Contributors to the Cause of LibertyEurope, African Americans and Women in the Revolutionary War

Do Now:• What stake did Women, African Americans and

Europeans have in the outcome of the Revolution? • Add to the class chart

• Video

Significance of Battle of Saratoga• Victory at Saratoga

boosted American spirits, Europeans realized Americans had a chance at defeating British

• Franklin and Adams were in Paris in 1777 petitioning for French support for America

• News of Burgoyne's surrender was instrumental in formally bringing France into the war as an American ally

Franklin in France

European Contributors• Individuals who contributed to American

cause: • Marquis de Lafayette (French-aid to Washington),

European Contributors• Friedrich von Steuben (German military man),• Video

European Contributors• Casimir Pulaski (Polish cavalry officer),

Following a recommendation by Benjamin Franklin, Pulaski emigrated to North America to help in the cause of the American Revolutionary War. He distinguished himself throughout the revolution, most notably when he saved the life of George Washington (Battle of Brandywine). Pulaski became a general in the Continental Army, created the Pulaski Cavalry Legionand reformed the American cavalry as a whole. At the Battle of Savannah, while leading a daring charge against British forces, he was gravely wounded, and died shortly thereafter.

European Contributors• Thaddeus Ko’sciuszko (Polish engineer),

On learning in France about the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, in 1776 Kościuszko moved to North America, where he took part in the fighting as a colonel in the Continental Army. An accomplished military architect, he also built state-of-the-art fortifications, perhaps most notably at West Point, New York. In 1783, in recognition of his services, the Continental Congress promoted him to brigadier general.

European Contributors• Juan de Miralles (aid from Spain). Miralles was chosen in

1777 to represent Spain as a secret agent to establish friendly economic relations. Spain attempted to remain neutral in Revolutionary War, but Miralles convinced his native land to join the American cause in exchange for the guarantee that Spain would control Florida after the war. Miralles was to be named Spain's first ambassador to the U.S., but feel ill with "pulmonic fever" while visiting Washington's headquarters in Morristown, N.J., and died within days. 

War in the West• Many Native Americans in west

sided with British-saw them as less of a threat• Why might they see the British as

less of a threat?• 1778-George Rogers Clark

(American) seized Kaskaskia (post) in Illinois • Vincennes (town) in Indiana-

Vincennes recaptured by British and then taken for good by Clark in 1779

Women and Liberty• Ideas of liberty inspired Abigail Adams, who

argued for women’s rights (education especially)

• Women such as Deborah Sampson and Molly Pitcher contributed to the Revolutionary Cause: Battle of Monmouth

• Loyalists treated poorly-many moved to Britain or Canada

African American role in the War

• During the American Revolutionary War, African Americans served both the Continental Army and the British Army. It is estimated that 5,000 African Americans served as soldiers for the Continental army,

while more than 20,000 fought for the British cause.

• Why would more African Americans side with the loyalists?

African American role in the War

• Some Africans both enslaved and free wanted to join with the Patriots, believing that it would either lead to their freedom or expand their civil rights

• Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia was determined to maintain British rule in the southern colonies. On November 7, 1775, he issued a proclamation that he would free black and white bondsmen who came to fight with the British.

• Sewn on the breast of the uniform was the inscription "Liberty to Slaves". These slaves were designated as "Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment."

Response to Dunmore’s Proclamation• Dunmore's Black soldiers had brought fear to the

Patriots. In December 1775, Washington wrote a letter to Colonel Henry Lee stating that success in the war would come to whatever side could arm the blacks the fastest. 

• Washington then issued orders to the recruiters to reenlist the free blacks who had already served in the army.

• He worried that these soldiers may cross over to the British side. Congress in 1776 agreed with Washington and free blacks who had already served could be reenlisted. Southern Colonies refused to enlist African Americans however (South Georgia and Georgia)