Chapter 6 Section 2: Interactive Reading Guide

Name ______

A Critical Time

Retreat From New York By mid-1776, the war shifted from Boston and New England to ______. In New York, the Continental army did not fight well against the British. In the summer of 1776, British General ______landed on ______with 34,000 troops. He also brought a Navy with ______sailors. American General Washington had ______poorly trained troops and no ______. Nathan Hale emerged as an American hero. He volunteered to ______on the British at Long Island. He was caught and ______. His famous last words were, “______.”

Surprises for the British By December 1776, the Continental army had retreated all the way into ______. The soldiers’ spirits plunged as they failed to achieve any victories. Some soldiers even began to ______the army. Thomas Paine wrote ______to inspire soldiers to remain committed to freedom. Washington ordered it to be ______. On ______, Washington led his soldiers across the ______River for a surprise attack on ______from two sides. The defeated troops were Hessian

______, or soldiers who are paid to fight for a country other than their own. Another American attack near ______boosted spirits throughout the army.

List two reasons the Continental army had to keep retreating from General Howe’s attacks. ______

Saratoga: A Turning Point British General ______came up with a plan to defeat the Americans. He designed a three-pronged attack to cut off ______from the other states. The Americans were successful in blocking British movements, however. On October 17, 1777, American General ______and his troops forced Burgoyne to surrender in ______, New York. This victory secured the New England states for the Americans and lifted the Patriots’ spirits. It also showed ______that the Continental army might win the war.

Help From Overseas In 1778, ______became the first foreign country to sign a treaty with the United

States. France and two of its allies, ______and the ______, then joined the war against Britain. This caused the British to fight in several areas besides North America, which helped the American cause. Individual Europeans also aided the Americans.

______, a French noble, became a good friend of Washington’s as they led troops together. ______from Poland trained the Patriot

______, or units of troops on horseback. ______, a masterful German commander, was especially helpful. He taught

American recruits how to ______, aim, and attack with ______.

Valley Forge Through the bitter winter of 1777–1778, Washington and his troops suffered terribly at ______, Pennsylvania. The army faced shortages in ______, ______, and ______. Drafty huts could not keep out the chill. About ______of the soldiers were sick at any given time. Nevertheless, the soldiers gathered their strength and sharpened their skills for the battles to come. Chapter 6 Section 2: Notetaking Study Guide Use these charts to record key information from the section. Important Battles and Places Where When What Happened Why Important New York State American forces had to keep retreating. Trenton

Saratoga

Valley Forge Winter The army gathered of 1777–1778 its strength for the coming battles.

Important People Who What They Did and Why It Was Important Sir William Howe • ______• led British during the worst days of the war for the Patriots__ Nathan Hale • ______• showed the highest level of commitment to freedom_ Thomas Paine • ______• ______George Washington • ______• great military leader and an inspiring hero______John Burgoyne • British general who planned to cut off New England • ______Horatio Gates • ______• ______Marquis de Lafayette • ______• helped Washington win key battles______Thaddeus Kosciusko • ______

Casimir Pulaski • ______

Baron von Steuben • helped train the Continental army______• ______