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Date:
Period:
4.3 And 4.4 Notes: “The Struggle for Liberty” and
“Independence!”
Supporting the War Effort
As the war continued, more and more men enlisted in the Continental Army and their
local militias. Many enlisted before the legal age of 16 years old. Also, some chose to hire people
to serve in their place, including
slaves
and apprentices . As they left home, the
responsibility of tending the family farms and businesses fell onto women .
Both British soldiers and those fighting for America alike had certain advantages and
characteristics that their opponent did not. List them here:
British Advantages-
Colonial Advantages-
Well-trained and well-equipped
Believed in the cause they were fighting for
Large, powerful Navy
Got help from Europe (France and Spain)
Each side also had their own weaknesses. List them here:
British Weaknesses-
Colonial Weaknesses-
Had to cross the Atlantic Ocean
Untrained military with little supplies
Hired mercenaries to fight for them
Small Navy
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Battles
These are the battles that we will be focusing on for the remainder of our discussion of the
Revolutionary War. If a battle is discussed in the text, but not listed here on your notes sheet,
please read it, but it will not be included in these notes. When completing each section, please
use as much detail as possible. You should revisit these sections after each lesson and add more
information as needed.
New York-
Who?
General Washington (Continental Army) vs. General Howe (Redcoats)
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What? (Name of battle)
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Where?
Around New York City; Brooklyn Heights and on Long Island
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When?
August 27, 1776
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Details and Outcome:
The Battle of Long Island
General Howe and his British forces return to the colonies
after escaping from Canada after being chased from Dorchester Heights by the
Patriots. 32,000 well-trained and well-supplied British soldiers face off against
23,000 untrained, poorly-supplied Continental soldiers. In the bloodiest battle of the
American Revolution, the British win easily and take control of New York City.
New Jersey-
Who? Washington (Continental Army) vs. German Hessian mercenaries (fighting
for the British)
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What? (Name of battle)
The Battle of Trenton
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Where?
Trenton, New Jersey
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When?
Christmas night, December 25, 1776
Name:
Date:
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Details and Outcome:
Period:
Deciding that a sneak attack was necessary, General
Washington decides that he and his men will cross the icy Delaware River from
Pennsylvania into New Jersey. By surprising the Hessian mercenaries in their sleep,
the Continental army had a much better chance at winning. Washington’s men, many
without shoes and other supplies, walked through the snow to Trenton and surround
the Hessians.
-
Who?
General Washington (Continental Army) vs. General Cornwallis (British)
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What? (Name of battle)
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Where?
Princeton, New Jersey
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When?
January 2nd and 3rd, 1777
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Details and Outcome:
The Battle of Princeton
After choosing to retreat back to Pennsylvania after
winning Trenton in case of a British attack, Washington and his men cross the
Delaware River again into New Jersey to attack the British camps at Princeton.
Washington sends a group of troops to draw the fire of the British and delay their
attack on the American’s camp. This plan works, as it takes the British a long time to
reach the American camp. While this was going on, Washington left a small group of
men to leave campfires burning bright to keep the illusion of an active campsite. He
takes his men to Princeton and, upon spotting a group of British soldiers, the battle
began. After what seemed like an early advantage for the British, Washington rallies
his troops and they win at Princeton.
Pennsylvania-
Who?
General Washington (Continental Army) vs. General Howe (British)
Name:
Date:
-
What? (Name of battle)
-
Where?
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania along the Brandywine Creek
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When?
September 11th, 1777
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Details and Outcome:
Period:
The Battle of Brandywine
The British’s next target is the capital city of Philadelphia.
General Howe and his men travel up the Chesapeake Bay and land in Maryland to
make their way up to Philadelphia. General Washington sets his troops up in a
defensive scheme to protect the British advance on Philadelphia. After receiving
faulty information, the British are able to win at the Battle of Brandywine by using
some trickery. They first sent a small force to the front lines against the colonists,
occupying their time and attention. Then, the British unleash an attack on the right
flank of the Continental Army’s lines. The Americans are pushed back and forced to
retreat.
Help from Europe
Help from France
In order to win over the support of King Louis XVI, Benjamin Franklin traveled to
France. Initial uncertainty was wiped away after the colonists defeated the Redcoats during
the Battle of Saratoga.
and
ammunition
The French mainly supplied the colonist forces with
supplies
. After approval from the Continental Congress in 1778, France’s aid
increased with the additions of
soldiers and war ships.
Help From Spain
In 1779, Spain also joined the war effort on the side of the colonists. Their assistance was
mainly in the Southern portion of the colonies. The governor of Spanish Louisiana
Name:
Date:
Bernardo de Galvez
Period:
along with a small army of Spanish forces and
other allies headed east from Louisiana all the way to
Pensacola, Florida
capturing
many forts along the way.
Winter at Valley Forge
The help from France came just in time, as the colonial forces were very low on supplies.
The best example of the brutality of just how short on necessities that the Continental Army was
can be found at Valley Forge. In the winter of 1777, Valley Forge was the spot that the George
Washington and his men camped. A very rough winter set in, complete with deep snow and
biting cold. Though this serves as a great example of the perseverance and determination of the
colonial forces, the main thing to remember about Valley Forge is that
no battle took place at
here!
The War at Sea and in the West
Led famously by
John Paul Jones, the American Navy adapted merchant ships for
war as well as building new vessels. Their greatest victories came in the southern portion of the
Atlantic Ocean. In the Caribbean, the American Navy captured
ports and forts, weakening
the British Navy.
The western campaign was headed by George Rogers Clark.
strategic targets, he achieved victories in
Cahokia,
By pinpointing specific
Kaskaskia, and
Fort
Sackville further weakening the Redcoats’ land forces using trickery and gritty
determination.
War in the South
Name:
Date:
The majority of the colonists in the south were considered to be
Period:
loyalists
who
supported the English war effort. These people enlisted in the English Army and fought against
their fellow colonists. Also taking up arms against the rebels were enslaved Africans.
The Battle of Yorktown-
Who?
General Washington and General Nathanael Greene (Continental Army)
vs. General Cornwallis (British)
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Where?
Yorktown, Virginia
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When?
Began in early 1781 and ended on October 19th, 1781
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Details and Outcome:
After making what would prove to be a fatal mistake in
choosing to settle his troops in Yorktown, General Washington sees his window of
opportunity open slightly. He orders Nathanael Greene and his men to cut off the
British’s escape route via land and asks for the French Navy’s help in sealing off a
possible escape via sea. 16,000 soldiers fighting for the Patriot’s cause surround
Yorktown and begin to bombard the British’s encampment with repeated attacks. By
October 19th, 1781, the British forces in Yorktown were completely worn down and
ready to surrender. The Americans would take over the town and, as many believed,
win the war with this victory.
This battle is known as
the last major battle of the Revolutionary War.
Treaty of Paris
Though it took over two years to finish as well as help from Founding Father
Bejamin Franklin, the Treaty of Paris of 1783 established America as an independent
nation. It also set
America’s borders
while a separate agreement between the British and
Name:
Date:
Spanish transferred the control of the colony of
Period:
Florida to Spain. American lands were
extended to the west of the Appalachian Mountains, the previous border of the 13 colonies set
by the Proclamation of 1763.