American RevolutionChapter 7.4 and 7.5

Bellwork: 12/18/12Map Skills

Turn to page 205 in your textbooks

Based on this map, where did the Patriot victories in the Revolutionary War take place?

Bellwork AnswersTrenton, Princeton, Saratoga, Vincennes, Kings

Mountain, Yorktown, Natchez, Baton Rouge, Mobile, Pensacola

Essential Question

How were the Patriots able to defeat the British in the American Revolution?

Quebec

Some Patriot leaders wanted to fight a defensive war, which would help the army’s supplies last longer

Others wanted to be more aggressive and take control of British-controlled Canada

General Benedict Arnold led his troops on a long march through present-day Maine towards Quebec.

Early British Victories

Their strategy was to wait for a snowstorm. o The snow storm would provide cover while the Patriots

got close to the city’s defenses During a blizzard, on 12/31/1775, they attacked

Quebec The Americans suffered a crushing defeat

o General Montgomery was killed in the battleo More than half of the troops were captured, killed, or

wounded

 New York Patriot General Washington and his troops were

stationed in New York, in July 1776 British General Howe and his troops drove the

Continental Army off of Long Island.o Washington’s troops retreated to Manhattan Islando The British force was much larger and better equipped

than the Patriotso Many Patriots were captured, killed, or tried to flee the

army.o The Patriot troops eventually were forced out of New

York

British Victories

The British started out with major victories in Canada and New York

This was a major low point for the Patriots

Thomas Paine’s “The Crisis” papers called for Americans to support their troops even in times of doubt.“These are the times that try

men’s souls”

Patriot VictoriesBattle of Trenton

General Howe, responsible for defeating Washington in New York, allowed his troops to settle in New York City for the winter.

This costly delay allowed Washington to gather reinforcements.

Washington retreated from New York in the fall, convinced he needed to adopt more innovative tactics. During the eighteenth century, armies

usually retired to winter quarters and resumed their campaigns in the spring

Washington decided to attack mercenaries from Germany at Trenton, New Jersey. Attacked on Christmas night 1776Washington and 2400 soldiers silently

crossed the Delaware River12/26, patriots marched to Trenton to fight

the Battle of Trenton, which lasted less than an hour900 captured mercenaries vs. 5 American casualtiesBoosted the Patriot’s spirits

Battle of PrincetonWashington followed with another key victory

The British wanted to respond to prevent Washington’s army from gaining more ground

Washington left a few hundred men behind to keep their campfires burning for the British to see, thinking they were in for the night.

The remaining army, around 4000 left camp under cover of darkness and circled behind British troops for a surprise attack and victory

The Battle of Princeton was another important victory

Turning Point After losses at Trenton and Princeton,

British wanted to strike back

Three groups of British troops would meet at Albany, NY to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies.

Some Patriot leaders even ordered their men to specifically target officers, which was against British rules of war.

Daniel Morgan led a group of elite sharpshooters, at The Battle of Saratoga Morgan’s riflemen used Guerilla Warfare

to attack British troops

Tim Murphy, one of Morgan’s snipers, is said to have killed both General Fraser, and Senior Officer Francis Clerke leaving a large number of soldiers leaderless

The Patriot victory at Saratoga was a turning point in the war

It again boosted morale and led to more foreign support

Foreign AlliesFrance and Spain, enemies of Great Britain,

unofficially aided the Patriots

Victory at Saratoga convinced France that America could win the war

France and Spain joined the war in 1778 and 1779

Marquis de Lafayette – wealthy Frenchmen Fought for the colonies Gave $200,000 towards the revolution

Spanish helped on the Western frontier

Valley ForgeHelp of France and Spain came at a crucial time

Continental Army was running low on supplies

Washington settled his troops at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.Shortages of food and clothing, coupled with

harsh weather led to 1/5 of the soldiers dying from disease and malnutrition

Baron Friedrich von Steuben from Prussia helped to reorganize and retrain the troops at the fort.Became more efficient and more disciplined

soldiers

War in the WestSmall battles between colonists and

Britain’s Indian allies occurred in the western frontier

George Rogers ClarkTraveled the frontier, gathering

soldiers from small townsTook a difficult trek through the

wilderness to capture British trading village of Kaskaskia

Forces also won the Battle of Vincennes

War in the SouthFrancis Marion – Patriot known for his unique

fighting style in the South

He used guerrilla warfare- swift, hit and run attacks

Worked especially well in the swamps of the South

His soldiers attacked British communications and supply lines

Eluded capture by the British for months, earning the nickname “The Swamp Fox”

Benedict Arnold1781 Patriots were low on money to pay

soldiers and for supplies

Benedict Arnold Skilled officer; turned traitor Debts and corruption charges led to the switch

Took command of West Point and tried to surrender it to the British.

His plans were discovered when a British Major was captured carrying papers revealing his plans

Siege of YorktownGeneral Washington met with French General

Rochambeau in New York

Their forces joined and traveled to Yorktown, Virginia

Meanwhile a French fleet surrounded and trapped British General Charles Cornwallis, preventing escape

Patriots captured the largest British army in America

Patriots held Yorktown under siege for weeks, finally causing a British surrender

Treaty of Paris June 1781 a committee from the Continental

Congress began peace negotiations with the British

It took delegates two years to come to an agreement

Treaty of Paris of 1783- Great Britain recognized the independent United States Also set up nation’s borders

Great Lakes in the NorthMississippi River to the West

British accepted American rights to settle and trade west of the original 13 colonies