THE WAR WIDENS
Chapter 6 Section 3
During the American Revolution, African Americans fought on both sides.Free and Enslaved
Battle of Lexington: 9 Free Africans fought for the Americans
Great Britain offered freedom to enslaved people who joined the British Army.Served mostly as cooks or blacksmiths
African American in the War
Washington began the war refusing to accept African American soldiers into the Continental Army.
His view changed when the British Army began to offer freedom to enslaved people.
By the end of the war, over 7,000 African Americans had served in the Continental Army and over 2,000 in the navy.Most African American soldiers served in what
states?Southern states feared a slave revolt
Washington’s view of Africans
During the war, northern states began working on abolishing slavery.PA passed a law in 1780. It stated that
slaveholders could keep their slaves but they were unable to get/receive/buy anymore slaves.
This was an attempt to gradually end slavery.
Taking the steps to end slavery in the North
Many people took on different roles during the war.
War at Home
MEN• ENLISTED: usually
only for one year• Civilians faced
food shortages or military attacks
WOMEN• Most took over the men’s duties
on the farms• Ran husband’s business• Some cared for the wounded
soldiers• Other disguised themselves as
men to join the fight (Deborah Sampson)
FINANCIAL BURDENS• Congress had limited resources: paying for the
war was difficult• Pleaded with the states to help but most states
had very little money• Congress printed continentals but the more
they printed the less valuable it became.
MOLLY PITCHER
DEBORAH SAMPSON
Fighting in the west• NATIVE AMERICANS WERE
BRIBED BY THE AMERICANS TO REMAIN AT PEACE WHEN THE FIGHTING MOVED TO THE FRONTIER
• MOST NATIVES STILL SIDED WITH THE BRITISH: THEIR GREATEST FEAR WAS THAT THE AMERICANS WOULD WIN AND CONTINUE MOVING WEST IN NATIVE AMERICAN LANDS
• DISAGREEMENTS AMONG TRIBES CAUSED MANY TO SPLIT
• SOMETIMES ENTIRE VILLAGES PICKED UP AND LEFT TO AVOID FIGHTING
• OTHERS ATTACKED WHITE SETTLERS• SMALLPOX OUTBREAKS WERE DEVASTATING
• MORE PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES TO SMALLPOX DURING THE WAR THAN BY FIGHTING
JOSEPH BRYANT
In an effort to defend the Frontier, George Rogers Clark was sent to attack British forts Captured Kaskaskia and Cahokia in 1778
1779, Clark led his men to attack Vincennes, caught the British by surprise and forced them to surrender
Clark’s victories allowed American settlers to stay in the area and it also strengthened American claim of the Ohio River Valley
Defending the Frontier
Spain, the owner of Louisiana and the land west of the Mississippi River, secretly provided Americans with money and weaponries to Americans on the Frontier
Allowed Americans to store the Ships in the New Orleans harbor for safe refuge
Why would Spain do this?
The Spanish join the Independence Efforts
Continental Navy to established in 1775, but the Americans were only able to build a few warships. They were at a disadvantage against the powerful
British NavyThe Americans were forced to use hit and run attacks
to be successful against the British Navy.MOST FAMOUS BATTLE ON THE SEA
American ship Bonhomme Richard led by John Paul Jones fought side by side with the British ship SerapisJones refused to give up even though he was out manned
and gunned. Serapis eventually will surrender
Americans also received help from PrivateersActed like pirate ships
War moves to the Sea