CHAPTER 7, SECTION 1

• Majority of Americans were not Patriots. Breakdown:20-30% were Loyalists 40-45% were Patriots25-40% were neutral• Two problems faced General Washington in raising an army:1) Congress’s inability to supply the army with even basic provisions. 2) The contracts were initially for one year and that created a problem with trained troops leaving for their homes• Raising an army - especially an all volunteer army proved more difficult then expected. General Washington’s army never exceeded 17,000 men at any one time• Patriot army was never properly supplied – provisions such as ammunition, guns, food, etc were always low or non existent.

• General Washington had four goals for war:1) Survive2) Field an army3) Win some battles – no matter how small4) Avoid a crushing defeat• A mercenary is a soldier hired to fight for a foreign country. British hired 9,000 German mercenaries to fightBritain’s original strategy was to seize the Hudson River valley and thereby cutting New England off from the rest of the colonies. Why New England area?

CHAPTER 7, SECTION 1

CHAPTER 7 SECTION 1

• The Battles of Saratoga were a series of small skirmishes fought in New York from Canada down to Hudson River• The American victory at the Battles of Saratoga had some European countries thinking the Americans could win the war.• The French still angry over their loss in the French and Indian war started to secretly give the Americans aid for fear of losing to British again• After the Battle of Saratoga, King Louis XVI recognized U.S. independence.• France signed two treaties that sent funds, supplies and troops.

CHAPTER 7 SECTION 2

• France got Spain to agree to help U.S. Louisiana Governor and General captured two British strongholds of Natchez and Baton Rouge in lower Mississippi Valley. • He then went on to capture Mobile and Pensacola and forcing British to put troops in this area. This prevented the British from attacking the U.S. from the southwest.- Further, it forced Britain into fighting many countries on many different fronts.• Marquis de Lafayette – French aristocrat volunteered to serve in Washington’s army. He convinced French king to send 6,000 man army and fought in many battles. He became a hero both here and in France• Baron de Kalb was an experienced German officer who trained a model company of 100 men and then dispersed them throughout the rest of the American army.

CHAPTER 7, SECTION 2

• Winter at Valley Forge was a low point for American army. Army was in retreat from the British and were going to camp for the winter at Valley Forge. • The soldiers had no coats, no shirts, no shoes, most had just a blanket to cover them.• 25% of all soldiers at Valley Forge died of malnutrition, disease, or exposure to the cold• Private Citizens came to the rescue by providing clothing, food and other supplies• Amazingly, only a small percent of men deserted

CHAPTER 7 SECTION 2

CHAPTER 7 SECTION 2

To see men without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lie upon, without shoes ... without a house or hut to cover them until those could be built, and submitting without a murmur, is a proof of patience and obedience which, in my opinion, can scarcely be paralleled." -George Washington at Valley Forge, April 21, 1778• Two main reasons given by men who withstood the winter camp were:1) Love of Country2) Loyalty to General Washington (who stayed

with them in camp)

CHAPTER 7 SECTION 2

• George Rogers Clark was a frontiersman who recruited

other frontiersman and fought in the Ohio River valleyand Great Lakes region. His victories allowed the Americans to control the Great Lakes and Ohio River• War at sea: A privateer is a privately owned ship outfitted with small cannons that a wartime government gave permission to attack the enemy’s merchant ships. • Capt John Paul Jones commanded a group of four privateer ships that fought and won a sea battle against the mighty British Navy. The famous words: “I have not yet begun to fight” became an American battle cry and an inspiration to the Patriots.

CHAPTER 7 SECTION 3

• British were capturing cities in the north but could not control the countryside because they did not have enough troops to occupy it. British changed strategies. They moved the war to the south because they believed:1) South had more Loyalists (large plantation owners did

not want to give up their livelihood or way of life)2) Believed more slaves would join their cause when

promised freedom3) Shortened their supply line because south closer to

British West Indies port• The British claimed a huge victory when they

captured over 5,000 American soldiers at Charles Town (Charleston) – this was practically the entire American southern army – the very type of battle Washington stated he did not want to get into.

CHAPTER 7, SECTION 3

• The south saw vicious fighting where both sides practiced guerilla warfare – small bands of soldiers that conducted hit and run raids. • General Washington’s original strategy throughout the war was to prolong it as much as possible and avoid large battles. Prolonging the war had the effect of British growing tired of the war as well as bring in allies. Avoiding large battles would prevent a large loss of soldiers in any one battle.• Battle of Yorktown – last battle of war. General Cornwallis stationed his army on a peninsular on Chesapeake Bay. French ships blocked British ships from resupplying army (this is why British stayed near coasts). French and American army came from the north and trapped the British army on the peninsular and the British ended up surrendering.

CHAPTER 7, SECTION 4

Four factors that gave the Americans the advantage in the war:1) Better leadership – General Washington’s strategy

of dragging out war, learning from his mistakes was combined with British overconfidence

2) Foreign Aid – Without French aid in loaning money, supplies and troops – it is doubtful Americans could have won the war

3) Knowledge of the land was definitely helpful to the Americans - knowing the terrain had telling effects in Battles – like the Battles of Saratoga

4) Motivation – Americans had more at stake – their lives, property and freedom

CHAPTER 7, SECTION 4

Treaty of Paris of 1783:1) United States gained it’s independence2) Boundaries were Canada in north, Mississippi

River in west and Florida in south3) U.S. gained rights to fishing off Canadian coast4) Each side responsible for it’s own debts5) British would return any slaves captured6) Congress recommend the states return any

property seized during the warThe American debt for the war was 27 million

CHAPTER 7, SECTION 4

The three biggest issues facing Americans after it gained it’s independence were:1) Americans wanted a republican form of

government (as in representative government)2) Wanted to continue the expansion of freedom of

religion – there were still restrictions (Jews and Catholics could not hold office)

3) Conflict with liberty and slavery. Vermont immediately outlawed slavery with Pennsylvania freeing slaves gradually. South wanted to continue slavery because of the southern plantation economy.

THE END