Washington’s
‘War of Posts’
Three “theatres” of the war:
New York, New Jersey & Pennsylvania
Upper New York State
North & South Carolina & Virginia
The Battle of Brooklyn Heights
22 August 1776:
In the largest amphibious operation prior to the 20th
century, the British Navy transports 21,000 infantry across
the Verrazano Narrows and lands them at Gravesend Bay.
Their objective is to gain control of Brooklyn Heights - the
highest point in all of greater New York. He who controls
the Heights controls the city.
George Washington knows this and has deployed a force of
11,000 soldiers, making up the majority of the Continental
Army, to defend them. On August 27th, the two forces
clashed atop the Heights.
Out-flanked and out-
fought, the Continental
Army reeled under the
At the same ti me, a
storm
came
up,
blowing down the
East
R iver
and
preventing
Br itish
ships fr om sailing up
it.
Retreat Across the
East River - 29
August 1776
This allowed
Washington and his
army to retreat
across the river to
Manhattan under
cover of darkness on
the night of August
29th
British assault. Within a
couple hours, they had
suffered 2700 casualties
and been pushed off
the heights towards
Manhattan.
At the same time, a storm
came up, blowing down
the East River and
Map of the Battle drawn by British General Staff
preventing British ships
from sailing up it.
A dense fog rolled in,
which completely
obscured the action on
the waterfront.
As the fog burned off in
the morning sun, a
young officer named
Ben Tallmadge looked
back across the river
from Manhattan.
Loading onto the last
boat - George
Washington, the
commander-in-chief,
was the last man to
cross the river.
Chased Across New Jersey
On December 26th, Washington crossed the Delaware and surprised the
British at Trenton.
The main attack was made
by 2,400 troops under
Washington on the
Hessians. Washington's
troops surprised and
defeated the British forces.
The American victory was
the first of the war, and
helped to restore American
morale.
Challenges Howe at Brandywine
& Again at Germantown, PA
Colonials fought well, but lost these
battles, and the city of Philadelphia.
Burgoyne’s New York Campaign
Burgoyne convinced London to allow him
to try to split the Colonies and cut off New
England from help by the rest.
- Starts in Quebec.
- Moves via lakes & overland toward
Albany where Gen. Clinton would help.
- Outruns his supply lines
- Clinton never comes
- Gets bogged down in mud & woods.
Squashed at Saratoga
General Burgoyne Surrendering to General Gates at Saratoga
Importance of Saratoga
•It showed European that the rebels could defeat the
English on their own.
•France entered the war on the side of the patriots.
•Money and supplies flowed to the American cause,
•Washington's Continental Army with the support needed
to continue its fight against Great Britain.
Winter at Valley Forge
Awaiting expected French aid Colonial morale suffers
Cornwallis in the South
-Fought in New Jersey under Howe.
-Led the campaign in the South.
-Believed the loyalists in South would
help fight rebels.
-Chased rebel armies throughout North
and South Carolina. (Patriot)
-Ravaged the countryside seeking
supplies, and lost support of the locals.
-Moved into Virginia thinking he could
lessen resistance if VA was out of war.
- Surrendered at Yorktown.
Aid Comes to the Colonials
von Steuben was only a
captain but he was a superb
drillmaster. Von Steuben
set out to change the
Americans' ignorance of the
elementary principles of drill
or maneuvering, which put
them at a fatal disadvantage
against their well-trained
Friedrich von Steuben
enemy.
Von Steuben drilling troops at Valley Forge
Marquis de Lafayette
• A French Noble and
soldier by age of 16
• In 1777, Lafayette bought
a ship, and took a crew of
adventurers to America.
• Fought & frustrated
Cornwallis in South.
• On a return visit to
France in 1779 persuaded
French government to aid
Americans.
French Arrive in Rhode Island
• 1780 – 6000 French land at Newport
• Another French Fleet harassed British in the West
Indies
• Lafayette proposes they join up at Yorktown.
• October, 1781 – 17,000 French & Colonials surround
and defeat Cornwallis.
Victory at Yorktown
Treaty of Paris
John Adams
Benjamin Franklin
John Jay
Demand Full Independence
of England before any
negotiations even begin.
• Establish boundaries to the
Mississippi.
Problems – English forts
remain in the West
A New Nation…Now What?
Republic or Democracy?
Republic – Good – Power to elected reps.
Democracy – Bad – Power to the uneducated
3 Problems
1) Representation by Population or by state
2) Supreme Power - States or National Government
3) Which states claim Western Lands?