WAR!!!

Revolutionary Style

Warm Up Questions

What would you sacrifice to win freedom? Do you come from a country where this happened? Explain.What sacrifices (besides death) do soldiers make during wartime? Civilians?If you were George Washington, what is your biggest fear regarding the war?If you were king/queen of a country, would you help the Americans? Why or why not? Explain.

Struggle for Middle States

After Boston, Washington marched his troops to New York City

If Britain controlled New York City and the Hudson, they would split the nation in two

General Howe landed in New York harbor

32,000 well-equipped men

A powerful navy

Battle of New YorkWashington moved his men south to meet the BritishHowe crossed from Staten Island to Long IslandHowe outflanked and defeated Washington’s army easily

Could have continued and wiped out Washington’s armyBut he hesitated--should I conquer or should I make peace?

His hesitation allowed Washington to retreat to Manhattan

Through the cover of fog Howe could have used his navy to block Washington’s retreat

Decided to attack NYC

Washington retreated to NJ and eventually PA

Battle of New York

Battlefield

Results

Howe’s campaign brought to light an American weakness

Lack of military experience: soldiers and their General

Washington was showing his inexperiencePut his men in terrible danger

Also showed British weaknesses as wellThe army was ill directed and inefficient

Battle of TrentonHowe posted men at Trenton, and Princeton--strategic points

Hessian soldiers

Washington decided to attack themWent across the Delaware River, and attacked during a sleet storm--

Dec 25, 1776 with 2400 men Used the storm as cover

Defeated the Hessians who were taken by surprise900 men surrendered

Victory gave a boost to American moraleWent on to win a battle at Princeton

Battle of Trenton

Map of Trenton

What’s wrong with the picture?

Painted by Emanuel Leutze in 1851The water and ice

The boat

The flag--not the Grand Union Flag

The time of day

George Washington

Why do artists take liberties with their interpretations of past events?

Grand Union Flag--1775

Another Original Flag--1775

British Strategy

Cut off New England from other states: Why?3 armies to meet at Albany, New York

General Burgoyne come from CanadaLt. Colonel Barry St. Leger from Lake Ontario--Fort OswegoGeneral Howe from New York City

Good Plan, BUT….Problems with the application of the strategy

Generals did not work well

Problems with Burgoyne

General Burgoyne

Lt. Colonel St. Leger

General Howe

Problems with the Plan

Burgoyne left June 1777--captured Fort TiconderogaBurgoyne, “Gentleman Johnny” marched too slowly from Canada

Carried useless artillery, 30 carts full of his wardrobe and champagne, and his mistress

Got stuck in the dense woods north of Saratoga--and marshlandsPatriot forces helped his slow march

Cut down trees across trails

Took 4 weeks to reach the Hudson River

Problems cont..

St. Leger was slow as well

Did not leave Fort Oswego until July 26

Stopped to seize a fort from the Patriots

This allowed Benedict Arnold timeArnold marched his troops from the battle, and encountered Burgoyne

Forced him back to Fort Oswego

Problems cont…Howe was just doing his own thingWasted time tracking down Washington in NJ

Washington sent men to aid in fighting Burgoyne

Howe continued south and attacked Philadelphia

Defeated Washington handily at the Battle of BrandywineTaught him a lesson in tacticsBUT..Washington bought time to get people out of Philly

Now late September, and Burgoyne was in trouble near Saratoga

Howe and Washington

Battle of SaratogaAmerican forces led by Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold

Built huge fortified defenses south of Saratoga

Burgoyne struck at these defensesWas defeated both times and suffered heavy losses

More and more militia joined the fight each dayBurgoyne was pinned down--bullets flying at his men, non-stop, from every directionBurgoyne surrendered October 17, 1777

5,700 British soldiers captured

Saratoga Map

Saratoga Woods

Burgoyne Surrenders

Aftermath of Saratoga

Horatio Gates called “hero of Saratoga”Not Arnold, yet again

Grumblings in CongressWashington not winningGates just won a HUGE victoryShould we replace him??

This triumph changed the course of the WarFrance, now recognized the United States

Immediately sent troops and $$$$$Signed a treaty of alliance

Aftermath cont…

Spain also helped out--they just wanted to hurt Great Britain

By 1778, this was a world war!!France is fighting England in America and in Europe

Britain sent Royal peace commissionersAdvised to give in on all issues that agitated the colonies

Colonies rejected these proposals

After the loss at Brandywine, Washington wintered at Valley Forge