Chapter 7 Reading Notes

Three weaknesses are…◦ Short on soldiers◦ Few men were trained for battle◦ Shortages in food, guns, gunpowder, and clothing.

Overall, none of the soldiers’ basic needswere met

The Americans received help from overseas, mostly the French◦ 90% of the American’s gunpowder came from

Europe, mostly from France Great Commander, George Washington

◦ He inspired courage and confidence

Three British strengths are…◦ British forces outnumbered the Continentals

Hired mercenaries, the Hessians Recruited Loyalists, African Americans, and Native

Americans◦ More experience

Well train in European military tactics Excelled in large battles

◦ British forces were well supplied and lacked for nothing

Distance – the Atlantic Ocean No buy-in from the English people

◦ King George and his ministers were never able to convince the British people that defeating the rebels was vital to Britain’s future

Poor leadership◦ Lord George Germain had no real sense of how to

defeat the rebels

Why did the Declaration of Independence increase America’s motivation to fight and win the war?◦ It increased morale. “Most of his [Washington’s]

men agreed that independence was a prize worth fighting for.” p. 90

African-American slaves◦ They hoped to be freed after the Revolutionary

War “all men are created equal” Britain promised freedom to all slaves who fought for

the king African-Americans fought for the militia as well

◦ By the time the Revolutionary War ended, some states took steps to outlaw slavery

Defeat in New York British forces chased the American out of

New York, through New Jersey, and across the Delaware into Pennsylvania

Lack of basic supplies – food, clothing

Times that try men’s souls◦ Very difficult circumstances make soldiers look

into their “souls” (conscience) Summer soldier and sunshine patriot

◦ A soldier who only fights when the conditions are good, being rather selfish and lacking dedication

But he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman◦ Recognizing the men who continue to fight

through very hard times – showing appreciation for the dedication

The Hessians were “sleeping off” the Christmas celebration and caught by surprise

Mercenaries surrendered (after all, they are paid to fight, not paid to die)

The patriots became “liberty mad” again Improved morale a great deal

Rather than defeating the British, Washington just wanted to tire them out.

France came into the war as an ally Spain also entered the war against Britain

Baron Friedrich von Steuben from Prussia (Germany) worked on “continual drill”

Marquis de Lafayette – one of the richest men in France, chose to stay at Valley Forge. Used his own money to buy the men warm clothing. He helped raise the troops’ spirits.

Guerrilla warfare was used within the swamp-lands of the South (Francis Marion)

Gen. Nathaniel Greene led the British on a chase, trying to wear them out. “We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again.”

France has sent nearly 5,000 troops 3,000 more troops on 29 warships were on

the way Washington – with the French – surrounded

Yorktown on land. The French warships blocked off the port

Cornwallis was “sick” (from shame) The British people no longer supported any

part of the war “Yorktown took the heart out of whatever support was left for the war”

Great Britain agreed to recognize the US as an independent nation

Britain gave up its claim to all lands between the Atlantic and the Mississippi

US agreed to return all rights and property taken from Loyalists