Strugglingtoward

SaratogaChapter 4, Section 3

Lesson Objectives: To understand the early battles of the American Revolution

To understand why Saratoga is the turning point of the war

Quiz 9/30• After the siege of Boston, Washington moved the

Continental army to _____________.

• The Americans won a much needed battle after a surprise attack on ___________.

• The turning point of the war was the battle of _________________.

• The British Generals and brothers who led the British were named ___________.

Battle of New York• British Army moves to the middle states

• Why?

• 32,000 soldiers + mercenaries sail into the New York Harbor

• Gen. Howe wanted humiliation and surrender

• could offer amnesty

• Continental Army had 23,000 men• LOST and had to retreat August 27th, 1776

http://www.americanrevolution.com/AmRevMap3.jpg

The contribution and sacrifice of the Maryland Line at the Battle of Long Island during the American

RevolutionOn August 27, 1776, some four hundred Maryland troops led a rear-guard action to check the British advance and protect the retreat of Washington's greatly outnumbered army. The Marylanders launched six counter attacks at the Cortelyou House. During the last attack, Cornwallis' troops were reinforced and the Marylanders were swept back to the Gowanus Canal. After the battle, 256 Marylanders were buried in a mass grave that is located a few blocks from the park. It is for this heroic action that Maryland became known as the Old Line State. “Good God, what brave fellows I must this day lose.”

–George Washington.http://www.sos.state.md.us/MMMC/vt3-md400.html

ONLY 9 men, including the leader of the MD forces, Mordecai Gist, survived.

• ….By late fall Washington has been pushed across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania.

• He had ONLY 8,000 troops left!• HE STARTED WITH 23,000!

Trenton and Princeton

•The Continental army needed a win

•Why??

•Trenton: Christmas 1776 - -Washington makes a strike

•Travels across the Delaware in rowboats!

•Captures over 1,000 Hessians!

•6 days later he wins at Princeton•How??•Another sneak attack

The tide is turning for the Patriots!

Looking back on it, what mistake did Howe make after Washington fled NY??

Battle of Trenton, Christmas 1776

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Philadelphia Falls• General Howe wanted to take Philadelphia

• He forced out Washington’s troops and Congress was also forced to flee

• More continental losses:• Brandywine• Germantown

• The British enjoy the winter in Philly!

Battle of Trenton• Why could one argue that this was the

defining moment in Washington’s career?

• Why are Trenton and Princeton seen as two of the most important battles in the Revolutionary war?

• What are the social impact of these two battles throughout the colonies?

• Why is it more important for the colonists to gain small victories like these than it is for the British?

Battle of Saratoga

• Why have the British brought silverware and china with them?

• What was the British Plan?

• How do the Americans fight differently then the British?

• Why do the Americans target British officers What is its effect?

Trenton vs. Saratoga

Think: Pair: Share

• What was more significant the battles of Trenton/ Princeton or the Battle of Saratoga?

Winter at Valley Forge• Winter 1777-1778

• Terrible winter with few supplies.

• LOW POINT FOR THE AMERICANS.

• Troops that remain are committed and trained by Baron von Steuben.

• Inadequate:– Food– Supplies– Firewood– shelter

BATTLE OF SARATOGA

Benedict Arnold vs. BurgoyneKEY IDEA: Control the water, Control the land

BRITISH OBJECTIVE: Divide the colonies How??

REBEL STRATEGY: Delay the British link-up, using terrain as an ally.

TURNING POINT: British defeat at Saratoga

RESULT: Delay the British and brings France in on side of the Americans!!

NOTE: Benedict Arnold latter betrays the cause, jealous and petulant

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Washington’s description of Valley Forge

• “It may be said that no history can furnish an instance of an Army’s suffering uncommon hardships as ours has done. To see men without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lay on, without shoes, by which their marches might be traced by the blood from their feet, and almost as often without provision as with. Marching through frost and snow, and at Christmas taking up their winter quarters within a day’s march of the enemy, without a hut to cover them until they could be built and submitting to it without a murmur, is a mark of patience and obedience which in my opinion can scarcely be paralleled.”

• General George Washington

Colonial Life During the Revolution• Inflation

– Goods started to get more expensive– Continental money kept losing value

• Supply of army was major issue• Profiteering• Women stepped into Men’s roles

– Molly Pitcher

• Slave took advantage of situation – Fought on both sides

• Natives fought on both sides- who they thought could help them more

Loyalists vs. PatriotsMaybe 1/3 of colonists were

loyalists

Loyalists were stronger in the South

Loyalists included members of King’s govt. in colonies, such as judges, governors, etc. AND many ordinary colonists.

Perhaps 1/3 to 1/2 of the colonists were patriots = calling for independence.

Patriots tended to come from those who wanted more economic independence.

*Many Americans tried to stay neutral, esp. Quakers.

African-Americans fought on both sides.

Native Americans tended to side with the British.

Compare and Contrast Loyalists and Patriots

Franco- American AllianceFrance gives:

– Gunpowder– Munitions

***(90% of American gunpowder in first 2+ years comes from France!!)

France gets: • Ally in the New World

• A weakened Britain,

• Protection for her sugar colonies in the West Indies

• Possibly New France back as well

Americans get: • A wider war:

– France, Spain, Holland – fighting in North America, South

America, Asia, Caribbean, and on the high seas.

• Most of its supplies, training, and naval support