us history ch 7.3
TRANSCRIPT
U.S. History
Chapter 7: The American RevolutionSection 3: Dark Hours for the Revolution
3-9-1
The Crisis
By
Thomas Paine
Comparing Strengths & Weaknesses
British Advantage• More money and
resources
• Organized & Well trained Army
• Most powerful Navy in the world
American Disadvantage
• Fewer resources
• Poorly trained local militias
• No navy at beginning of war
Comparing Strengths & Weaknesses
American Advantage
• Fighting on home turf
• Many Americans supported the Revolution
• Fought for cause they believed in
British Disadvantage
• Had to ship supplies long distances
• Harassed by local citizens
• Hired mercenaries
Comparing Strengths & Weaknesses
•Mercenaries—hired foreign soldiers
Hessian Mercenaries
A Call to Arms
•Washington’s first task: organize & raise an army
•230K in Continental Army, 145K in local militias
•Few had combat experience
A Call to Arms
•Southerners objected to African Americans serving
•Washington banned blacks from serving
A Call to Arms
•Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation—offered freedom to any slave who fought for the British John Murray
aka Lord Dunmore
A Call to Arms
•Ban lifted
•5,000 African Americans served
Other Sources of Help
•Thayendanega aka Joseph Brant—Mohawk leader who persuaded the Iroquois to support the BritishThayendanega
aka Jospeh Brant
Other Sources of Help
•Women:
–Ran businesses–Raised money–Sewing groups–Spies & Messengers
Deborah Sampson
Mary Ludwig Hays
aka
Molly Pitcher
British Victories
•Offensive vs. Defensive War
•Make Canada “14th Colony”
British Victories
•General Richard Montgomery leads forces into Canada
General Richard Montgomery
•November 1775: Patriot forces capture St. John’s & Montreal
British Victories
•Benedict Arnold leads forces to Quebec
Benedict Arnold
British Victories
•Arnold waits for Montgomery
•No cannons
British Victories
•Wait for snowstorm to provide cover
•December 31, 1775: attack launched
British Victories
•Crushing defeat
•More than half of Patriot soldiers captured, killed, or wounded
•General Richard Montgomery killed
British Victories
British Victories
•Washington moves troops to New York
•July 1776: British fleet arrives in NY Bay
British Victories
•British troops led by William Howe
William Howe
• Continentals driven off of Long Island
• Retreat to Manhattan Island
British Victories
•Washington continued to retreat in a series of battles
•Many Patriots captured or killed
•Washington pushed into New Jersey