"These are the times that try

men's souls"

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

Thomas Paine (the writer of Common Sense) wrote sixteen pamphlets titled The American Crisis which summoned up the American Revolution in the winter of 1778 as the Continental Army froze at Valley Forge:

The Traitor • Benedict Arnold had been a great

warrior for America, but after his early injuries he felt that he wasn’t respected by Washington and others and became bitter. He also believed the war was not going well and wanted a way out.

• In Philadelphia while he recovered from his injuries he met a married a Loyalist women named Peggy Shippen.

• He began secretly talking to the British and he agreed to hand over control of West Point on the Hudson River in New York to them in exchange for a command in the British Army.

John Andre, a British spy, was captured by Americans carrying one of Arnolds secret letters. He was a British soldier but since Andre was not wearing a uniform he was hung. Arnold barely escaped American soldiers who were sent to arrest him. Arnold would go on to fight in a few battles AGAINST the Americans. Washington even tried to have him kidnapped. He moved to England after the war and eventually moved to Canada. He never return to the United States were his name will forever be linked with TRATIOR.

• On the battlefield at Saratoga, "In memory of the most brilliant soldier of the Continental army, who was desperately wounded on this spot, winning for his countrymen the decisive battle of the American Revolution, and for himself the rank of Major General.” The victory monument at Saratoga has four niches, three of which are occupied by statues of Generals Gates, Schuyler, and Morgan. The fourth niche is empty

The War Moves to the South

• The British believed that most colonist in the southern colonies were loyalist.

• They believed these colonist would help them hold territory. They also promised to free any slave who was willing to fight for England.

• Savannah and Charleston quickly fell to British forces and the American forces there were forced to surrender.

• Lord Charles Cornwallis was in charge of the Southern British Army. He had served under General Howe throughout the war.

• He marched his army north to challenge Horatio Gates and defeated him in the Battle of Camden. Cornwallis

A Guerrilla War• After yet another disaster in the Battle of Camden, Washington and the Americans realized that for the time being they couldn’t afford to get themselves involved in big battles against the British, that instead they use a hit and run strategy also called fighting a “Guerrilla War”

• Horatio Gates was replaced by one of Washington’s best generals, Nathaniel Green.

Nathaniel Green

Francis Marion Banastre Tarleton

Marion was a southern Colonial Guerrilla Fighter. He was known as “Swamp Fox” and he and his men were brutal fighters who terrorized British Soldiers and Loyalist

Tarleton led a British cavalry company known as Tarleton’s Raiders. He could never catch Marion but built a reputation for brutal behavior.

Prelude to Yorktown• After victories in the south

by the Americans and the arrival of a 5,000 man French army under the command of Rochambeau, in August 1781 Cornwallis and the British went North and establish a base at Yorktown in Virginia on the Chesapeake bay.

Washington Changes Plan

• August 1781- George Washington was in New York fighting the British and there commander Henry Clinton and getting no where.

• He tricks Clinton into believing he is still in New York, but actually sneaks his troops and cannons south, towards Yorktown.

• The troops travel with great speed and walk approximately 400 miles in 5 weeks.

Siege of YorktownWith the arrival of Washington and the French, Cornwallis is badly outnumbered and must retreat inside the city. A siege soon develops. Cornwallis is confident that the British Navy will be coming soon to save him

“I have no doubt, if relief arrives in any reasonable time, York and Gloucester will be both in possession of his Majesty’s troops”

The French Navy Blockades Chesapeake Bay• The French Navy arrives and manages to blockade

Chesapeake Bay. They pound the British defenses at Yorktown and keep British ships from getting near the fight. There will be no escape for Cornwallis and his British Army.

Storming the Redoubt Battle Map

October 14, 1781- George Washington and Rochambeau storm the two closest redoubts (earthen mounds of dirt built for protection) and moves cannons closer to Yorktown.

Cornwallis surrenders• October 17, 1781- Cornwallis seeks a cease fire.

He argues terms with Washington for the next two days. Cornwallis realizes that he has lost and surrenders 1/3 of all British forces in the Colonies to Washington and the Colonial Army.

British soldiers march to Surrender Field and set down their arms.

The Surrender• Cornwallis does not attend the surrender ceremony. This is seen as a

slap in the face to Washington. Cornwallis sent General O’Hara in his place. Washington made General Benjamin Lincoln accept the surrender because since O’Hara was the second in charge, it was only appropriate that the Colonial Army’s second in command (Lincoln) accept the surrender.

Siege of YorktownYorktown is considered the last major battle of the American Revolution. There was some small fighting after this but this defeat in Virginia caused the British government to begin negotiating for peace.The American Revolution was won at Yorktown!

CHARTThe Armies of the America Revolution

USA

-Not well trained/Lack discipline-Had more soldiers-Were fighting for their freedom on their home soil so they knew the land-Weak Navy

-Lacked supplies, but were at home and France helped supply them.

Washington was great at keeping the army together. Even if he struggled in huge set-piece battles. They succeeded at hit-and-run guerrilla war

British

-Well trained and highly discipline army

-Powerful Navy

-Were fighting on foreign ground they didn’t know

-Most supplies were shipped in from England, Canada, or the Caribbean and could take months to arrive

-Experienced European Generals who succeeded at large set-piece battles but didn’t adapt well to the hit-and-run guerrilla tactics of the Americas

Army/Navy

Supplies

Leaders