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Home , American Revolution, Battles of Saratoga, Battle of Cowpens, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Kings Mountain, Battle of Oriskany

The American 1776 - 1783 Terms and People • – American colonist and author of

• – delegate who introduced a resolution calling for independence to the Second

• resolution – formal statement of opinion

• preamble – introduction

• grievance – formal complaint The issue of separating from Great Divided Britain divided American society. Estimates vary, but historians believe that roughly 30% of Americans were Loyalists, roughly 30% were Patriots, and the other 40% were Neutral or undecided. Most Americans did not support the Revolution. The war divided Native Americans and as well. Differences over the war even split families. For example, ’s son William was a loyalist. Franklin and his son William & Benjamin Franklin stopped speaking. Published in early 1776, Thomas Paine’s helped convince many Americans that a complete break with Britain was necessary. In Common Sense, Paine made powerful arguments in favor of independence.

George III is a “royal Kings brute.” should not rule over Americans people. should govern themselves. ’s Resolution

In May of 1776, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution to Congress declaring that the colonies should be free and independent states.

Congress formed a committee to write a statement explaining the reasons for independence.

Richard Henry Lee The statement was to be presented to Congress, and the question of independence was to be put to a vote. The Declaration drafting committee included , Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, , and . Remember the Laidies Weeks before the Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence, wrote a letter to her husband John. The letter admonished “In the new code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Laidies.” Abigail continued “If perticuliar care and attention is not paid to the Laidies, we are determined to forment a , and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.” Abigail Adams explained the reasons for breaking with Britain and declared the colonies free and independent states. It also stated that people have the right to Life, , and the Pursuit of Happiness. The colonists believed that the British had abused its powers by taking away their . has four main parts: 1. The Preamble 2. Declaration of Natural Rights 3. List of Grievances 4. Resolution of Independence The Declaration was adopted by Congress and signed by on , 1776. On August 2, 1776, a parchment paper copy of the Declaration was signed by 56 persons. The Declaration of Independence begins has four parts, beginning with a preamble.

Preamble

Declaration of Natural Rights The preamble states the reason for writing List of Grievances the document - to explain why the Resolution colonists were breaking ties with of Independence Britain. To begin the explanation, Jefferson declared that everyone has unalienable rights.

Preamble are created to protect Declaration of those rights. Natural Rights

List of Grievances If a government Resolution violates those of Independence rights, the people must change their government. The British government, Jefferson argued, had violated the colonists’ rights.

Preamble To prove this, he Declaration of presented a long list of Natural Rights grievances, including that the colonists List of Grievances were: • denied trial by jury Resolution of Independence • taxed without their consent Therefore, Jefferson concluded, the colonies are free and independent states.

Preamble

Declaration of Natural Rights All ties between the colonies and the List of Grievances British government are now dissolved. Resolution of Independence The Declaration of Independence was approved by Congress on July 4, 1776.

Although the document was signed primarily on August 2, Americans still celebrate July 4th as Independence Day. Today, the Declaration of Independence remains a source of inspiration for Americans and for people around the world. Interact with History

John Trumbull’s famous painting of the Declaration of Independence being signed was created between 1817 and 1819. Question: Does this image help historians understand what happened at the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776? Terms and People • – officer and American spy who was executed by the British • alliance – formal agreement between two powers to work together toward a common goal • Marquis de Lafayette – French noble and high- ranking officer in ’s army • – units of troops on horseback • Friedrich von Steuben – German baron who helped train the

In July 1776, British General Howe arrived in with 130 ships carrying 32,000 well trained men. This was the largest expeditionary force Great Britain had ever assembled. Included in this force were 9,000 soldiers. Redcoats & Hessians had approx. 19,000 poorly trained, undisciplined, & poorly equipped troops to defend all of . The soldiers needed everything from blankets and food to ammunition. They fired their muskets off in camp, ruined their flints, used their bayonets to cut food, and often didn’t clean their muskets. There were also conflicts between men from different regions of the colonies.

The Myth of the Colonial Rifleman

Muskets were the primary weapon used during the War. took a long time to load, and had no bayonets. Compare and contrast the British and the American armies during the Revolutionary War:

British Americans

The Strikes Back

Washington had his army fortify the Heights hoping that the British would attack head-on like they did at Bunker Hill. Instead, General William Howe outflanked the continental Army and dealt Washington a humiliating defeat. A Strategic Retreat

Washington’s Army retreated from the superior British forces. The stunned British followed the continental army and defeated them again near Kip’s Bay. Nathan Hale Nathan Hale volunteered to go behind enemy lines and report on British troop movements. During his mission, New York City fell to British forces, and Washington was forced to retreat to the island's northern tip. On September 21, a quarter of the lower portion of was burned in a fire. After the fire, the British rounded up any Patriots and Hale was captured. He is best remembered for his speech before being hanged, in which he said, "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.” STRANGE but True

The , the first combat submarine, was built by the Americans. It’s mission, to attach a bomb to a British warship in New York Harbor, was a failure. After losing the on October 28, Washington retreated further north. Howe returned to Manhattan and captured Fort Washington and Fort Lee in mid November, taking over 3,000 prisoners. Washington brought much of his army across the Hudson into , but was immediately forced to retreat. The British gained control of New York harbor and the surrounding areas, and held New York City until the war ended in 1783. Washington managed to withdraw the core of his army and avoided a decisive defeat that could have ended the war. The Game is Pretty Near Up American morale was very low. The Continental Army had been ousted from New York and forced to retreat across New Jersey. Ninety percent of the Continental Army that had been at Long Island was gone. Many men had been captured or deserted, feeling that the cause for independence was lost. Congress and some officers were losing faith in George Washington. Washington also expressed some doubts. He wrote to his cousin in Virginia, "I think the game is pretty near up.” Trenton, a small town in western New Jersey, was occupied by 1,400 Hessian soldiers. Washington's force comprised 2,400 men. The Continental Army needed a victory, so Washington devised a plan to cross the River on night and surround the Hessian garrison. December 25, 1776. Because of freezing temperatures and a mix of sleet, snow and icy rain, the Hessian troops at Trenton felt secure enough to pull back their picket sentries. Desperate for a victory, Gen. George Washington led columns of Continental Army soldiers across the icy under cover of that same storm. Though not all the American forces managed to get across, those that did defeated the Hessian troops and broke a long string of demoralizing battlefield losses. Washington Crossing the Delaware

Washington’s daring plan caught the Hessian troops in Trenton by surprise. The Americans captured or killed more than 900 Hessians and gained needed supplies. Washington Crossing the Delaware

Washington’s crossing of the icy Delaware River probably looked more like this. A D a r i n g

P l a n The Washington followed up his victory at Trenton by attacking the British garrison at Princeton. These victories helped to keep the American army together and even began to attract new recruits. The

The British Strategy

The overall British strategy was to (1) seize the and isolate the Colonies, (2) capture , and (3) capture Town a southern port closer to the .

The strategy to capture the Hudson Valley called for three armies to meet at Albany. In June 1777, British General attempted to divide the rebellious colonies by moving south from to gain control of the valley, separating the New England states from those to the south. After an early success at Ticonderoga, his campaign had become bogged down in difficulties. Barry St. Leger's expedition down the valley had turned back after the failed Siege of and the bloody . This was one the few battles in the war where almost all of the participants were North American: Loyalists and Native Americans fought against Patriots in the absence of British soldiers. For the natives of the nations, the battle marked the beginning of a . The Battle of Oriskany On August 4, Burgoyne received a message from General Howe. He would not be coming north to Albany because he decided to invade to try to capture General Washington and Philadelphia – where the Continental Congress met. Burgoyne’s army was exhausted from a 25 mile march through a swampy wilderness and needed the support of Howe’s troops. Although General Howe defeated Washington’s army at the and captured Philadelphia, his decision not to rendezvous with Burgoyne at Albany may have been a strategic blunder. Jenny McCrea

Jane “Jenny” McCrea was a loyalist and the fiancé of an officer in General Burgoyne’s army. She was captured and killed by Iroquois warriors while on her way to meet her future husband. News of McCrea’s death helped to rally Colonial against the British in rural New York. The The Turning Point of the War

Benedict Arnold’s inspired at Freeman’s Farm and Breymann’s Redoubt forced General Burgoyne’s army to retreat. The Continental army surrounded Burgoyne and forced him to surrender his army. ’s Virginia Riflemen Breymann’s Redoubt Burgoyne’s Surrender at Saratoga The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point for the Americans.

• Ended British threat to New England

• Lifted Patriot spirits Battle of Saratoga • Convinced Europeans Americans could win

Soon after Saratoga, agreed to support American independence. The War Comes to the Hudson Valley

General Washington surveys the construction of a chain across the Hudson. This map shows the Battles The War Comes to the Hudson Valley at Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery near Bear Mtn.

A depiction of the American victory at Stony Point, N.Y. The War Comes to the Hudson Valley

On October 16, 1777, the British arrived in Kingston. Looking upon Kingston as a "hotbed of perfidy and sedulous disloyalty to King George III and His Majesty's Parliament," the British punished Kingston for hosting the revolutionary State government, and for generously providing Washington's army with wheat and other food supplies. Under the command of Major General John Vaughan, the British troops moved into Kingston's Stockade area and set fire to every building, largely succeeding in burning the city to the ground. France Joins the War To defeat the mighty , the new needed the help of a foreign ally. In the fall of 1776, Congress sent Benjamin Franklin to Paris. His job was to persuade France to join our side. After hearing of the American victory at Saratoga, King Louis XVI recognized U.S. independence. In 1778, France signed two treaties of alliance with the United States. France sent badly needed funds, supplies, and troops to America. France also persuaded Spain to help.

A Female

16-year-old Sybil Ludington lived in Fredericksburg, NY, and her father was the This statue of Sybil commander of a local militia. stands in Carmel, N.Y. When British troops captured and burned nearby Danbury, CT, she rode alone through the night to raise the militia. Because of her brave actions the militia marched quickly into Danbury and forced the British out. She has since been called “the female Paul Revere.” The British Strategy Part II

The overall British strategy was to (1) seize the Hudson Valley and isolate the New England Colonies, (2) capture Philadelphia, and (3) capture Charles Town a southern port closer to the West Indies. The Battle of Brandywine

The Battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777, was a decisive victory for the British and left Philadelphia, the revolutionary capital, undefended. During the battle, General Howe again managed to outflank Washington’s defenses. The British captured Philadelphia on September 26, beginning an occupation that would last until June 1778. The Battle of Brandywine The Man Who Nearly Killed Washington Colonel developed the first breech-loading used by the British army. An adaptation of a French design, it was loaded by rotating the trigger-guard to lower a threaded bolt, allowing access to the breech. It performed impressively in trials, firing up to six well-aimed shots per minute, and Ferguson was given command of a detachment of green-clad riflemen. At the Battle of Brandywine in 1777, Ferguson had a high ranking rebel officer in his sights, but because the officer's back was to him he passed up the shot. Moments later Ferguson was struck in the right elbow by a musket ball, landing him in a field hospital. While there, Ferguson learned the officer he could have shot was none other than George Washington. The General Howe divided his forces between Philadelphia and Germantown, 5 miles north. Washington saw an opportunity and decided to attack the British garrison at Germantown. His plan was to attack the British at night with four columns from different directions. Washington hoped to surprise the British in much the same way he had surprised the Hessians at the Battle of Trenton. Heavy fog made it impossible to coordinate the complicated attack. If Washington's plan had been executed successfully, it might have brought the war to a sudden end. Coupled with Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga, the defeat of Howe at Germantown would probably have been too much for the British government to endure. By the time the Continental army reached their winter camp at Valley Forge in southeast Pennsylvania, they were desperately short of supplies. Soldiers did not have winter clothing or blankets and many didn’t even have shoes. Food was also in short supply. During the winter of 1777-1778, nearly a quarter of the troops died from malnutrition, exposure, or diseases such as smallpox and typhoid. Despite these hardships the soldiers trained under Baron von Steuben’s direction. They practiced marching, learned how to handle their weapons properly, and how to charge with bayonets. By spring, the inexperienced Americans were a disciplined and skilled fighting force. The Harsh Winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge European Officers that Helped the Americans

Marquis de Lafayette Baron von Steuben Baron de Kalb was was a French a Prussian officer, a Prussian officer nobleman who was trained the who also served in one of Washington’s Continental Army the . most trusted at Valley Forge. commanders.

Tadeusz Kościuszko was a Kazimierz Pułaski was a Polish Colonel of Engineers Polish cavalry officer. in the Continental Army. General Washington reviews his newly trained and winter hardened troops prior to the . Molly Pitcher at the Battle of Monmouth 1778 Terms and People • enlist – sign up for duty • civilian – person not in the military • continental – paper money printed by the Continental Congress • – Virginian who led American troops against the British on the western • – American naval commander who won a key battle against the British • – armed civilian ship given its government’s permission to attack enemy ships and keep their goods African Americans in the War

African Americans fought on both sides during the .

Patriots African Americans British

If they fought for the British, however, enslaved people were offered their . African Americans in the War

At first, George Washington refused to accept African American soldiers.

Washington reversed his policy, however, after so many African Americans began to join the British forces.

By the end of the war, more than 7,000 African Americans had fought for . Women During the Revolution

Women were affected by the war, often taking on new responsibilities.

Men who At home, women: enlisted were • planted crops away for at • tended livestock least one year • ran businesses

Women also helped to support the patriots by knitting and sewing clothing, nursing the wounded and sick, and serving as spies. STRANGE Deborah Samson Gannett but True

In 1778, Deborah Samson felt the need to do her part for the war and wanted to enlist in the Continental Army. Women were not allowed to enlist, so she disguised herself as a man and enlisted under the name Robert Shurtliff – her deceased brother. Deborah fought in several skirmishes. During her first battle, on July 3, 1782, outside Tarrytown, New York, she received 2 musket balls in her thigh and an enormous cut on her forehead. The doctors treated her head wound, but she left the hospital before they could attend to the musket balls. Fearful that her true identity would be discovered, she removed one of the balls herself with a penknife and sewing needle, but her leg never fully healed because the other ball was too deep for her to reach. On April 1, 1783 she was promoted and spent seven months serving as a waiter to General John Patterson. During the summer of 1783, Deborah came down with a fever and was cared for by a doctor, Barnabas Binney. He removed her clothes to treat her and discovered her secret. He did not betray her secret; he took her to his house, where his wife and daughters further treated her. She received an honorable discharge from the army and a sum of money sufficient to bear her expenses home. Cost$ of the War

Soldiers and civilians alike were affected by the financial burdens of paying for the war.

• Congress had no power Continental to , and the states had

little money. Value Continental

• Congress printed paper

money called Continental

continentals to pay Amount printed expenses, but the money soon lost its value. Continental

Some soldiers received little or no pay for their service. Many men were given certificates for land in the west. The War in the West The War on the Frontier was mostly fought west of the . This region became the of the United States as well as the states of , , and Missouri. The western war was fought primarily between American Indians with their British allies, and American settlers south and east of the . George Rogers Clark and a group of 200 frontiersmen defeated the British in a series battles in the Ohio River Valley. Clark’s victories gave the United States a claim to the region between the and Ohio River, an area more than half the size of the original 13 colonies.

Native Americans Take Sides

Most Native Americans sided with the British, fearing an American victory would bring more settlers onto their lands.

Native British Americans

Many Indian groups, however, were bitterly divided about which side to support. Some split into warring factions. The In 1779, George Washington ordered General to attack the Iroquois in Western New York. Washington told Sullivan and his men to “lay waste all the settlements around, so that the country may not be merely overrun, but destroyed.”

destroyed more than fifty villages and burned down 1,200 houses. They also destroyed their cornfields. Help from the Spanish

Bernardo de Gálvez, the of , played a key role in Spanish attacks that captured British forts along the and the Gulf of Mexico.

British Spanish

Gálvez also gave refuge to American ships in New Orleans harbor. The War at Sea

In 1779, John Paul Jones and the Bonhomme Richard defeated the HMS Serapis. When asked to surrender by the British captain, Jones said “I have not yet begun to fight.” Terms and People • Charles Cornwallis – British commander who surrendered to Washington at Yorktown • guerrilla – fighter who works in a small band to make hit-and-run attacks • Francis Marion – American leader who used guerrilla tactics against the British • – American general who commanded the Continental army in the South • traitor – person who turns against one side in a conflict to help the other side Fighting Moves South

After losing New England, the British tried to win the war by capturing the South, then marching north.

Charles Cornwallis, the British commander, seemed unstoppable as he swept through Charles Towne, and into the . Savannah, Georgia Factors that Made the British Move their War Effort to the South

PHYSICAL FACTORS, HUMAN FACTORS, SUCH AS LOCATION SUCH AS WHO LIVED THERE • Nearness to the West Indies • Loyalist Southerners • Valuable Sea Ports • Enslaved African Americans The War in the South After French entry into the war, the British turned their attention to the , where they hoped to regain control by recruiting Loyalists. This southern strategy also kept the closer to the Caribbean, where the British needed to defend economically important possessions against the French and Spanish. The was a vicious conflict that involved Patriot and Loyalist and . Guerrillas are small bands of fighters who weaken the enemy with surprise raids and hit-and-run attacks. Francis Marion led a small band of Patriots that attacked the British and escaped into South Carolina’s coastal swamplands.

In 1780, , one of Washington’s most trusted Generals and a hero of many early battles, sold the plans to the West Point defenses to the British. He finished the war with the British Army. The The Death of Col. Patrick Ferguson The

Daniel Morgan decisively defeated the British at the Battle of Cowpens. Morgan's cunning plan is widely considered to be the tactical masterpiece of the war and one of the most successfully executed double envelopments in . The Battle of Cowpens The Battle of Guilford Courthouse

General Nathaniel Greene summed up his approach in a motto that would become famous: "We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again." Victory at Yorktown

In 1781, Washington had General Cornwallis and the British army trapped on the Yorktown peninsula. When the French fleet arrived, Cornwallis could not escape. The Americans and French bombarded Yorktown turning the British defenses into rubble. Cornwallis had no way out and surrendered his army. The war was over.

A World Turned Upside Down The officially ended the Revolutionary War. The treaty included the following conditions: 1. The U.S. was independent. 2. Its boundaries would be the on the West, on the North, and Spanish on the South. 3. The U.S. had the right to fish off Canada’s Atlantic Coast. 4. Each side would repay its debts. 5. Britain would return captured slaves. 6. The U.S. would return seized Loyalist property. Costs of the War An estimated 25,700 Americans died in the Revolutionary War, and 1,400 remained missing. About 8,200 Americans were wounded – some left with permanent disabilities or amputated limbs. The British suffered about 10,000 military deaths. Many soldiers who survived the war left the army with no money. They received little or no pay for their service. The new government gave some soldiers certificates for land in the West. Thousands of Loyalists lost their property and nearly 100,000 left the United States. Congress and the states borrowed about $27 million to finance the conflict and now they had to pay it back. Why We Won

The British army was one of the best trained and supplied in the world and yet they failed to defeat an American army that lacked training, experience, weapons, and supplies. Geographically, the colonies were just too large an area for the British to control. Other American advantages included: 1) Washington’s leadership and his strategy of dragging out the war and wearing down the British. 2) The military and financial aid from France. 3) The Patriotic Spirit of the Americans who were fighting for their lives, property, and liberty.