Download Chapter 7: The American Revolution Summary: When war erupted

Chapter 7: The American Revolution
Summary: When war erupted in 1775, it seemed clear that Britain would win. It had a large, well-organized land
army, and the Royal Navy was unmatched on the sea. Many of the British troops in the Revolutionary War were
veterans who had fought in the French and Indian War while the Americans had only a collection of undisciplined
militiamen who had never fought before. The American navy was small and no match for the thousand ships in the
royal fleet. The state of the army did improve after George Washington turned the Continental Army into a
professional fighting force, but the odds still seemed heavily stacked in Britain’s favor. Nonetheless, the Americans
believed that they did have a strong chance of success. They had a lot at stake, unlike the British, they were fighting
on their home turf to protect their own homes and families. They were also fighting a popular war—a majority of the
colonists were patriots who strongly supported the fight for independence. Finally, though most Americans had no
previous military experience, their militia units were usually close, people who served together in defense of their
own homes. They elected their own officers—usually men who did have some military training but who also knew
the territory well. This native officer corps was a great source of strength, and as a result, American morale was
generally higher than morale in the Royal Army.
On December 19, 1777, when Washington's poorly fed, ill-equipped army, weary from long marches,
staggered into Valley Forge, winds blew as the 11,000 Continentals prepared for winter's fury. Only about 1/3 of
them had shoes, and many of their feet were leaving bloody footprints from the marching. Grounds
for brigade encampments were selected, and defense lines were planned and begun. Though construction of more
than a thousand huts provided shelter, it did little to offset the critical shortages that continually plagued the army.
Despite the losses however, the army that marched out of the Valley Forge five months later was considerably
stronger.
After numerous battles, the turning point in the war came in 1777 at the Battle of Saratoga in upstate New
York. When American forces won, their victory encouraged France to pledge its support for the United States in the
Franco-American Alliance of 1778. A year later, Spain followed suit and also entered the war against Britain. Spain,
hoping to see Britain driven out of North America, had tacitly supported the Americans by providing them with
munitions and supplies since the beginning of the war. Their entry as combatants took pressure off the Americans,
as Britain was forced to divert troops to fight the Spanish elsewhere. Finally, the Netherlands entered the war against
Britain in 1780.
Fortified by the Franco-American Alliance, the Americans maintained an impasse with the British
until 1781, when the Americans laid siege to a large encampment of British forces under Charles Cornwallis at
Yorktown, Virginia. Scattered battles persisted until 1783, but the British, weary of the stalemate, decided to
negotiate peace.
The war came to an official close in September 1783, when Britain, the United States, France, and Spain
negotiated the Peace of Paris. The treaty granted vast tracts of western lands to the Americans and recognized the
United States as a new and independent country. The last British forces departed New York in November 1783,
leaving the American government in full control of the new nation.
Important People:
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George Washington - Commanded the Continental Army during the American Revolution.
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Thomas Jefferson- In 1776, he drafted the Declaration of Independence, which justified American
independence from Britain. Also wrote, the Bill for Establishing Religious Freedoms.
George Rogers Clark - Commander of the Patriots during 1778-1779, gaining control of parts of the Ohio
Valley. Secretly worked for the Spanish an informant and spy.
Benedict Arnold - Infamous American supporter of the British cause. Hero of the battles earlier on for
America, but then became an informer of General Henry Clinton. In 1780, Patriots discovered his plan, causing
him to flee to the British army for protection and went on to become a general in their army.
John Burgoyne - Was dispatched with nearly 8,000 British and German troops to join with Howe.
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Horatio Gates - Commanded an American army that defeated Burgoyne several times, forcing him to retreat to
Saratoga.
Henry Clinton - Head of the British Army in New York City
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Loyalists - British colonists who opposed independence from Britain, also called Tories by the Patriots.
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Patriots - British colonists who favored independence from Britain. Formed the Continental Army.
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"Molly Pitcher" - wife of a Continental Army soldier who was killed, who took his place at the canon.
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Charles Cornwallis - Commander of British forces that surrendered at Yorktown.
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John Jay - Appointed secretary for foreign affairs by the Confederation Congress in 1784. Attempts to
negotiate with the British for their withdrawal from the Northwest, and with Spain for guarantees of territorial
sovereignty and commercial relations.
General William Howe - British General during the American Revolution
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Key Terms:
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Valley Forge - Area of Pennsylvania where General George Washington's Continental troops were quartered
from December of 1777 to June 1778.
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Continental Army - The regular or professional army authorized by the second Continental Congress and
commanded by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War.
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United States Constitution - The written document providing for a new central government for the U.S.
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Articles of Confederation - Written document setting up the loose confederation of states that comprised the
first national government of the United States.
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Continental Congress- Convention of delegates from the colonies that first met to organize resistance to the
Intolerable Acts.
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Land Ordinance of 1785 - Act passed by Congress under the Articles of Confederation that created the grid
system of survey s by which all subsequent public land was made available for sale.
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Northwest Ordinance of 1787 - Legislation that prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territories and provided the
model for the incorporation of future territories into the union as co-equal states.
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Bill of Rights - A written summary of inalienable rights and liberties.
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Bill for Establishing Religious Freedoms - A bill authored by Thomas Jefferson establishing religious freedom
in Virginia.
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Constitutional convention - Convention that met in Philadelphia in 1787 and drafted the Constitution of the
United States.
Timeline:
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
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George Washington named Commander in Chief, assumes command of the Continental Army.
American forces under Benedict Arnold fail to seize Quebec.
Lord Dunmore issues a proclamation declaring the emancipation of all slaves and indentured
servants willing to take up arms for the British.
The Virginian Declaration of Rights
The First Virginian Constitution
Congress debates and revises the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence is read publicly
Delegates begin to sign The Declaration of Independence
Battle of Long Island initiates retreat of Continental Army
British land on Manhattan Island
Lord Cornwallis captures Fort Lee from Nathanael Greene
Washington crosses the Delaware and captures Trenton from Hessians
Slavery abolished in Vermont
British General William Howe captures Philadelphia
British withdraw from Fort Stanwix, NY, upon hearing of Benedict Arnold's approach
Washington's army grown to nearly 9,000 men.
Burgoyne checked by Americans under Gates at Freeman's Farm, NY.
Fort Ticonderoga falls to Burgoyne, but is soon defeated by Gates and retreats to Saratoga.
Burgoyne loses second battle of Freeman's Farm, NY (at Bemis Heights).
Burgoyne surrenders to American General Gates at Saratoga, NY
Paoli Massacre
Washington's army retires to winter quarters at Valley Forge.
France recognizes American Independence
The United States and France sign the French Alliance; France enters war
Battle of Monmouth hastens British retreat to New York
George Rogers Clark captures Kaskaskia
British captures Savannah
British General William Howe replaced by Henry Clinton
Washington's army leaves Valley Forge
Benedict Arnold becomes a paid informer of General Henry Clinton.
Spain enters the war.
Spanish seizes Natchez and Baton Rouge.
British land at Charleston
French land at Newport
John André arrested; Patriots uncover Arnolds plot to betray the strategic post at West Point on
the Hudson River.
British General Charles Cornwallis invades North Carolina
King's Mountain, SC: battle lasts 65 minutes. American troops led by Isaac Shelby and John
Sevier defeat Maj. Patrick Ferguson and one-third of General Cornwallis's army
Washington names Nathanael Greene commander of the Southern Army
Mutiny of unpaid Pennsylvania soldiers
Articles of Confederation adopted
Cornwallis surrounded on land and sea by Americans and French and surrenders at Yorktown,
VA
Lord North resigns as British Prime Minister
British and Americans sign preliminary Articles of Peace
Washington mediates issue of officer pension
Treaty of Paris is signed
British evacuate New York
Washington resigns as Commander
Treaty of Fort Stanwix
Post-war depression begins
1785
1786
1787
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Land Ordinance of 1785
Treaty of Fort McIntosh
Jefferson's Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom passed
Rhode Island currency law passed
U.S. Constitution signed