The Winter Struggles of 1778: Washington's Resolve at Valley Forge

1. The Revolutionary War Continues 6.2 By: David And Andrew

2. A Difficult Winter • Spring 1778 word of the French-alliance reached the United States • Meanwhile, British general Howe and his forces spent the winter in comfort in Philadelphia • Washington set up camp at Valley Forge • 20 miles west of the British • Washington and his troops endured a winter of terrible suffering • lack of decent food, clothing, and shelter • Washington's greatest challenge was keeping the Continental Army together

3. Objectives • At the end of the section each student MUST be able to: • Tell how the Patriots receive help from • other nations • Tell how Washington's troops survived the winter at Valley Forge • Describe the challenges Americans faced at home as a result of the war

4. Terms To Know Desert – left without permission Inflation – takes more and more money to buy the same amount of goods

5. Gaining Allies • 1777, Benjamin Franklin had been in Paris for a year, trying to get the French to support the Americans in the war. • With Franklin’s skill and charm he made many friends in the United States. • Franklin was so good he persuaded the French to send money to the Americans secretly , but they would not form an alliance.

6. France • News of the American victory at Saratoga caused a shift in Frances policy. • France announced support for the U.S. openly after realizing the Americans could have a chance at beating Great Britain. • February 1777, the French and the Americans worked out a trade agreement and an alliance. • France declared war on Britain and sent money, troops, and equipment to aid the American Patriots.

7. Spain and the Netherlands • Other European nations helped the American cause, mostly because they hated the British • 1779, the Spanish declared war on Britain. • Bernardo de Galvez was the Spanish governor of Louisiana. • Galvez sent money, rifles and other supplies to American troops in Virginia and Ohio. • The Netherlands then went to war with Britain and Dutch bankers lent money to the American troops

8. Winter at Valley Forge • Joseph Martin, a 17-year-old private • from Connecticut • spent the winter at Valley Forge • The men lacked blankets, shoes, and shirts • Martin made a rough pair of moccasins out of a scrap of cowhide • they were better then walking bare foot • Many men deserted the Continental Army while at Valley Forge • Some officers resigned and the army was falling apart

9. Winter at Valley Forge • Some how the Continental Army survived the winter and conditions improved • Troops built huts and gathered supplies from the country side • Volunteers made clothes for the troops and cared for the sick • New soldiers joined the ranks in the spring • April 1778, Washington told his troops about the alliance with France • Everyone's spirits rose at the thought of help from overseas

10. Help from over seas • Marquis de Lafayette was a French nobleman/soldier at Valley Forge • Lafayette brought a ship and set sail to America • He rushed to join the battle for freedom • He was prohibited not to by King Louis XIV • When Lafayette arrived in Philadelphia, he offered his services and his followers to General Washington • Lafayette become a trusted aide to Washington • Thaddeus Kosciuszko, an engineer, and Casmir Pulaski, a cavalry officer-contributed to American efforts

11. Help from over seas • Pulaski died in 1780 fighting for the Continental Army in the south • Friedrich von Steuben • former army officer from Germany • taught military discipline to troops at Valley Forge • turned the Continental Army into a more effective fighting force • Juan de Miracles arrived in Philadelphia in 1778 as a representative of Spain • Spain, Cuba, and Mexico sent financial aid to the colonies. • Miralles befriended many Patriot leaders and lent them money for their cause.

12. Money Problems • Getting money to finance the war was a huge concern • The Continental Congress had no power to raise money through taxes • Much more money was needed than what they were getting for other countries • To pay for the war, Congress printed paper money • These money lost their value after a while • This happened because the circulation grew faster than the amount of gold and silver

13. Money Problems • This led to inflation or more and more money to buy the same amount of goods • Congress stopped making this money cause no one was using it • Americans had no other way of finance for the war

14. Life on the Home Front • The war had a major impact on all the Americans • With thousands of men in the Army service women took the duties that the men had • they took over the businesses of their husbands • Abigail Adams was one of the women who managed a farm while her husband was away • Betsy Ross, made the first American flag for George Washington

15. Changing Attitudes • Women questioned their role in society • Judith Sargent Murray argued that women's minds were just as good as men's • Girls then received the same education boys did • Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her husband, John Adams, about equality

16. Treatment of Loyalists • Thousands of loyalists fought for the British against the Patriots • There were loyalists in every state • Some loyalist spied and informed the British of information upon the patriots • Some loyalists fled the American colonies • Loyalists who remained faced difficult times • Loyalists who helped the British were then called traitors • Some were tortured beaten, or even killed

17. Hopes for Equality • The war inspired some Americans to question slavery • The Boston town meeting voted to condemn slavery • 1778, Governor William Livingston of New Jersey as to free all enslaved people • African Americans had the same argument • Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania tried to end slavery • However the issue of slavery would remain unsettled

18. Objectives • At the end of the section each student MUST be able to: • Tell how the Patriots receive help from other nations? • Tell how did Washington's troops survive the winter at Valley Forge? • Describe the challenges Americans face at home as a result of the war?