Post on 22-Dec-2015
Supporting the War Effort
George Washington Had to raise troops Often younger than 16 Poor, non-property owners
Army offered low pay, harsh conditions and high chance of death
Men who could afford it, often paid others to take their place in war
Recruiting soldiers
Should African Americans be recruited? Many white southerners opposed it
British start offering freedom to slaves who fought-thousands joined the British
Continental Army starts allowing free African Americans to serve
Women ran farms and businesses, raised money, made clothing, raised supplies,
Some women nurses and spies
Canada
Because shortage of supplies, many Patriots want to fight defensive war
Some want to attack Canada make it 14th colony
General Montgomery captures Montreal in Nov. 1775
Benedict Arnold tries to take Quebec and fails miserably~ending quest for Canada
New York
Washington moves troops to New York and waits for British
June 1776 British arrive by boat General Howe (British) forced
Washington off Long Island, NY Eventually pushed Washington behind
the Hudson River Crushing loss is a revenge for Howe’s
loss of Boston
New Jersey
November 1776 Continental Army on the run Washington’s men would soon leave due to
service being up Howe thinks the rebellion almost over-
left New Jersey in the hands of the Hessians-mercenaries from German states-fight for pay not loyalty
Dec. 7, 1776 Washington gets fresh troops
New Jersey cont;
“These are the times that try men’s souls” Thomas Paine from The American Crisis-a series of pamphlets
Washington takes a chance and attacks Hessians
Dec. 24-rows across Delaware River and surprise attacks
Battle of Trenton-Won by Patriots Cornwallis tries to helps but Washington
circles round and wins big victory!
Saratoga
British Gen. John Burgoyne pushes through NY
Tries to cut off New England from other colonies
Howe moves into Philadelphia Patriots try to bog down the British Battle of Saratoga-Americans win-turning
point of the war Foreign aid comes to the Americans-
France/Spain and Holland
Remarkable Europeans
Marquis de Lafayette-young Frenchman takes ship to America, brought well trained soldiers to help fight
Became a skilled commander Gave $200,000 of his own money Wrote letters to powerful friends for help
Baron Friedrich von Steuben Prussian who served under Washington Trained American troops Turns young inexperienced troops into
strong fighting force
Benjamin Franklin
Went to France to ask for help King Louis XVI agreed to help after the
Battle of Saratoga Supplies, ammunition, navy
Help from Spain
Bernardo de Galvez-governor of Spanish Louisiana
Spanish joined the war in 1779 Make way up coast to Pensacola, FL
Winter at Valley Forge
Continental Army was running low on food and clothing
Lacked very basic provisions Rough times but the soldiers suffered
and continued to stay focused 2000 soldiers died British lived a live of luxury in
Philadelphia
War at Sea
French Navy aided the colonists British Navy stronger but not used
effectively Fall 1775 Continental Army makes plans
for building warships-established Marines By Feb. 1776 had 8 merchant ships
adapted as fighting navy Attack British supply lines Attack Nassau, Bahamas and win
John Paul Jones
Left Scotland after mutiny on ship killed captain
Volunteers for Navy captured many British supply ships France gives him seven ships, including
“Bonhomme Richard” Captured British Serapis “I have not yet begun to fight”
War in the West
Native Americans wanted for each side George Rogers Clark-volunteered to lead
the western campaign Created scattered Army settlements Attacked trading villages Clark attacked Fort Sackville near
Vincennes-with flags and fire tricked the British
In general, the British had more success with Native Americans but Clark continued to make the campaign hard