The War Expands
CHAPTER 7, SECTION 2
Help From Abroad
France bitter over defeat during French &
Indian War
◦ Wanted Revenge
◦ 1776 - Secretly gave weapons to colonies
Battle of Saratoga
◦ Colonists prove they can win
◦ France recognizes American Independence
◦ 1778 – France signs treaty with United States of
America
◦ France sends money, supplies, troops
Help From Abroad (cont’d)
1779 – France gets Spain to help Americans
◦ Spanish capture British outposts in Louisiana and
Florida
◦ Victories stop British from attack US from south
◦ Spain also wanted to expand its own Empire
France and Spain force British to fight multiple
enemies
◦ Resources spread out over multiple areas
◦ Scared of losing other territories
◦ Prevented British from concentrating strength
Europeans Help Washington
Many Europeans came to the aid of the Colonial Army:
Marquis de Lafayette
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French Nobleman
Wanted military career
Earned Washington’s trust
Used his own money to support troops (called “soldier’s friend”)
Persuaded French King to send 6,000 troops
Baron von Kalb
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German officer
Served in French Army
One of Washington’s generals
Reputation for bravery
Europeans Help Washington (cont’d)
Baron von Steuben
◦ German officer
◦ Trained colonial army in military tactics
◦ Learned how to use bayonets, form lines, use
weapons
◦ Rest of Colonial Army was trained to use his
techniques
Winter at Valley Forge
Winter of 1777 – 1778
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Washington forced to retreat from Philadelphia
Set up winter camp at Valley Forge (SW PA)
Supplies VERY low
No clothes, shoes (many barefoot!)
Over the winter, soldiers grew sick and weak
Many limbs froze and had to be amputated
¼ of troops dies from starvation, cold, and disease
Congress slow to provide supplies
Help came from citizens
US Army endured through hardship
Valley Forge Video
War on the Frontier
Fighting took place on the Western frontier as well
1777 – 1778
George Rogers Clark
◦ Wanted to help fight British
◦ Convinced Patrick Henry to let him build an army
◦ Recruited approx. 200 men
◦ Captured British forts in what is now
Indiana and Illinois
◦ Scared British by killing captured natives
◦ Stopped any British attacks from the West
War at Sea
By 1777 – British had 100 ships off east
coast
◦ British controlled Atlantic trade routes
Colonists employed Privateers
◦ Merchant ships given permission to attack other
ships
◦ Captured ships and split up money
◦ Sailors were interested in money as well as
being patriots
◦ Congress employed over 1,000 privateers
Early Navy Heroes
James Forten
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14 years old
Son of a free African-American sail maker
Volunteered to be a privateer
1780 – sailed on the Royal Louis
Captured by British
Offered free passage to England
Refused to betray his country
After war, walked barefoot from NY to Philly
Became famous for efforts to end slavery
Early Navy Heroes (cont’d)
John Paul Jones
◦ Ship Captain
◦ Bonhomme Richard
◦ Patrolled English coast
1779 – Attacked British warship Serapis
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Jones rammed other ship
Outgunned, did not give up
“I have not yet begun to fight.”
Both ships fired at very close range
British surrendered
Bonhomme Richard sank
Became inspiration to Americans
JP Jones Video