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Chapter 14 Stories of the American Revolution Starting Point: Te American Revolutionary War is a inspiring collection of experiences and history by regular people who believed in the goals of liberty and gave all they had, some even their lives, to see the dream realized. Spot Light The stone walls of Fort Ticonderoga Fort Ticonderoga: Fort Ticonderoga is located near to the south end of Lake Champlain in the state of New York. Te fort is star-shaped. ADY TO R X PLO R? War? war? 135 America's Story One - interior 1st.indd 135 1/16/17 11:46 AM The Declaration of France and America The British Independence sign an alliance to unify March 1776 February 1778 In this chapter, we are going to learn about the war that the colonies fought for their freedom from England — the American Revolution. Tis was a long war, full of heroes and tales of bravery, and it would take me a great deal longer than one or two chapters to tell you about it all. Instead of giving you a large number of names, dates, and battle information, I am going to tell you the story of only a few of the most important people and their brave deeds. As you remember from our last chapter, the frst shot of the Revolution was fred in Lexington. Te British had gone there to capture the stores of ammunition gathered by the Patriots. Tey did not succeed, for the brave Patriots held them of, forcing them out of Lexington. Afer the battle at Lexington, the English army marched on to Concord. Again, they planned to capture the stockpile of ammunitions there, and again they failed, for the American soldiers, who had beaten them there had hidden most of the ammunition in the woods. From all over the colonies, men laid down their tools of trade and picked up their weapons, ready to fght for freedom. Te British, who had thought they would have an easy time, were surprised by the fghting spirit of these colonists! Te English soldiers, who had marched on Lexington and Concord, now turned to march back to Boston. Tey had a hard time of it though, for along the way American soldiers hid and ambushed them, “Indian style.” By the time the remaining British troops reached Boston, they were being chased by twenty thousand American militiamen. I wonder if those British soldiers felt like bear cubs that had awakened a giant nest of swarming bees! It was during this time that the leaders of the colonies, the Continental Congress, were meeting to appoint a commander in chief for what was now being called the Continental Army. Tey chose George Washington. Brave Mr. Washington is a bit older than he was in our last encounter; he had spent the last 17 years running his plantation and helping the Sons of Liberty. Shortly aferward, the American spy network learned the British were trying to fortify their control in Boston by sending troops out into the hills around the city. Te Americans beat them to it and set up battle lines throughout the hills. What followed was to become the famous Battle of Bunker Hill. It took three attacks from the British to knock the Continental Army back, and it would never 136 The Batle of Lexington America's Story One - interior 1st.indd 136 1/16/17 11:46 AM have happened at all except the Americans ran out of gunpowder. Many more British soldiers than American soldiers were killed that day. Even though they won the Battle of Bunker Hill, the British were starting to understand that this war was not going to be as easy as they had thought it would be to win. General George Washington was busy training his men. Te farmers and other tradesmen who had flled the ranks of the The Death of General Warren voluntary colonial militia, were now ftted at the Batle of Bunker’s Hill for uniforms and being trained in ways of battle. General Washington was a fne man who loved God and his country, and he was a great general. He put a plan into action to regain control of Boston and its harbor. One night, he ordered his men to quietly station themselves and their cannons on the hills looking down on Boston. Te unsuspecting British, who were occupying the city, awoke to a rather unpleasant surprise! It would be rather unsettling to wake up to an army and cannons surrounding your town. Te British had the battle of Bunker Hill fresh in their memories and decided to leave Boston without a fght. Afer leaving Boston, the British came with a bigger army to New York. Teir plan was to seize the northern colonies along with the bigger cities of New York and Philadelphia. Tey thought if they could do this, the other colonies’ resistance would crumble. General Washington met the British army at New York, but the smaller American army could not hold of the determined English forces, and Washington and his army were forced to fee through New Jersey. Tis was very discouraging for the American army. Te year afer that, the British again defeated the American army and took control of Philadelphia. Te king of England was thrilled to see the American front crumbling to his soldiers. Surely these stubborn colonists would not be able to withstand for long and would soon give up! What was the American response to this? Mr. Tomas Jeferson was appointed to write something very important. Do you remember what it was? Yes, the Declaration of Independence was written in 1776. It was July 4, 1776, when the Congress adopted the declaration. Te Americans may not have won those battles, but the war was not over yet. Determination and celebration flled the streets of Boston and other towns throughout the colonies. People came together to celebrate the freedom they knew was worth fghting for. Te Liberty Bell rang strong and clear as the people celebrated together. 137 America's Story One - interior 1st.indd 137 1/16/17 11:46 AM Are you starting to see how the puzzle pieces are ftting together now? Let’s take a few minutes to look at the “American Revolution Timeline” in your Student’s Journal. Take the time right now to review what has happened so far in our “Fight for Freedom” story. narration break Use your American Revolution Timeline to retell what has happened so far in our story of the Revolution. Afer the Declaration of Independence was written and celebrated, the Americans took heart, and little by little started winning battles. Te frst major victory for the colonists came when General Washington and his troops secretly crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey on the day afer Christmas 1776. Tere they surprised the enemy and won the battle at Trenton. Another battle was fought and won in the upper part of New York near Saratoga. With great determination, the American army drove back the British that had marched down from Canada. A while later, Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold, the brave commanders of the “Green Mountain Boys,” and militia from Massachusetts and Connecticut, took control of Fort Ticonderoga in New York. General Washington was having a rough time of it, though, and was encamped in Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. It was a bitter winter, and the men did not have enough clothes, coats, or boots to keep them warm. Troughout that terrible winter of 1777, many men died of frostbite and disease. Te dwellings they had were ramshackle and did not keep the wind from blowing through. Spirits sagged as winter dragged on and on. General Washington prayed for his men and for the cause of freedom. Finally, afer months of starving and freezing Washington Crossing the Delaware conditions, something good happened! Our old friend Benjamin Franklin, who was in France at the time of these battles, heard the news about how his fellow colonists were having a hard go of it. He decided to go talk with the king of France. Of course, as we know, France and England did not get along. 138 America's Story One - interior 1st.indd 138 1/16/17 11:46 AM Te king of France saw this as an opportunity to get back at England for winning the French and Indian War and taking away so many of the French American forts and settlements. It wasn’t long before there were French reinforcements sent to General George Washington. Among the new faces were several ofcers from other countries besides France. It seemed that this revolution was catching the attention of the world. Finally, spring came and with it better health. Te days were flled with training, and the men’s spirits lifed. By early summer, the group at Valley Forge looked like diferent men. Clothes and shoes had been s e n gathered from all over the colonies to replace the ragged uniforms Jo l the men had been wearing. Te new training gave the men a new- au P found confdence. All over the colonies, hope was rising, and the fght oh n J for freedom continued on. Now I would like to tell you the story of another brave hero of the Revolution. Tis man did not fght his battles on the rolling hills or in the forest of America. His battleground was the sea. Even though America did not have a navy, John Paul Jones used whatever ships he could fnd to fght the British in the Atlantic Ocean. Many of the ships were pitiful indeed! It would take great courage to face the highly trained, world-renowned, English navy with its huge man-o-war fghting ships ftted with heavy guns and cannons.
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