Name______________________________________Hr___
America the Story of US
Episode #2 - Revolution
1. Today the population of New York City is over ___million; in 1776 it was only __________________.
2. New York City was that battle ground for the biggest land invasion in American history. General
___________________________was chosen to defend the city.
3. Describe the status of the approaching British Navy.
4. As the British approached New York, an emergency session of congress was called
in Philadelphia where 50 delegates debated formal separation from Great Britain.
On July ___th, 1776 the Continental Congress approved a document officially
declaring independence.
5. Compare/Contrast the British and the Continental Armies of 1776.
6. In the Battle of New York, George Washington was forced to retreat after not be able to withstand the ___
(#) British warships, containing ________________(#) British troops. The colonists were outnumbered 2 to 1.
7. _____________(#) will die aboard British POW (Prisoner Of War) ships.
8. What role did Daniel Morgan and his riflemen have in the war for independence?
9. Fighting in the American ______________ was the worst nightmare for the British who were trained to fight in
open battle fields.
10. In what way did the Americans break the rules of the 18 th century warfare?
11. On October 17, 1777 the British General ‘Gentleman’ John Burgoyne and over 6,000 troops are forced to
surrender at ___________________.
12. Why was the surrender of Burgoyne and his army a turning point in the war?
13. George Washington was forced to spend the winter of 1777-78 at _________________, Pennsylvania. Here
the Continental Army braved freezing temperatures. ____% were without shoes.
14. The worst epidemic of ________________(disease) in U.S. history breaks out during the war. ____ (#) in 10
victims will die. George Washington takes a gamble and his soldiers inoculated (given) with the live virus.
Only ____(#) in 50 inoculated will die.
15. The Prussian General, _______________________, brought discipline, order, hygiene, and training to the
Continental Army.
16. Despite most New York citizen residents being loyal to the British, explain how the efforts of spies will change
the course of the war.
17. By 1781, the war was becoming unpopular in Britain. In October of that year, Washington, with the help of
the French, was able to land a decisive victory ________________, Virginia. A peace treaty would soon be
signed and the Americans did the improvable and win independence against the mighty British.
Name______________________________________Hr___
America the Story of US
Episode #2 - Revolution
1. Today the population of New York City is over 8 million; in 1776 it was only 20,000.
2. New York City was that battle ground for the biggest land invasion in American history. General George
Washington was chosen to defend the city.
3. Describe the status of the approaching British Navy.




June 29th – 45 warships “ship of a line” off Staten island; 350 more on their way across the
Atlantic
64 heavy cannons each which fire a 24 pond cannon ball at the speed sound from over a
mile away
A ‘ship of a line’ costs the equivalent of a modern aircraft carrier Atlantic
The British wanted to terrify the colonist; inspired them instead.
4. As the British approached New York, an emergency session of congress was called in Philadelphia where 50
delegates debated formal separation from Great Britain. On July 4th, 1776 the Continental Congress
approved a document officially declaring independence.
5. Compare/Contrast the British and the Continental Armies of 1776.
 British Army – British redcoat has on average 6x the combat experience as a Patriot recruit.

32,000 soldiers; 5 of the biggest British ships have more fire power than all the Patriot guns in
New York
Continental Army – poorly trained; underequipped; frontiersmen; belief in cause
6. In the Battle of New York, George Washington was forced to retreat after not be able to withstand the 45
(#) British warships, containing 32,000(#) British troops. The colonists were outnumbered 2 to 1.
7. 12,000 (#) will die aboard British POW (Prisoner Of War) ships.
8. What role did Daniel Morgan and his riflemen have in the war for independence?





Daniel Morgan; colonel of 500 riflemen
use trees as road blocks; slows the British advancement to one mile a day; 6 week
nightmare
used American long rifles; light weight; accurate from 250 yards away; 2x the range of
British muskets
take out British’s Native American scouts
attack using speed, stealth, and surprise – within months all scouts are dead – knowledge
gone with them; rebels are rewriting rules of war
9. Fighting in the American Frontier was the worst nightmare for the British who were trained to fight in open
battle fields.
10. In what way did the Americans break the rules of the 18 th century warfare?
 Target and kill British officers; creates disorder in the ranks
11. On October 17, 1777 the British General ‘Gentleman’ John Burgoyne and over 6,000 troops are forced to
surrender at Battle of Saratoga.
12. Why was the surrender of Burgoyne and his army a turning point in the war?
 This victory proved the French that an American victory in the war was possible. Shortly after the
French sign the Treaty of Alliance. The Treaty provides Americans with much needed supplies, but
most importantly naval support. The British must now fight a war both on land and at sea.
13. George Washington was forced to spend the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge Pennsylvania. Here the
Continental Army braved freezing temperatures. 20% were without shoes.
14. The worst epidemic of Smallpox(disease) in U.S. history breaks out during the war. 4 (#) in 10 victims will die.
George Washington takes a gamble and his soldiers inoculated (given) with the live virus. Only 1 (#) in 50
inoculated will die.
15. The Prussian General, Baron von Stueben, brought discipline, order, hygiene, and training to the Continental
Army.
16. Despite most New York citizen residents being loyal to the British, explain how the efforts of spies will change
the course of the war.
 Spies, through a complex system of invisible ink and hidden codes, are able to relay strategic
information about the British to General Washington. Washington uses this information the
information to react to a proposed British surprise naval attack.
17. By 1781, the war was becoming unpopular in Britain. In October of that year, Washington, with the help of
the French, was able to land a decisive victory Yorktown, Virginia. A peace treaty would soon be signed
and the Americans did the improvable and win independence against the mighty British.