Struggling Toward
Saratoga
Interesting Fact: Valley Forge- fort was located outside
Philadelphia and was the site of the Continental Army under
George Washington during the freezing winter of 1777-1778.
The War Moves to the Middle States
• A. Battle of New York
– British want to seize New York
– Gen. William Howe & Adm. Richard Howe (largest British
expeditionary force ever)
– Many of the British troops came from Germany, and
American troops called them Hessians (after the German
area know as Hesse)
– Gen. Washington was outnumbered
– Battle ended in late August 1776 with American retreat
– American troops pushed back to Delaware River in
Pennsylvania
• B. Battle of Trenton
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Christmas night 1776, Gen. Washington led
troops across Delaware River
Marched nine miles to Trenton, NJ to a garrison
held by Hessians
Surprise attack and the Americans win
Won another battle at Princeton nine days later
(moral is very high)
• C. Fight for Philly
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–
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Gen. Howe (British) wants to seize Am. Capital
(Philly)
Continental Congress flees city while Gen.
Washington and troops enter to defend
British capture Philly
• D. Victory at Saratoga
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Gen. John Burgoyne (British) tries to march
troops down to NYC to meet Gen. Howe (but
Gen. Howe was busy in Philly and wasn’t coming)
Gen. Horatio Gates (American) surrounded
British troops at Saratoga
Gen. Burgoyne surrendered on Oct. 17, 1777
(changed Britain’s war strategy, from now on,
keep troops close to coast)
• E. Turning Point
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France supports the Revolution (anyone that’s an
enemy of Britain is a friend to France)
sign treaty of cooperation with Americans, Feb.
1778
France won’t make peace with Britain until
Britain recognizes American independence
• F. Winter at Valley Forge
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Gen. Washington running out of supplies, troops
must spend winter at Valley Forge with little food,
clothing, and supplies
went in with 10,000 left with 8,000
Colonial Life During the Revolution
A. Financing the War
– Running out of money to finance the war
– Congress borrows money by selling bonds
– Printed money called Continentals causes
inflation
– Smuggling of arms from Europe
– Profiteering (selling scare goods for profit)
– Haym Salomon and Robert Morris raised funds
and allowed the govt. to pay troops with gold coin
in Sept. 1781
B. Civilians at War
– Wives manage farms, shops, businesses,
households, and families
– Volunteer to mend clothing for troops, make
ammunition from family silver
– Many women followed the soldiers and washed,
mended, and cooked
– Some women even went onto the battlefield
(Margaret Corbin, Mary McCauley)
– about 5,000 African Americans served in
Continental Army
Winning the War
European Allies Shift the Balance
• Continental Army becomes an effective
fighting force thanks to the help of Prussian
Captain Fredrich von Stuben
A. Lafayette and the French
– At Valley Forge Gen. Washington was assisted by
a young, brave French aristocrat, the Marquis de
Lafayette
– Lafayette was able to get French reinforcements
and lead a command in Virginia
British Move South
A. Early British Success in the South
– Gen. Charles Cornwallis (Br.) and Gen. Henry
Clinton (Br.) captured Charles Town, South
Carolina
– Most of 1780, Cornwallis advances in the South
until a group of Patriots attacked them and cut
British communication lines
B. British Losses in 1781
– Although Cornwallis continued to win in the
South. Gen. Nathanial Greene (Am.) weakens
British forces in attacks in North Carolina
– Cornwallis makes his way to Virginia but failed in
taking over Lafayette and von Stuben
– Cornwallis then make his way to Yorktown
British Surrender at Yorktown
• Lafayette suggest American and French armies should
join with two French fleets and attack British forces at
Yorktown
A.Victory at Yorktown
– French fleet defeats British fleet and blocks Chesapeake Bay
– French and American troops surround Yorktown and
bombard them day and night
– The bombardment of Yorktown lasts three weeks
– Cornwallis surrendered on Oct. 17, 1781
– On Oct. 19, 1781 Gen. Washington accepts the surrender
B. Seeking Peace
– Paris peace talks 1782
– four nations meet (America, Britain, France, and
Spain)
– US sent John Adams, Ben Franklin, and John Jay
– Before talks are to begin the British must
recognize American independence
– Sept. 1783 Treaty of Paris is signed
• US got independence
• Territory was from the Atlantic Ocean to the
Mississippi River and from Canada to Florida
War Becomes a Symbol of Liberty
A. Impact on American Society
–
little distinction between rich and poor during
war
–
egalitarianism (brief equality) for white men
–
women and African Americans still little to no
rights
–
by 1804 some Northern States begin to outlaw
slavery
–
Native Americans pushed out of their lands in
the west with more people moving
B. Challenges of Creating a Government
– need to build a stable republic, a government of
the people
– Who participates?
– How will the government answer to the people?
– How will everyone have a voice?