Chapter 7: The American Revolution

Chapter 7: The American Revolution Discuss in groups of 3-4 and predict how the Continental Army was able to win. How was the Continental army able to win the war for independence from Great Britain? Link to 15

Study Guide and Slide Links What you will know…….. Links 7.2 & 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8

LEARING GOALS AND SCALES Chapter 7 EQ: How was the Continental army able to win the war for independence from Great Britain? I know I have it when I can write a five paragraph essay that includes at least three “big” reasons and explanations for each of these reasons.

Chapter 7 Goals and Scales: Daily Learning Goals Learning Targets: • What were the strengths and weaknesses of the American and British armies? • What events and factors allowed Great Britain to almost win the war? • How did pep talks and surprise victories help to turn the tide for Americans? • What helped the men survive winter at Valley Forge? • How did George Washington’s leadership help win the war? • How did the war moving south eventually lead to Cornwallis’s surrender?

Compare and Contrast the Pictures of the Soldiers from 7.2 and 7.3 using a Venn Diagram. 7.2 Picture 7.3 Picture

American & British Strengths & WeaknessesRead 7.2 & 7.3 and complete the chart.

American Strengths: George Washington: Leadership & Strategy. Patriotism: Willing to die for beliefs. Foreign Aid: French. Home field advantage. Knew the land.

American Weaknesses • Fewer soldiers. • Poorly trained. • Poorly supplied. • Guns. • Gunpowder. • Food. • Uniforms.

British Strengths • 50,000 British soldiers. • 30,000 Hessian mercenaries. • Well trained and experienced. • Well supplied w/: • Food. • Uniforms. • Ammunition. • Weapons.

British Weaknesses • Long way away. Cost a lot of money and took a lot of time to send supplies. • British citizens & soldiers lacked passion to fight. • Poor leadership.

7.2 and 7.3: Capture the Flag.Take a few minutes and complete the similes in your packet. The blue team is smaller and less experienced. They are like the Americans. The Red team is larger and more experienced. They are like the British. The Blue captain has experience. His is like George Washington. The White team cheers for the Blue team. They are like France. Half the Red team starts the game far from the field, just like the British.

Ask the Leaders • You are a newspaper reporter in the colony of New York. The date is August of 1776 and the colonists have just declared independence. You have studied the strengths and weaknesses of the Americans and the British in preparation for the biggest interviews of your career. • You are able to ask General George Washington and British Officer William Howe 3 questions each about the war. • Your questions need to be well-thought out and higher level to ensure that the responses gather as much information about each side as possible.

Examples of Higher Level Questions 1. Can you explain why….? 2. Which factors would you change if….? 3. If……had happened, what might the ending have been? 4. How is ……similar to….? 5. What do you see as other possible outcomes? 6. What were the motives behind…? 7. What was the problem with…? 8. Was there a better solution to…? 9. Do you think…was a good thing or a bad thing? 10. What were the consequences/results of…? 11. Who gained and who lost as a result of….?

Section 4: Declaration of IndependenceThe signing of the Declaration inspires the colonists & the continental army. It gives them something concrete to fight for. • Many Americans believed that freedom and independence were worth fighting for. • African Americans wondered if “all men are created equal” would bring an end to slavery and inequality.

Section 4: Britain Almost Wins the War • New York: August 27, 1776. • American casualties: 1,407. They were inexperienced and poorly trained. • British casualties: 377. • The British destroy the Americans. • Washington retreated across the Hudson River as Howe assumed he would surrender and Howe halted the attack. Howe may have been able to end the war at this point if he kept attacking.

Section 4: Fading Hopes Washington Escapes Brooklyn Video • After New York, the Continental Army experienced numerous losses as the British chased them through New Jersey and into Pennsylvania. Britain had huge numbers advantage. • Joseph Martin and the rest of the army was starving and cold. • Enlistments were ending and very few were re-enlisting. • Washington was down to a few thousand men and wrote to his brother, “I think the game will be pretty well up.”

Section 4: Example answers. • Many Americans believed that freedom and independence were worth fighting for. • African Americans wondered if “all men are created equal” would bring an end to slavery and inequality. • Greater numbers, superior training, more supplies, and overwhelming victories at New York & other battles in 1776.

7.4: Capture the Flag • The teacher is going to give the Blue team a prize is like the Declaration of Independence. • Because of their advantages, the Red team almost steals the flag is like the British almost winning the war in 1776. • The player who is told they might NOT get a prize is like African Americans having to decide who to fight for.

Section 5: The Crisis • By the end of 1776, Howe had offered a pardon to any rebel who gave up. Thousands accepted. • Washington reads “The Crisis” by Thomas Paine to his troops. This helps to inspire them.

The Crisis—An Excerpt “THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.” Link to The Crisis Audio

The Crisis: “summer soldier & sunshine patriot” Discuss within your groups what these terms mean? • Are they good or bad terms? • What does Paine say they (summer soldier and sunshine patriot) will do? • What does Paine think they should do?

7.5: Ask Thomas Paine • Once again you have been given a great opportunity to interview a famous and influential person from the American Revolution. Read The Crisis and prepare 3 higher level questions that relate to this document. • Complete and discuss question 1 from section 5 as a group.

Examples of Higher Level Questions 1. Can you explain why….? 2. Which factors would you change if….? 3. If……had happened, what might the ending have been? 4. How is ……similar to….? 5. What do you see as other possible outcomes? 6. What were the motives behind…? 7. What was the problem with…? 8. Was there a better solution to…? 9. Do you think…was a good thing or a bad thing? 10. What were the consequences/results of…? 11. Who gained and who lost as a result of….?

Section 5: Trenton • Night of December 25, 1776. • Washington crosses the Delaware. • Password: “Victory or Death” • Hessians were sleeping and were caught by surprise. • Washington takes 868 prisoners. • Washington loses no one!

Watch “The Crossing” • As you are watching, write down answers to these questions and the others in your packet: • What was the mental state of Washington troops? Generals? • What went wrong for the Americans? • How did the Americans get lucky throughout the attack? What fatal mistake did the Hessian general make? • Why was this victory significant?

Section 5: Princeton • A week after Trenton, Washington captures 300 British soldiers at Princeton. • The Patriots’ spirit is lifted! • Loyalist quote, “A few days ago they had given up their cause for lost. Their late successes have turned the scale and they are all liberty mad again.”

7.5: Trenton and Princeton Discuss questions 2 and 3 from section 5. Using complete sentences write your answers in your packet.

7.5 Capture the Flag The teacher gives the Blue team a pep talk is like Washington reading The Crisis to his troops. The teacher adding a 2nd flag is like Washington winning at Trenton and Princeton and showing the British this would be harder than they thought.

Chapter 7: The American Revolution How was the Continental army able to win the war for independence from Great Britain? Using what you have learned thus far, what do you think each of these pictures represents?

Section 6: The Tide Begins to Turn • Washington revises his plan. He will fight a defensive war (hit and run) and avoid large battles. • Lord Germain adjusted his strategy: Going to divide the colonists by controlling the Hudson River Valley. • General John Burgoyne (Gentleman Johnny) brings 8,000 troops south from Canada and is going to meet Howe and his army as they move North from New York. • Johnny’s route was HARD. • Howe went to Philadelphia instead!

A Turning Point: Saratoga Springs, 1777 • By the time Gentleman Johnny reached the Hudson and Saratoga Springs the militia was ready and waiting. • Burgoyne attacked anyway-----he was repeatedly beaten by the Continental Army. • Gentleman Johnny surrendered on October 17, 1777. • France became an official ally of the United States. • Spain also joined in the war against Britain.

1. Why do you think the French waited until the victory at Saratoga Springs to officially ally themselves with the Americans?2. What affect did the French aid have on the outcome of the war?3. How might the outcome have been different if the French had not become an American ally?

Section 6: Valley Forge Link to Valley Forge Video • HARSH!!!! No food or supplies. Cold-----limited clothing and no shoes. • US farmers sold to British cause they paid more. • Merchants raised the price of blankets and uniforms. • Frenchmen Layfayette bought them clothes. • Prussian von Stuben drilled and trained them.

How do you think that Valley Forge affected the Continental Army? • Support your answer with details. • Discuss w/in your groups. • Use follow up and higher level questioning to promote discussion.

Section 6: Battle of Monmouth, NJ • Sir Henry Clinton (Howe’s replacement) ordered British retreat to New York. • Washington lead and rallied his men to stand & fight. • During the night of June 28, 1778 Clinton retreated across the Hudson River to New York. • Both armies were in the same spot they were two years earlier, but going the opposite way. • War in the North was over.

7.6: Possible Answers • Washington avoided large battles that might put his army at risk. Instead, he fought a defensive war designed to tire out the British. 2. After the Battle of Saratoga, the French become allies of the Americans, and Spain also entered the war against Britain. 3. Baron Friedrich von Steuben of Prussia drilled the American soldiers and turned them into an organized fighting force. The Marquis de Lafayette of France used his own money to buy clothing for the soldiers.

Section 7: The War Moves South • British believed that moving the war to the south would allow thousands of Loyalists to aid the British. • Lord Cornwallis was put in charge of the British troops in the South. • General Nathaniel Greene: Used hit and run tactics to wear the British out. Which boxer would represent Nathaniel Greene? Explain.

Section 7: The Swamp Fox • “The Swamp Fox”------Francis Marion. He lead guerrilla troops against the British. Link to The Patriot Movie Trailer

Section 7: Yorktown • Sick and tired of chasing the Americans, Cornwallis settles at Yorktown, Virginia during April of 1781. • The French and Americans surrounded Cornwallis. • They opened fire on the British on October 6, 1781. • Cornwallis surrenders on October 19, 1781.

Section 7: Cornwallis Surrenders • October 19, 1781 French & US formed 2 long lines that stretched for over 1 mile. • French were in fancy uniforms. US were in patched and faded uniforms that did not match. • 8,000 British troops laid down their arms. • Played “The World Turned Upside Down” • Cornwallis did not take part. He said he was too sick. • He was really too embarrassed. • Many British soldiers were crying. What do you think Washington was thinking and feeling during the time this picture was taken? Explain.

Chapter 7: The American Revolution