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 York
Washington moved his men south to meet the British
Howe crossed from Staten Island to Long Island
Howe outflanked and defeated Washington’s army
easily
Could have continued and wiped out Washington’s army
But 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 inexperience
Put his men in terrible danger
Also showed British weaknesses as well
The army was ill directed and inefficient
Battle of Trenton
Howe posted men at Trenton, and Princeton--
strategic points
Hessian soldiers
Washington decided to attack them
Went 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 surprise
900 men surrendered
Victory gave a boost to American morale
Went on to win a battle at Princeton
Battle of Trenton
Map of Trenton
What’s wrong with the
picture?
Painted by Emanuel Leutze in 1851
The 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 Canada
Lt. Colonel Barry St. Leger from Lake Ontario--
Fort Oswego
General 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
Ticonderoga
Burgoyne, “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 marshlands
Patriot 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 time
Arnold marched his troops from the battle,
and encountered Burgoyne
Forced him back to Fort Oswego
Problems cont…
Howe was just doing his own thing
Wasted 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
Brandywine
Taught him a lesson in tactics
BUT..Washington bought time to get people out of
Philly
Now late September, and Burgoyne was in
trouble near Saratoga
Howe and Washington
Battle of Saratoga
American forces led by Horatio Gates and
Benedict Arnold
Built huge fortified defenses south of Saratoga
Burgoyne struck at these defenses
Was defeated both times and suffered heavy
losses
More and more militia joined the fight each
day
Burgoyne was pinned down--bullets flying at
his men, non-stop, from every direction
Burgoyne 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 Congress
Washington not winning
Gates just won a HUGE victory
Should we replace him??
This triumph changed the course of the War
France, 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 commissioners
Advised to give in on all issues that agitated the
colonies
Colonies rejected these proposals
After the loss at Brandywine, Washington
wintered at Valley Forge