The American RevolutionThe American Revolution

The Early Years of the War (7-1)

Americans Divided

“… roughly 20 to 30 percent of Americans were Loyalists, roughly 40 to 45 percent were Patriots, and the rest remained neutral.”

Text:Chart:

Whatever the exact numbers,

most Americans did not

support the Revolution.

Iroquois League… Split up as tribes chose sides; some British, others American

Like theIndians…

Free and enslaved Africansfaced a difficult decision andfought bravely on both sides

Like whiteAmericans…

Creating an Army

George Washington

Commander of the Continental Army

George Washingtonat Princeton

Charles Willson Peale

BritishArroganceBritish

ArroganceFighting

for a CauseFighting

for a Cause

GeographyGeography

AmericanAdvantagesAmerican

Advantages

Knowledge of the Land

Distance from Britain

Vast Size of the Land

Liberty, Freedom, Independence …They’re not just words.

King and Parliament do

not believe Americans are willing to suffer

Washington’s Strategy to Win…

SurvivSurvive!e!

Creating an Army

Creating an Army

Mary Ludwig Hays McCauleyAKA: Molly Pitcher

Took over loading the cannon at the Battle of Monmouth

after her husband was wounded

Deborah Sampson GannettAKA: Robert Shurtleff

Pretended to be a man in order to fight

Struggle for the Middle States

Sir William Howe

Commander of British troops in America

British Strategy #1:Capture the

Big Cities

View of Continental Army:They won’t fight –

unwilling to endure hardships

Struggle for the Middle States

Long Island

Hudson RiverNathan Hale

Hanged as a spy when the British captured New York City

I regret that I have but one life to give for my country.

Struggle for the Middle States

The PlanThe PlanThomas Paine

• Author of The Crisis• Used to motivate Washington’s troops

Struggle for the Middle States

Washington Crossing the DelawareEmmanuel Leutze

Struggle for the Middle States

Washington neededa victory before the

end of 1776 …or he was goingto lose his army

The victories at Trenton and Princeton:• Showed that the Continental Army was still strong and could win battles• It also led his soldiers to re-enlist and kept the war going

British Strategy #2:

GentlemanJohnny Burgoyne

Commander of British troops in Canada

Divide and Conquer

• separate New England from the other Colonies• capture Hudson River Valley

Britain’s Strategy

The PlanThe Plan

Howe

Burgoyne

St. Leger

Britain’s StrategyFort Ticonderoga

Difficulties along the way:

1. Americans block the roads

2. Have to cross swampy land

3. Need to build bridges and roads

AND…….

Howe decides to go after Washington

and capture Philadelphia

“Success be ever with you…”

Battle of Brandywine leads to Howe occupying

Philadelphia

Battles Along the Mohawk

Chief Joseph Brant

a.k.a. Thayendanegea

•Sister, Molly, married to British official

•Convert of the church of England

•Fought with St. Leger in the Mohawk River Valley at Ft. Stanwix

British upheld Iroquois land

rights

Battles Along the Mohawk

• Benedict Arnold– Used Loyalist and

Iroquois decoys to spread rumors

• St. Leger– Feared being

outnumbered– Fast retreat and leave

behind supplies

Fort Stanwix

Who is left to rendez-vous with

Burgoyne???

Saratoga: A Turning Point

• Burgoyne is running out of supplies– Failed raiding party to VT– Battle of Bennington– Moving slowly towards

Albany

• American fortifications on Bemis Heights

• Burgoyne attacks!!! (Has he lost his mind?!?)

Who do his troops encounter?!?

Continental Army unit led by Horatio Gates

The Battles of Saratoga

Despite heavy casualties, the

British hold their position

The Battles of Saratoga

• Benedict Arnold– Leads more charges

against the British– Mercenaries begin to fall

back– Shot in the leg

• Burgoyne forced to retreat

What are the consequences?

1. Benedict Arnold marries a loyalist and doesn’t feel he is given credit for his heroism- becomes a traitor

2. Caused European nations to believe Americans could win the war

Battles of Saratoga

• SUMMARY