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Home , Battle of Princeton, Patriot War, The Entry

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SECTION 3 The Struggle for

TEKS 2A, 4B, 4C, 10C, 22B, 25B Liberty

What You Will Learn… If YOU were there... Main Ideas You are a serving maid at an inn in City. British soldiers 1. Many Americans supported often stop at the inn for a meal. You sometimes overhear their con- the war effort. 2. The Patriots both won and versations, though they don’t notice you. Now a Patriot leader has lost battles during the years asked you to bring him any information you hear. You want to help 1775–1777. 3. France and Spain helped the the Patriot cause but wonder what will happen if you are caught Patriots fight the British. spying. 4. The winter at tested the strength of Patriot Would you agree to spy for the Patriots? troops. 5. The war continued at sea and in the West.

Building Background Many colonists struggled for the Patriot The Big Idea cause. Men, women, and children all made important contributions. Patriot forces faced many obstacles in the war against They fought, kept farms and shops running, and provided food and Britain. supplies. In spite of their efforts, winning the war was a great chal- lenge. Key Terms and People mercenaries, p. 128 , p. 129 Supporting the War Effort Battle of Saratoga, p. 130 George ’s chief task as the ’s com- Marquis de Lafayette, p. 131 mander in chief was to raise troops. During the war, more than Baron Friedrich von Steuben, p. 131 Bernardo de Gálvez, p. 131 230,000 soldiers served in the Continental Army, and another , p. 133 145,000 enlisted in local . The typical soldier was young, , p. 133 often under the legal age of 16, and had little money or property. The army offered low pay, harsh conditions, and a big chance of becoming a casualty. Yet the Patriots knew they were fighting for their homes and their freedom. Use the graphic organizer online to Finding and keeping dedicated soldiers would be a constant take notes on the early years of the challenge throughout the war. In time, the . required states to supply soldiers. Men who could afford it often paid others, such as slaves or apprentices, to fight in their places. One question facing General Washington was whether to recruit African Americans. Many white southerners opposed the idea, and at first Washington banned African Americans from serving. When the British promised freedom to any slave who fought on their side, however, thousands of African Americans joined the Redcoats.

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Battles in the Middle Colonies, 1776–77 Fort Ticonderoga

N NH E

W Boston S

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Middle u d MA

Colonies s

o Albany n N Major Battles O R T i G v RI ATLANTIC NY e CT IN D r SH 1 New York, August 1776 el A OCEAN aw W a re

2 Trenton, December 1776 R . Long Island PA 3 Princeton, January 1777 New York Bay 1 New York 40°N 4 Brandywine, September 1777 Princeton 3 Trenton 2 70°W Valley Forge Colonial Forces British Forces Brandywine 4 NJ Strengths StrengthsHRW American History Middle Colonies Locator • Fought for a cause they • Well-trained,ah06sec03loc008ba well- MD DE ATLANTIC believed in equippedF2 - 09/30/04 soldiers E OCEAN • Got help from European • Large,Approved powerful 11/04/04 navy W O

H nations VA Chesapeake Weaknesses Bay Weaknesses • Had to cross Atlantic British advance • Untrained, poorly Ocean British victory equipped soldiers • Used mercenaries as Colonial advance • Small navy soldiers Colonial victory Proclamation Line of 1763

0 75 150 Miles geography NC skills INTERPRETING MAPS 0 75 150 Kilometers 1. Movement About how far was Washington’s march from Boston to New York? 2. Human-Environment Interaction How did geography affect the British advance on Philadelphia?

In response, the Continental Army began Perhaps the best known woman to fight The Impact allowing free African Americans to serve. in the war was Mary Ludwig Hays. She was Today While men served as soldiers, many called Molly Pitcher because she HRWbrought Middle Today School women American serve History Battles in the Middle Colonies women ran farms and businesses. Others water to the troops. When her husband was in every branch of the U.S.ah06se-c03leg008aa military. In helped the army by raising money for sup- wounded in a 1778 battle, she took his place 2013 they becameF2 - 09/30/04 plies or making clothing. Mercy Otis Warren, loading cannons. Another woman, Deborah able to serve in a member of a prominent family of Patriots, Sampson, dressed as a man and fought in combat units. HRW Middle School American History Women soldiers Battles in the Middle Colonies wrote and published several plays that sup- several battles. in the Iraq and ah06se-c03map008aa ported the Revolutionary cause. Women Afghanistan wars F4 - 11/01/0 Reading Check Summarizing How did vari- served as messengers, nurses, and spies. A have undertaken Replaced: 12/02/04 ous groups contribute to the war effort? difficult and danger- Massachusetts man noted: ous jobs, including patrolling streets, “At every house Women and children [are] Defeats and Victories driving trucks, and making Cartridges, running Bullets . . . and at searching Iraqi and the same time animating [encouraging] their As the Revolution gathered steam, it became Afghan women for Husbands and Sons to fight.” more deadly. At first the Continental Army weapons. —Anonymous, quoted in Born for Liberty, by Sara M. Evans suffered a number of defeats. In time, though, the Patriots’ patience began to pay off.

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Canada In part because the army was short on sup- Crossing the Delaware plies, many Patriot leaders favored fighting and his troops a defensive war. Others wanted to invade crossed the partially frozen Delaware River on the night of December 25, British-controlled Canada and make it the 1776. This daring act led to a key “14th colony.” Patriot victory at the Battle of Trenton. Patriot troops led by General Richard German American artist Emanuel Leutze created this famous painting in 1851. A Montgomery captured in Novem- version of Leutze’s Washington Crossing ber 1775. The next major target was the city the Delaware hangs in the Metropolitan of Quebec. , now a general, Museum of Art in . led his troops north on a remarkable trek What feelings do you think Leutze wanted through the rough backcountry of Maine. to inspire with this painting? He reached Quebec around the same time that Montreal fell to Montgomery. Since his first attempt to take the city failed, Arnold execution, he is said to have waited for Montgomery’s troops to join his. declared, “I regret that I have Taking an immense chance, the combined but one life to lose for my armies attacked during a fierce blizzard on New country.” Year’s Eve. They were quickly defeated. The Americans had suffered a crushing loss, and the Patriots’ hopes of taking Canada faded. In November 1776 the tattered Continental Army was on the New York run. Washington’s remaining New York City became the next battle- 6,000 men were tired and dis- ground. General Washington had moved couraged. The one-year con- his troops to New York, expecting the British tract for many of them would arrival. Sure enough, in June 1776, a fleet of end on December 31. Who would re-enlist in British ships approached New York Bay. Led this losing army, and who would replace the by General William Howe, the British forced soldiers who left? Washington’s army was in the Continental Army off Long Island. danger of vanishing. Howe’s 32,000 soldiers were much bet- Thinking the rebellion would end soon, ter equipped than Washington’s 23,000 men, Howe left New Jersey in the hands of sol- most of whom were . The Patriot general diers from the German state of Hesse. The had to use all of his skills just to save his army. Hessians were mercenaries —foreign soldiers In a series of battles, Howe pounded who fought not out of loyalty, but for pay. the Continental Army, forcing it to retreat On December 7 Washington retreated farther and farther. The Redcoats captured across the Delaware River into Pennsylva- Patriots as well as supplies. Eventually, the nia. Even with 2,000 fresh troops, the Patri- FOCUS ON READING British pushed Washington across the Hud- ots were near the end. “These are the times What is the main son River into New Jersey. Howe’s revenge that try men’s souls,” wrote Thomas Paine in idea of the third for his defeat at Boston was complete. The American Crisis, a series of pamphlets he paragraph under “New York”? During the New York campaigns, a began publishing in late 1776. young Connecticut officer named Nathan Without a convincing victory, Washing- Hale went behind British lines to get secret ton knew he would lose his army. He decided information. Seized by the British with to take a big chance and go on the offensive. documents hidden in the soles of his shoes, The Americans would attack the Hessians at Hale was ordered to be hanged. Before his Trenton, New Jersey.

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On Christmas night, 1776, with a winter “The battle was plainly seen from our door . . . storm lashing about them, Washington and and the guns went off so quick and many 2,400 soldiers silently rowed across the ice- together that they could not be numbered clogged Delaware River. As morning broke, . . . Almost as soon as the firing was over, our the men, short on supplies and many with house was filled and surrounded with General no shoes, marched through the snow to Washington’s men.” —Anonymous, quoted in Voices of 1776 reach the enemy camp. by Richard Wheeler The Hessians, having celebrated the As Washington watched the Redcoats holiday the night before, were fast asleep flee Princeton, he cheered, “It is a fine fox when the Patriots sprang upon them. The chase, my boys!” Now, new soldiers joined Battle of Trenton was an important Patriot the chase. Others re-enlisted. The army—and victory. American soldiers took more than the Revolution—was saved. 900 prisoners. British general Charles Cornwallis rushed Saratoga to stop Washington as he marched northeast The two quick defeats stung the British. In to Princeton. On the night of January 2, 1777, the spring of 1777, they wanted a victory. the Patriots left their campfires burning, then British general decided Ac ademic slipped into the darkness and circled behind to push through New York State and cut off Vocy abular the British troops. In the morning, Washing- strategy a plan New England from the other colonies. The for fighting a ton attacked. A local resident witnessed it: strategy required perfect timing. According battle or war

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to the plan, Burgoyne’s army would invade Help from Europe from Canada, recapture Fort Ticonderoga, The had drastically and sweep south to Albany. General Howe, changed the balance of power in North in New York City, would sail up the Hudson America. The French and Spanish had lost a River to meet him, strangling New England. large expanse of valuable land to the British. Indeed, Burgoyne took Ticonderoga Both countries were delighted to see their in early July and headed toward Albany. powerful rival experiencing trouble in its Here, the timing went wrong for the British. American colonies. Unknown to Burgoyne, Howe had left New The victory at Saratoga gave the Patriots York, sailed up the Chesapeake Bay, and cap- something they had been desperately seeking: tured Philadelphia. Delegates to the Conti- foreign help. Not surprisingly, it came from nental Congress were forced to flee. Britain’s enemies, France and Spain. Even Meanwhile, Burgoyne’s army bogged Britain’s old ally, Holland, joined the fight down in thick forests. The Patriots had on the side of the Patriots. chopped down large trees and dammed riv- ers to create obstacles. All along the route, the militia swarmed out of nowhere to attack Battle of Saratoga the Redcoats. As Burgoyne neared Saratoga, New York, he found himself surrounded. On QUÉBEC October 17, 1777, he was forced to surrender Montréal N his entire army to General . W E

B

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R The Battle of Saratoga in New York was S G O Y N the turning point of the Revolutionary War. E Fort NH It was the greatest victory yet for the Ameri- Ticonderoga can forces. Morale soared. Patriot James

Thacher wrote, “This event will make one of Saratoga the most brilliant pages of Ameri- can history.” British advance NY Albany MA

British victory H R u RI i d v

s Patriot advance e CT

o Reading Check r Summarizing n Patriot victory Why was the Battle of Saratoga a PA 0 50 100 Miles turning point in the war? NJ 0 50 100 Kilometers

Time Line October 17, 1777 British forces under General John Burgoyne marched south, heading for Albany. They were crushed by Patriot forces under General Horatio The Patriots Gain Ground Gates at Saratoga. December 26, 1776 Patriots win the Battle of Trenton.

1776 1777 HRW National American History ah07bs_c04map006aa Battle of Saratoga Locate It ah07bs_c04leg006aa July 27, 1777 Marquis HRW National Battle of Saratoga Locate Itde Lafayette arrives in First proof: 2/14/05 Philadelphia to offer his , 1777 1st - 2/14/05 assistance to the Patriot Patriots win the . cause.

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Two Remarkable Europeans Help from France “The welfare of America is closely bound up , a skilled and experienced with the welfare of mankind,” declared a diplomat, had gone to France to ask King wealthy young Frenchman, the Marquis de Louis XVI for support. Finally, the Battle of Lafayette. Inspired by the ideas of the Revo- Saratoga in 1777 persuaded the king that the lution, Lafayette bought his own ship and colonists could win the war. Not until then arrived in America in 1777. He brought with did the king agree to an official alliance with him a group of well-trained soldiers and vol- the Patriots. unteered to serve in the Continental Army In May 1778 the Continental Congress himself without pay. ratified the treaty of support with France. Lafayette spoke little English and had The French had been helping the Patriots never seen battle. However, he quickly all along with some supplies and ammuni- became a skillful commander, earning the tion. After the treaty became official, the title of major general. Lafayette led 2,000 French increased the level of supplies and Patriots to successfully pursue 6,000 Red- provided soldiers and ships. French naval coats throughout Virginia during 1780–81. support would be a key to defeating the Brit- He gave $200,000 of his own money to sup- ish. French loans were converted into cash port the Revolution and wrote many letters by New Yorker Haym Salomon. He also con- home to powerful friends and family asking vinced many Hessians to leave the conflict. their aid for the Patriot cause. In February 1778 another European came Help from Spain to serve heroically under Washington. Baron Spain, also a bitter enemy of Britain, joined Friedrich von Steuben, an experienced mili- the war in 1779. Bernardo de Gálvez, the tary officer from Prussia, led with a combina- governor of Spanish Louisiana, became a key tion of respect and fear. He started training the ally to the Patriots. Gálvez gathered a small American troops, focusing on basic military army of Spanish soldiers, French Americans, drills. Soon he turned the Continental Army colonists, and Native Americans. Together into a finely tuned fighting force. A historian they made their way east from Louisiana. called von Steuben’s feat “perhaps the most Gálvez seized British posts all the way to Pen- remarkable achievement in rapid military sacola, Florida. training in the history of the world.” Reading Check Summarizing How did France and Spain help the Patriots?

February 1778 June 21, 1779 Baron Friedrich von Steuben Spain declares war begins training Patriot soldiers. against Britain.

1778 1779 1780

May 1778 France joins March 14, 1780 Bernardo de Gálvez, the governor of the Patriots in an alliance. Spanish Louisiana, captures the British stronghold of Fort Charlotte at present-day Mobile, Alabama.

ANALYSIS skill Reading Time Lines Which nations joined the Patriot cause?

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Primary Source

Journal entry Valley Forge A surgeon at Valley Forge, Albigence Waldo kept a ­journal of what he saw during the winter of 1777–78.

The Army which has been surprisingly healthy hitherto,“ now begins to grow sickly from the continued fatigues they have suffered this Campaign. Yet they still show a spirit of Alacrity [cheerful readiness] and Con- tentment not to be expected from so young Troops. I am Sick—discontented—and out of humour. Poor food— hard lodging—Cold Weather—fatigue—Nasty Cloaths [clothes]—nasty Cookery . . . smoke and Cold—hunger and filthyness—A pox on my bad luck. —Albigence Waldo, from Diary of Surgeon” Albigence Waldo of the Connecticut Line ANALYSIS skill ANALYZING PRIMARY SOURCES Why did Waldo seem surprised by the soldiers’ attitude?

Winter at Valley Forge As winter roared in, soldiers quickly built crude shelters that offered little protection of France and Spain into the war against the weather. Some soldiers had no came at a crucial moment. The Continen- shirts. Others had marched the shoes off tal Army was running very low on food and their feet. At their guard posts, they stood on clothing. In December 1777, Washington their hats to keep their feet from touching settled his 12,000 men at Valley Forge, north the freezing ground. One soldier wrote that of Philadelphia. getting food was the “business that usually To this day, the name of Valley Forge employed us.” brings to mind suffering—and courage. Yet During that terrible winter, some 2,000 no battles took place here. The only enemy soldiers died of disease and malnutrition. was the brutal winter of 1777–78. Amazingly, the survivors not only stayed— Washington’s men lacked even the most they drilled and marched to the orders of basic protections against shin-deep snows. Baron von Steuben, becoming better soldiers. In spite of the general’s repeated requests While the soldiers suffered through the for supplies, conflicts over funding between winter at Valley Forge, the British lived a life state authorities and Congress kept supplies of luxury in Philadelphia. Most of the Patri- from coming. Washington wrote in a letter: ots had fled the city, leaving only Loyalists “To see men without clothes . . . without blankets and British soldiers. Together they enjoyed to lie upon, without shoes . . . without a house the city’s houses, taverns, and theaters, and or hut to cover them until those could be built, held parties and balls. and submitting without a murmur, is a proof of patience and obedience which, in my opinion, Reading Check Finding Main Ideas What can scarcely be paralleled [matched]. ” challenges did the Continental Army face at Valley —George Washington, quoted in George Washington: A Collection Forge?

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War at Sea and in the West British, Jones captured many British supply ships. The French greatly admired Jones. While some Americans struggled against the When France entered the war in 1778, British on land in the former colonies, oth- French leaders presented him with a small ers fought at sea and on the western frontier. fleet of seven vessels to command. He named Each area posed tough challenges. his flagshipBonhomme Richard (“Gentleman Richard”) in honor of Benjamin Franklin’s War at Sea Poor Richard’s Almanac. The entry of the into the war One of Jones’s most famous victories was greatly aided the colonists. Many people had the capture of the British warship Serapis on thought that the mighty British navy would September 23, 1779. Early in the battle, the crush the much smaller American fleet. How- British knocked out the heaviest artillery on ever, the British failed to use their powerful the Bonhomme Richard. Captain Richard Pear- navy effectively during the war. son of the Serapis then called out to Jones, In the fall of 1775, the Continental Con- “Has your ship struck [surrendered]?” Jones gress made plans to build four American war- replied, “I have not yet begun to fight!” The ships. Soon afterward the Congress formally battle continued for more than two hours. established the marines and the Continen- Finally the Americans wore down the British, tal Navy. By adapting merchant vessels, the who surrendered at 10:30 p.m. navy had eight fighting ships ready for com- The used fewer than bat by February 1776. 100 ships over the course of the war. Yet the That month the tiny American navy British lost more than 200 ships to the small launched a major offensive to damage the but effective American naval force. operating ability of the British fleet located off the Carolina coast. Rather than attack the fleet War in the West directly, the Patriots went after the British sup- The lands west of the Appalachian Moun- ply base on Nassau, in the Bahamas. tains were controlled by Native American The American troops seized the main nations. Both the British and the Patriots supply fort on the island. They then raised tried to enlist these groups in their cause. the newly created flag of the American Revo- George Rogers Clark volunteered to lead lution over Nassau. After that campaign, the the western campaign. Clark had been a sur- American navy focused on seizing British veyor along the Ohio and rivers. supply ships and weakening Britain’s naval By the time the war broke out, he knew the forces in the West Indies. lands of the Midwest well. Clark created an army from the scattered settlements in the John Paul Jones area. One of the best-known groups was the The Patriots owed much of their success on Over Mountain Men, a band of settlers from the seas to naval hero John Paul Jones. Jones present-day Tennessee. had once been considered an outlaw. He was Determined to weaken British support sys- born John Paul in Scotland and began work- tems, Clark targeted trading villages. Follow- ing on ships at a young age. After accidentally ing the Ohio River to the Tennessee, Clark’s killing the leader of a mutiny, he fled to Amer- force set out on a 120-mile overland trek to ica and added Jones to his name. Kaskaskia, in present-day . The village’s When the war broke out, Jones volun- leaders learned of the attack and surrendered. teered his services to the newly created navy. Other Patriots took Cahokia without a fight. He quickly established himself as a brave In February 1779 Clark launched a sur- and clever sailor. Considered a pirate by the prise attack on Fort Sackville near the town

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War in the West, 1778–79 of Vincennes. The attack was unexpected because the nearby Wabash River was icy Lake Fort and flooded. Despite overflowing river- Michigan banks, Clark’s force of 150 men endured an PA 18-day march through freezing water. They SH ITI N BR Fort Pitt also managed to bring enough Patriot flags

E for an army of hundreds. The flags were dis- W River h s S a played near the fort, and the skilled pioneers S b N a HRW American HistoryI W A sustained enough musket fire to indicate a ah06sec03loc004baT F2 9/13/04 Vincennes N Approved 11/04/04 much larger army. Falling for the ruse, the (Ft. Sackville) CLARK U O commander of Fort Sackville surrendered. Oh r M VA io Rive N In general the British were more success- Cahokia A I H ful at winning over the Native Americans. C M i Kaskaskia A ss L But Clark’s many campaigns undermined is British forces s A i P p Fort Massac P Patriot forces p A British support in the West.

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r 0 50 100 Miles Reading Check Finding Main Ideas How did 0 50 100 Kilometers Jones and Clark help the Patriots’ war effort?

T r geography enne e ssee Riv skills INTERPRETING MAPS 1. Movement How far did the Patriots S Ummary and preview The Patriots march to get to Vincennes? faced hardships as the war continued. In the 2. Human-Environment Interaction Why did next section, you will see how they finally military forces follow river routes? achieved their goal of independence.

Section 3 Assessment ONLINE QUIZ

Reviewing Ideas, Terms, and People c. Draw Conclusions Why was the western frontier HRW 1. USa. Identify History Whafull volt groups supported the Patriot war an important area for the Patriots to control? effort? How did each group contribute? ah07bs_c04leg002aa.ai Critical Thinking War in b. the Analyze West, 1779Why was it difficult to find and keep 1st proofsoldiers - 05/20/05 in the Continental Army? 6. Drawing Conclusions Review the events on your time line. Copy the chart below and use it to identify 2. a. Describe WhaNOTESt early PREVIOUS defeats proof: did the Patriots face? HRW Am Hist full vol b. Elaborate Was1. The it requesteda mistake scale for wouldthe British make the to mapuse muchmer -larger the region in which the events took place and how the ah07bs_c04map002aa.ai than the Live area measure. This is the largest scale that fits. cenaries to help2. USthem land fight tint matches the war?Saratoga Why map. or why not? events reflected the Patriots’ successes and failures. War in the West, 1778-79 3. Routes have been simpified per notes on the map spec, c. Explain Whaandt rolesdo not did match Bernardo the enclosed de sourcing. Galvez and Patriot Patriot 4. There is not enough water in the live area to show and/or Region Problems Successes 2nd proof - 01/20/05 the Marquis delabel Lafayette the grid. Delete?play in the Revolution? proof: 5/20/05 3. a. Elaborate Wh y do you think European nations supported the colonists rather than Great Britain? b. Evaluate Do you think that the Patriots would have won the war without help from France and Spain? Why or why not? 4. a. Describe What difficulties did the Patriots face at Focus on Speaking Valley Forge? b. Elaborate How might weather conditions affect 7. Thinking about the Struggle for Liberty the outcome of a battle? Why was this period of the war so difficult for the 5. a. Identify Who was John Paul Jones? Patriots? How did they struggle through? What are b. Compare In what ways was Jones’s naval the one or two points that are the most important strategy like that of the Continental Army? about this period of the war?

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