette appealed to France for help
Friedrich von Steuben – Prussian drillmaster who helped train men and make them more effective military
(read Diary of a Soldier)