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“Washington Crossing the Deleware”. IMAGE. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web 13 Oct. 2015 <http://media1.school.eb.com/eb-media/09/118409-004-8EECA00B.jpg>

Ch:6 The American Revolution

6:2 A Critical Time

“Washington Crossing the Deleware”. IMAGE. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web 13 Oct. 2015 <http://media1.school.eb.com/eb-media/09/118409-004-8EECA00B.jpg>

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Standards 8.23 Determine the central ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence and write an expository piece in which the legacy of these ideas in today’s world is described and validated with supporting evidence from the text.

• 8.24 Using Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and The Crisis identify aspects of the texts that reveal the author’s point of view and purpose including loaded language.

•  8.25 Identify and explain the significance of the major battles, leaders, and events of the American Revolution

•  8.27 Compare the points of views of the Loyalists and Patriots by integrating visual information through charts, graphs, or images with print texts.

Objectives • Discover the results of fighting in the Middle States.

• Understand why the Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the American Revolution.

• Learn how foreign nations and volunteers helped the Americans.

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Terms and People • Nathan Hale – Connecticut officer and American spy who was executed by the British

• mercenary – soldier who is paid to fight for a country other than his or her own

• alliance – formal agreement between two powers to work together toward a common goal

• Marquis de Lafayette – French noble and high-ranking officer in Washington’s army

Terms and People (continued) •  cavalry – units of troops on horseback

• Friedrich von Steuben – German baron who helped train the Continental army

Baron von Steuben drilling American recruits at Valley Forge in 1778, painted by Edwin Austin ncojournal.dodlive.mil

By Charles Willson Peale, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Public Domain

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How were the early years of the war a critical time?

In 1776, Americans declared their independence. But they were not yet free.

First, they had to defeat one of the world’s most powerful nations.

Declaration of Independence. IMAGE. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. <http://media1.school.eb.com/eb-media/42/97342-004-F74CD325.jpg>

As the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, a large British fleet landed in New York.

The fleet was commanded by Sir William Howe.

Howe gathered his forces on Staten Island and prepared to attack the Continental army.

Anne S.K. Brown Military History Collection at Brown University Public Domain

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George Washington expected the attack. But his troops were no match for the British.

Americans British

• 20,000 poorly trained volunteers

• No navy

• Little equipment; few supplies

• 34,000 professional soldiers

• Navy fleet; 10,000 sailors

• Well equipped; fully supplied

In a series of battles and American retreats, the British drove Washington from New York, across New Jersey, and into Pennsylvania.

Americans British

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Spirits were low, and many soldiers deserted.

To boost morale Thomas Paine wrote another pamphlet, The Crisis, urging Americans to fight for their cause.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFG37sn-tC0

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Though his army was battered, Washington rallied his troops for a surprise attack. On Christmas night, Washington crossed the Delaware, slipping into New Jersey. His army defeated Hessian mercenaries and British troops in two key battles.

“Washington Crossing the Deleware”. IMAGE. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web 13 Oct. 2015 <http://media1.school.eb.com/eb-media/09/118409-004-8EECA00B.jpg>

Battle of Trenton 12/26/1776

Attacked as mercenaries slept.

Battle of Princeton 1/3/1777

Photo credit; Yale University Art Gallery Public Domain

Battle of Trenton, December 26, 1777. Source: U.S. Army Center of Military History

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Another American victory soon followed.

General John Burgoyne planned to push toward Albany, New York, from three directions.

British Albany, New York

New England

They hoped to cut New England off from the rest of the colonies by taking control of the Hudson River Valley.

British

Briti

sh

Two forces never arrived. The third, coming from Canada, was led by British general John Burgoyne.

Americans led by General Horatio Gates surrounded Burgoyne’s troops at Saratoga, New York. On October 17, 1777.

After suffering heavy losses, Burgoyne surrendered.

Burgoyne, John; surrender to Gates, 1777. IMAGE. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. <http://media1.school.eb.com/eb-media/68365-004-D25B3D82.jpg>

Horatio Gates, esquire. Public domain

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The Revolutionary War, 1775–1777

Battle of Saratoga

The Battle of Saratoga proved to be a turning point for the Americans.

• ended British threat to New England

• lifted Patriot spirits

• convinced Europeans Americans could win

Burgoyne, John; surrender to Gates, 1777. IMAGE. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.<http;//media1.school.eb-nedia/15/116215-004-77BOA66D.jpg>

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Soon after Saratoga, France agreed to support American independence.

United States

France forms an alliance with the Americans

Eager to weaken Britain, France took the war to Europe, forcing the British to fight on many fronts.

European volunteers from many nations made key contributions to the Patriot cause.

Poland

Thaddeus Kosciusko

Military engineer

Poland

Casimir Pulaski

Cavalry expert

France Marquis de Lafayette

Officer in Washington’s

army

Encyclopædia Britannica. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. <http://media1.school.eb.com/eb-media/16/62616-004-914F7CA5.jpg>.

Encyclopædia Britannica. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. <http://media1.school.eb.com/eb-media/68/94568-004-7C6FF5AE.jpg>.

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Friedrich von Steuben, a German baron, helped train American troops and build the Continental army into a more effective fighting force.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acsra7kGC9M

Baron von Steuben drilling American recruits at Valley Forge in 1778, painted by Edwin Austin ncojournal.dodlive.mil

Despite Patriot advances, the winter of 1777–1778 was difficult.

Washington and his troops faced terrible hardships at Valley Forge. They had little warm clothing, and almost no food. Many died.

Yet spring finally came, and the army slowly regained strength for the battles ahead.

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