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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: George Washington - Commanded the Continental Army during the American Revolution. 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. 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 Loyalists - British colonists who opposed independence from Britain, also called Tories by the Patriots. Patriots - British colonists who favored independence from Britain. Formed the Continental Army. "Molly Pitcher" - wife of a Continental Army soldier who was killed, who took his place at the canon. Charles Cornwallis - Commander of British forces that surrendered at Yorktown. 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 Key Terms: Valley Forge - Area of Pennsylvania where General George Washington's Continental troops were quartered from December of 1777 to June 1778. Continental Army - The regular or professional army authorized by the second Continental Congress and commanded by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. United States Constitution - The written document providing for a new central government for the U.S. Articles of Confederation - Written document setting up the loose confederation of states that comprised the first national government of the United States. Continental Congress- Convention of delegates from the colonies that first met to organize resistance to the Intolerable Acts. 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. 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. Bill of Rights - A written summary of inalienable rights and liberties. Bill for Establishing Religious Freedoms - A bill authored by Thomas Jefferson establishing religious freedom in Virginia. 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 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 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