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THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
GROUP 1
6.1 a – The Opposing Sides
Main Idea: The British and American forces each had advantages and disadvantages during the war for
American independence.
Intro
-Both sides expected the war to be short.
-The British planned to crush the rebellion by force.
-Most Patriots believed that the British would give up after losing one or two battles.
-A few Patriots, like John Adams, predicted that the war would be long and bloody.
-The British had the strongest navy in the world, an experienced and well-trained army, the wealth of a
worldwide empire, and a much larger population.
-The colonists lacked a regular army or a strong navy, soldiers lacked experience, weapons and ammunition
were in short supply, and most Patriot soldiers belonged to militia groups who were volunteers and fought for
short periods of time before returning home.
-Not all Americans supported the war, as some were neutral, others opposed armed conflict like the Quakers,
and others remained loyal to Britain.
The Loyalists
-Americans who remained loyal to Britain were called Loyalists or Tories.
-At least 1 in 5 Americans were thought to be Loyalists, perhaps as many as 1 in 3.
-Some people changed sides during the war, depending on which army was closer.
-Loyalists were strongest in the Carolinas and Georgia, and weakest in New England.
-Loyalists supported Britain for different reasons: some were members of the Anglican Church, others
depended on Britain for their jobs, some feared the disorder that might break out, and others couldn’t
understand why the colonists wanted independence.
-Some friends and families were divided over their loyalty to Britain.
African Americans in the War
-Some African Americans sided with the loyalists.
-Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia, announced that enslaved people who fought for the British
would be freed.
-Some ended up free in Canada or the British colony of Sierra Leone in Africa.
Patriot Advantages
-Americans were fighting on their own ground, and fought with determination to protect it, while the British
had to wage war in a faraway land and ship soldiers and supplies thousands of miles across the Atlantic.
-The British relied on mercenaries (hired soldiers) to fight for them, called Hessians, after the region in
Germany from where they came.
-The Americans’ greatest advantage was their leader, George Washington, as few could match his courage,
honesty, and determination.
Raising an Army
-Americans placed great value on liberty and personal freedom, and were unwilling to throw off the rule of
Parliament and transfer (move) power to their own Continental Congress.
-In some ways, the Revolution was 13 separate wars, with each state pursuing its own interests.
-Congress have difficulty enlisting soldiers and raising money.
-At first, soldiers signed up for one year of army service, but eventually the Congress offered enlistments for
three years or for the length of the war.
-It was difficult to recruit officers, and the best were veterans of previous (earlier) wars, or young men who
were recruited from the ranks.
-Woman also fought with the Patriot forces. Margaret Corbin of Pennsylvania, took her husbands’ place in
battle after he died. Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley was known as Molly Pitcher, because she carried pitchers of
water to the soldiers in battle. Teenager Deborah Sampson of Massachusetts, disguised herself as a boy and
enlisted.
GROUP 2
6.1 b – Patriot Defeats and Victories
Main Idea: After suffering defeat at the Battle of Long Island, the Americans rallied and won victories at
Trenton and Princeton.
Intro
-Most of the early battles involved few troops.
-Britain sent 32,000 troops across the Atlantic to New York, British General William Howe hoped that the
sheer size of his army would convince the Patriots to give up.
Defeat on Long Island
-Outnumbered and outmaneuvered, the Continental Army suffered a serious defeat at Long Island.
-Patriot Nathan Hale, a teacher from Connecticut, disguised himself as a Dutch schoolteacher to spy on the
British. The British discovered his identity and hanged him. According to tradition, just before his hanging,
Hale said, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”
-Americans ran short of supplies for the army: many did not have shoes, socks, jackets, or blankets.
-After the defeat on Long Island, Washington retreated to Manhattan, and the British forced him to retreat
further across New Jersey and into Pennsylvania.
A Low Point
-In the winter of 1776-1777, the Patriot cause was near collapse: the size of the army had dwindled, some
soldiers went home after the terms of their service was up, and others ran away.
-Washington pleaded with the Continental Congress for more troops.
-African Americans were not allowed in the Continental Army as many white people in the South felt
uncomfortable giving them guns, fearing revolts.
African Americans Join the Fight
-Some states ignored the ban and enlisted African Americans.
-Rhode Island raised an all-African American regiment, and by the end of the war, every state except South
Carolina enlisted African Americans to fight.
-It is estimated that as many as 5,000 African Americans joined the Patriots, including Lemuel Hayes and Peter
Salem, who fought at Concord.
-African Americans fought because they believed in the Patriot cause, or they needed the money, and some
were runaway slaves.
American Victories in New Jersey
-The British settled in New York for the winter, leaving some troops in Trenton and Princeton.
-On Christmas night, 1776, Washington and 2,400 troops crossed the icy Delaware River and surprised and
defeated the enemy at Trenton (Hessians).
-Washington evaded British reinforcements under Lord Charles Cornwallis, and then defeated the British at
Princeton.
GROUP 3
6.1 C – A British Plan for Victory
Main Idea: The British plan to separate New England from the Middle Colonies was foiled at the Battle of
Saratoga.
Intro
-The British worked out a battle plan to take Albany, New York to gain control of the Hudson River and
separate New England from the Middle Colonies.
-The plan involved a three-pronged attack with General John Burgoyne attacking from the north, Lieutenant
Colonel Barry St. Leger from the west, and General Howe from the south.
The British Capture Philadelphia
-General Howe captured Philadelphia, forcing the Continental Congress to flee, but Howe decided to stay in
Philadelphia instead of going to Albany.
Patriots Slow the British
-American forces led by Benedict Arnold halted St. Leger’s advance at Fort Stanwix, New York, and forced the S
St. Leger to retreat.
-General Burgoyne captured Fort Ticonderoga, but made slow progress towards Albany due to 30 wagons of
luxury goods (food and fine clothes) and Americans downing trees to block the British path.
-Burgoyne sent troops to Vermont for supplies, but Vermont militia known as the Green Mountain Boys,
defeated them. Burgoyne then retreated to Saratoga, New York.
The Battle of Saratoga
-American troops led by General Horatio Gates blocked Burgoyne’s path to the south, and the expected British
reinforcements did not arrive due to St. Leger’s defeat and Howe staying in Philadelphia.
-On October 17, 1777, General Burgoyne and his army surrendered.
-General Howe resigned and General Henry Clinton replaced him.
GROUP 4
6.2 a – Gaining Allies
Main Idea: Even with aid from other nations and individuals, the Patriots had difficulty financing their war for
independence.
Intro
-The Battle of Saratoga marked a turning point in the war, as European nations realized that the Americans
might actually win their war against Great Britain.
-Benjamin Franklin was in France trying to get their support for the American cause.
-France had given money secretly, but had not fully committed to an alliance.
France
-News of the American victory at Saratoga convinced the French to support the United States.
-The French and the Americans worked out a trade agreement and an alliance in February, 1778.
-France declared war on Britain, sent money, equipment, and troops to aid (help) the Patriots.
Spain
-Spain declared war on Britain in 1779.
-The Spanish governor of Louisiana, Bernando de Galvez, raised an army to fight the British, which caused the
British to divert troops from other fronts of the war.
Winter at Valley Forge
-British General Howe spent the winter in comfort in Philadelphia, while Washington set up camp at Valley
Forge.
-Americans endured a winter of terrible suffering, lacking food, clothing, shelter, and medicine.
-Many men deserted (left without permission) and some officers resigned.
Help from Overseas
-The Marquis de Lafayette joined the battle for freedom due to his enthusiasm for the ideas expressed in the
Declaration of Independence, and became a trusted aide to Washington.
-Engineer Thaddeus Kosciusko and cavalry officer Casimir Pulaski were two who came from Poland to help the
American effort.
-Prussian officer, Friedrich von Steuben, helped drill the Patriot troops at Valley Forge and taught them
military discipline.
-Juan de Miralles came from Spain, and urged Spain, Cuba, and Mexico to send financial aid.
Money Problems
-Getting money to finance the war was a major problem.
-The Continental Congress had no power to raise money through taxes, so they printed millions of dollars’
worth of paper money that quickly lost value, and led to inflation (took more money to buy goods).
6.2 b – Life on the Home Front
Main Idea: The ideals of liberty and freedom that inspired the American Revolution carried through to the
issues of women’s interests and slavery.
Intro
-The war changed the lives of all Americans, including those who stayed at home.
-With the men away at war, many women took charge of their families and others ran businesses.
Changing Attitudes
-The ideals of liberty and freedom caused some women to question their place and treatment.
-Essays by Judy Sargeant Murray of Massachusetts argued that women’s minds were as good as men’s, and
therefore, girls should get as good an education as boys.
-Abigail Adams stood up for women’s interests.
Hopes for Equality
-Ideals of freedom and liberty inspired many to question slavery.
-In 1778, New Jersey Governor William Livingston asked the legislature to free all enslaved people in the state.
-African Americans hoped the Revolution would help end slavery.
-Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania attempted to abolish slavery.
Treatment of Loyalists
-Thousands of Loyalists fought on the side of the British, some spied on the Patriots, and others chose to flee
the colonies.
-Loyalists who stayed in the United States faced difficult times as they were shunned, became victims of mob
violence, were arrested and tried as traitors, and a few were executed.
GROUP 5
6.3 a – War in the West
Main Idea: The British, along with their Native American allies, led attacks against settlers in the West.
Intro
-Mohawk chief Joseph Brant and other Native Americans fought for the British, and others fought for the
Americans.
-More natives sided with the British, as they seemed less of a threat than the Americans.
The British and Native Americans
-West of the Appalachian Mountains, the British and their Native American allies raided American settlements.
-Joseph Brant led brutal attacks in New York and Pennsylvania.
-Henry Hamilton, the British commander at Detroit, was called the “hair buyer” because he paid Natives for
American scalps.
Victory at Vincennes
-George Rogers Clark, a lieutenant colonel in the Virginia militia, seized British posts at Kaskaskia, Illinois and
Vincennes, Indiana.
6.3 b – Glory at Sea
Main Idea: The American navy and American privateers had some successes against the powerful British navy.
Intro
-Great Britain’s powerful navy blockaded American harbors, and prevented supplies and reinforcements from
reaching the Continental Army.
Privateers
-To break the blockade, the Continental Congress ordered the construction of 13 warships. Only two sailed to
sea, as many were captured by the British.
-Congress authorized about 2,000 ships to sail as privateers (privately owned merchant ships with weapons).
-Privateering was a profitable trade, and the privateers captured more British ships than the American navy.
John Paul Jones
-American naval officer, John Paul Jones, and his ship Bonhomme Richard, fought with the British warship,
Serapis. When asked to surrender, Jones replied, “I have not yet begun to fight.”
-In the end, the Serapis surrendered, but the Bonhomme Richard sank not long after the battle.
GROUP 6
6.3c – Struggles in the South
Main Idea: Great Britain hoped that a strong campaign in the South would help the war.
Intro
-The Americans won several battles in the South early in the war, including the Battle of Moore’s Creek, North
Carolina, and Charles Town, South Carolina.
-The British concentrated their efforts in the South and hoped to use British sea power and Loyalist support to
win in the South.
British Victories
-In 1778, General Henry Clinton attacked from New York, and took Savannah, Georgia and most of the state.
-In 1780, Clinton captured Charles Town, South Carolina and took thousands of prisoners, the worst American
defeat of the war.
-Clinton returned to New York, and General Charles Cornwallis took command in the South for the British.
-Cornwallis fought American General Horatio Gates at Camden, South Carolina. Although the British won, they
could not control the conquered area.
Guerrilla Warfare
-Small forces of Patriots attacked British forces using the hit-and-run tactics of guerrilla warfare.
-Guerrilla leader, Francis Marion, known as the “Swamp Fox,” operated out of the swamps of South Carolina.
Help from Spain
-Spanish governor of Louisiana, Bernardo de Galvez, loaned thousands of dollars to the Americans, opened the
port of New Orleans to free trade, and had tons of supplies and ammunition shipped up the Mississippi River.
-In 1779, Spain declared war on Britain, and Galvez raised an army to fight against the British.
Patriot Victories
-Patriots won a victory at Kings Mountain, North Carolina.
-Nathanael Greene split his army in two and one section defeated the British at Cowpens, South Carolina.
-Greene was forced to retreat at Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina, but the British sustained (suffered)
great losses, causing Cornwallis to abandon the Carolina campaign.
British Retreat
-Cornwallis marched north to Virginia and nearly captured governor Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia
legislature.
-Washington sent Lafayette and General Anthony Wayne to fight Cornwallis, who had set up camp at on the
coast at Yorktown, Virginia.
GROUP 7
6.4 a – Victory at Yorktown
Main Idea: Washington’s complicated battle plan led to the important American victory at Yorktown.
Intro
-Washington made plans to attack the British at Yorktown, Virginia rather than New York City.
-In July, 1780, French warships appeared, but were trapped by the British fleet, causing Washington to have to
wait for a second French fleet.
Change in Plans
-While Lafayette was keeping the British bottled up on the Yorktown peninsula, a second French fleet was
heading towards the Chesapeake Bay led by Francois de Grasse, and Washington decided to advance on
Yorktown.
-Washington kept his strategy (plan of action) a secret, as he wanted British General Clinton to think the
Patriots planned to attack in New York.
-French General Comte de Rochambeau led a French army to join Washington and Lafayette’s forces.
The Siege of Yorktown
-14,000 American and French troops trapped Cornwallis’s 8,000 British and Hessian troops at Yorktown.
-The French fleet, commanded by de Grasse, kept Cornwallis from escaping by sea.
Cornwallis’s Defeat
-Low on supplies, with many soldiers wounded or sick, Cornwallis surrendered, and British troops handed over
their weapons and marched to the tune of “The World Turned Upside Down.”
-The Americans had won the Battle of Yorktown, and took 8,000 British prisoners and captured more than 200
guns.
GROUP 8
6.4 b – Independence
Main Idea: The Patriots’ spirit and resolve helped them win independence.
Intro
-A few more battles took place on land and sea after the Battle of Yorktown, but Yorktown convinced the
British that the war was too costly to pursue (continue).
-Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay represented the United States in Paris to work out a treaty.
-The American Congress ratified (approved) the Treaty of Paris, which was signed on September 3, 1783.
-In the Treaty of Paris, Britain recognized the independence of the United States, promised to withdraw all of
their troops from American territory, and agreed to give Americans the right to fish off the coast of Canada.
-The United States agreed that British merchants could collect debts that Americans owed, and Loyalists
would have property taken from them returned.
The Newburgh Conspiracy
-The Congress refused to fund American soldier’s pensions and failed to provide them with pay.
-Some officers threatened to use force against Congress if their demands were not met.
-Washington realized that the threat of revolt was dangerous, and persuaded the angry soldiers to be patient,
and urged Congress to meet their demands.
-Washington’s leadership ended the threat to the new nation, and Congress paid the soldiers.
Washington Resigns
-On December 4, 1783, Washington said farewell to his troops and three weeks later he formally resigned.
-Washington returned home to Mount Vernon, Virginia to be with- his family.
Why the Americans Won
-Americans fought on their own land, knew the local terrain and where to lay an ambush (surprise attack).
-British had to bring troops and supplies thousands of miles, depended too much on the sea for support, and
had difficulty controlling the American countryside once they occupied the cities.
-Help from other nations contributed to the American victory. French supplied soldiers, ships, and loans. The
Spanish gave aid by attacking the British.
-Perhaps most important, the Revolution was a people’s movement, and the outcome depended on the
determination and spirit of the Patriots rather than a battle or event.
Influence of the American Revolution
-The principles of freedom and rights outlined in the Declaration of Independence influenced the French
Revolution, as the French rebels fought for “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.”
-Led by Toussaint-Louverture, the ideals of the American and French Revolutions influenced enslaved Africans
in the French colony of Saint Domingue in the Caribbean to overthrow French rule.