1. Chapter 6-1 The American Revolution
1776 – 1783
Section 1: The Early Years of the War

2. The Opposing Sides British advantages: Strong navy
Experienced, well-trained army
Wealthy
Larger population: 8 million in England and 2.5 million in United States
British disadvantages:
Faraway land
Soldiers & supplies had to be shipped from England.

3. The Opposing Sides American advantages: Familiar with the land
have a personal stake
George Washington was their leader.
American disadvantages:
Lack regular army & navy
Lack military experience
Small supply of weapons & ammunition
Not everyone was for the war. Some were still loyal to England. Many people were nuetral – taking neither side

4. Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson
Took 2 weeks to write
5 parts:
Preamble – Introduction (explanation of why breaking away)
Natural Rights – rights you are born with that cannot be taken away (life, liberty, property)
List of Grievances – complaints against the king
Dissolving of Bonds (Declaring Independence)
Signatures – 56 signatures – risking their lives

5. 6-2 Notes – A Critical Time

6. British Plan for Victory
The plan was to take control of Albany, New York then take control of the Hudson River. This would separate the New England colonies and the Middle colonies.
However, before going to Albany, the British captured the American capital of Philadelphia

7. Battle of Saratoga October 17, 1777
British General Burgoyne was in Saratoga, New York waiting for more British soldiers to arrive before attacking Albany.
Americans arrived before the soldiers had arrived in the colonies. They had 3 times more soldiers than the British
General Burgoyne surrenders to the Patriots.
Americans win!
5700 British soldiers gave up their weapons to the Americans
After this terrible loss, General William Howe resigns from the British army and General Henry Clinton becomes the new general in charge.
Turning point of the war
French decide to join the war at this point because it looks like the Patriots have a chance of winning.

8. The War Continues Gaining Allies
The victory at Saratoga lifted the spirits of many Americans and encouraged France to form an alliance with America in 1778.
Then in 1779, Spain declared war on Great Britain and Spanish governor of Louisiana Bernardo de Galvez raised an army that forced British troops out of areas in Louisiana.
While waiting for the French troops, George Washington set up camp at Valley Forge
Very cold winter, little clothing, shelter, or food

9. Help from Overseas Marquis de Lafayette - French
Became an aide to George Washington
Helped train the soldiers and gave military suggestions
Friedrich von Steuben - German
Drilled Patriot troops
Taught military discipline
Juan de Miralles – Spain
Urged Spain, Cuba, Mexico to send financial
aid

10. Winter at Valley Forge
While the British were 20 miles east in Philadelphia, the Americans were stuck in Valley Forge for the winter
Terrible suffering: no decent food, clothing, or shelter, lack of blankets, shoes, shirts

11. Winter at Valley Forge (cont’d)
George Washington’s biggest challenge: keeping the Continental Army motivated and together
Many men deserted – left without permission, the army
Some officers resigned
The army was falling apart
2500 men died of illness
George Washington gave several speeches to the soldiers in hopes of keeping them motivated to stay in the army

12. Financial Problems Getting $ to finance the war was a major problem
Continental Congress had no power to raise money through taxes
Congress printed millions of dollars worth of paper money
Quickly lost its value because the amount of paper bills grew faster than the supply of gold and silver backing them.
Led to inflation – took more and more money to buy the same amount of goods

13. African Americans Join the Fight
George Washington asks Congress to enlist free African Americans
Whites did not want African Americans to have access to weapons
Many people in the south feared a revolt by African Americans.
It was banned for African Americans to fight in the war.
By the end of the war, all states except South Carolina had enlisted African Americans in the War
5,000 joined as Patriot soldiers

14. Women in the Revolution
Margaret Corbin – went with her husband; were Patriots
Molly Pitcher – carried water pitchers out to the soldiers
Deborah Simpson – disguised herself as a boy; were Patriots
The idea of freedom caused many women to question their place in society and many Americans if slavery was right or not.

15. Life on the Home Front
Judith Sargeant Murray – argued women and men should receive as good of an education as men. Considered to be a radical idea, at the time.
Abigail Adams – stood up for women’s rights and even questioned her own husband, John Adams, who was a member of the 2nd Continental Congress.

16. Section 4: The War is Won Victory at Yorktown
In 1780, George Washington camped north of New York City waiting to attack Henry Clinton’s army. He had to wait a year until he could attack because he was waiting on the French to arrive.
Change in Plans – August 1781
Washington learned the French would be arriving in Virginia instead of New York
He did not want Clinton to know he was not going to attack so he had to sneak out of New York City
The French fleet, headed by General Rochambeau, Washington’s men, and Lafayette’s troops would all meet at Yorktown and attack Cornwallis’s army.

17. Siege at Yorktown Independence
By the end of September 1781, the American and French armies had 14,000 troops trapping Cornwallis’s 7,500 British and Hession troops at Yorktown
On October 9th, the Americans and French began to bombard Yorktown
British supplies began to run low, and many soldiers were wounded or sick. It was a hopeless situation
On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered
Independence
The fighting did not end with Yorktown, but the British realized, after the Patriot victory at Yorktown, that the war was too expensive to continue
Both sides sent delegates to Paris to work out a peace treaty.
Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay were sent to represent the United States
Treaty of Paris was ratified, or approved, on September 3, 1783
Great Britain recognized the states as an independent nation
Now the new nation extended from Mississippi River to the Atlantic Ocean and from Canada to Florida.

18. Washington’s Farewell
December 4th, 1783 – said farewell to his troops and returned to his home in Mount Vernon
The Influence of the American Revolution
In 1804, Saint Domingue (present-day Haiti), became the second nation in the Americas to receive independence from colonial rule.
They were inspired by talk of freedom
Enslaved Africans overtook Haiti