Ch:6 The American Revolution “Washington Crossing the Deleware”. IMAGE. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web 13 Oct. 2015 <http://media1.school.eb.com/eb-media/09/118409-004-8EECA00B.jpg>
6:2 A Critical Time
“Washington Crossing the Deleware”. IMAGE. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web 13 Oct. 2015 <http://media1.school.eb.com/eb-media/09/118409-004-8EECA00B.jpg>
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Standards
8.23 Determine the central ideas expressed in the Declaration of
Independence and write an expository piece in which the legacy of
these ideas in today’s world is described and validated with
supporting evidence from the text.
•  8.24 Using Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and The Crisis
identify aspects of the texts that reveal the author’s point of
view and purpose including loaded language.
•  8.25 Identify and explain the significance of the major battles,
leaders, and events of the American Revolution
•  8.27 Compare the points of views of the Loyalists and Patriots
by integrating visual information through charts, graphs, or
images with print texts. Objectives
•  Discover the results of fighting in the Middle States.
•  Understand why the Battle of Saratoga was a turning
point in the American Revolution.
•  Learn how foreign nations and volunteers helped the
Americans.
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Terms and People
•  Nathan Hale – Connecticut officer and American
spy who was executed by the British
•  mercenary – soldier who is paid to fight for a country other
than his or her own
•  alliance – formal agreement between two powers to work
together toward a common goal •  Marquis de Lafayette – French noble and
high-ranking officer in Washington’s army
Terms and People (continued)
•  cavalry – units of troops on horseback
•  Friedrich von Steuben – German baron who helped train
the Continental army
By Charles Willson Peale, Pennsylvania Academy of
Fine Arts, Public Domain
Baron von Steuben drilling American recruits at Valley Forge in 1778, painted by Edwin Austin ncojournal.dodlive.mil
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How were the early years of the war a critical time? In 1776, Americans
declared their
independence. But they
were not yet free.
Declaration of Independence. IMAGE. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.
<http://media1.school.eb.com/eb-media/42/97342-004-F74CD325.jpg>
First, they had to defeat one of the world’s
most powerful nations. As the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, a large
British fleet landed in New York. The fleet was commanded by
Sir William Howe. Anne S.K. Brown Military History Collection at
Brown University Public Domain
Howe gathered his forces on Staten Island and prepared
to attack the Continental army.
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George Washington expected the attack. But his troops were
no match for the British.
Americans
British
• 20,000 poorly trained • 34,000 professional
volunteers
soldiers • No navy
• Navy fleet; 10,000
sailors
• Little equipment; few
supplies
• Well equipped; fully
supplied
In a series of battles and American retreats, the British
drove Washington from New York, across New Jersey, and
into Pennsylvania. Americans
British
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Spirits were low, and many soldiers deserted. To boost morale Thomas
Paine wrote another
pamphlet, The Crisis,
urging Americans to fight
for their cause.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=YFG37sn-tC0
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Though his army was battered, Washington rallied his
troops for a surprise attack.
On Christmas
night,
Washington
crossed the
Delaware,
slipping into New
Jersey. His army
defeated Hessian
mercenaries and
British troops in
two key battles.
“Washington Crossing the Deleware”. IMAGE. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web 13 Oct. 2015 <http://
media1.school.eb.com/eb-media/09/118409-004-8EECA00B.jpg>
Battle of Trenton
12/26/1776
Attacked as mercenaries slept.
Battle of Trenton, December 26, 1777. Source: U.S. Army Center of
Military History
Battle of Princeton
1/3/1777
Photo credit; Yale University Art Gallery Public Domain
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Another American victory soon followed. Brit
ish
General John
Burgoyne planned to
push toward Albany,
New York, from three
directions. British
New
England
ish
Brit
They hoped to cut New
England off from the rest
of the colonies by taking
control of the Hudson
River Valley.
Albany,
New York
Two forces never arrived. The third, coming from Canada,
was led by British general John Burgoyne. Americans led by General Horatio Gates
surrounded Burgoyne’s troops at Saratoga,
New York. On October 17, 1777.
Horatio Gates, esquire. Public domain
After suffering heavy losses,
Burgoyne surrendered.
Burgoyne, John; surrender to Gates, 1777. IMAGE. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 13 Oct.
2015. <http://media1.school.eb.com/eb-media/68365-004-D25B3D82.jpg>
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The Revolutionary War, 1775–1777 The Battle of Saratoga proved to be a turning point for the
Americans.
• ended British threat to
New England
• lifted Patriot spirits
• convinced Europeans
Americans could win
Battle of
Saratoga
Burgoyne, John; surrender to Gates, 1777. IMAGE. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.<http;//media1.school.eb-nedia/15/116215-004-77BOA66D.jpg>
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Soon after Saratoga, France agreed to support American
independence.
United
States
France forms
an alliance with
the Americans
Eager to weaken Britain, France took the war to
Europe, forcing the British to fight on many fronts.
European volunteers from many nations made key
contributions to the Patriot cause.
France
Marquis de
Lafayette
Officer in
Washington’s
army
Encyclopædia Britannica. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. <http://
media1.school.eb.com/eb-media/16/62616-004-914F7CA5.jpg>.
Poland
Thaddeus
Kosciusko
Military
engineer
Poland
Casimir
Pulaski
Cavalry
expert
Encyclopædia Britannica. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. <http://
media1.school.eb.com/eb-media/
68/94568-004-7C6FF5AE.jpg>.
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Friedrich von Steuben, a German baron, helped train
American troops and build the Continental army into a
more effective fighting force.
Baron von Steuben drilling American recruits at Valley Forge in 1778, painted by Edwin Austin ncojournal.dodlive.mil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acsra7kGC9M
Despite Patriot advances, the winter
of 1777–1778 was difficult. Washington and his troops faced
terrible hardships at Valley Forge.
They had little warm clothing, and
almost no food. Many died.
Yet spring finally came, and the
army slowly regained strength for
the battles ahead.
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Section Review
QuickTake Quiz
Know It, Show It Quiz
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