THE END OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR CHAPTER 7 SECTION 5 Independence!

THE END OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WARCHAPTER 7 SECTION 5

Independence!

War Spreads

Battles reached the western frontierSmall battles between Continentals

and Britain’s Native American alliesGeorge Rogers Clark stepped in as

leader in this areaGained trust of soldiers and

commandersEven respected by the Native

Americans he was fighting

The War in the West

George Rogers Clark had spent years exploring and mapping

Created an army by gathering soldiers from small towns Traveled around frontier to

encourage men to join the Continental Army

Proposed attacking Kaskaskia – British trading town on the Mississippi River

Clark’s Plan for Kaskaskia – SURPRISE!!

June 1778 – 175 soldiers

Cross the river, march 120 miles through forests

Plan worked!

British surrendered the town on July 4, 1778 without a fight

War in the West – VincennesOn the Wabash River in Indiana

Town of Vincennes – surrendered upon hearing of defeat in Kaskaskia

Clark organizes meetings with Native Americans – convinces them to be temporarily neutral

While meeting, the British retake the town

Battle of Vincennes – February 1779: Clark’s army recaptures the town

The War in the South

After defeat at Saratoga, British refocus efforts in southern colonies Gaining

freed slaves in the army

Many Tories (Loyalists) in the South – could offer support

The War in the South

British army was led by General Cornwallis

Considered by many to be a military genius

As they marched: Destroyed Patriot

property Seized plantations Ruined crops Killed farm animals

The War in the South

Savannah, Georgia

Use a secret trail into the port city to surprise the Patriots and capture the city

Showed the trail by a freed slave

The War in the South

Charleston,S.C.

Fought for months

Patriots surrender

5,000 Patriots taken POW

The War in the South

Camden, South Carolina August 1780

Continentals led by Horatio Gates ½ # troops that he thought Troops = hungry/tired;

Gates fed them, but many got sick!

Forces severely weakened Attack Camden – many

soldiers panic and run = forces fall apart

Gates’ army gets crushed Only 700 of 4,000 troops

remainThe Patriots had lost their

southern army

The War in the South

Patriots start using guerrilla warfare – swift, hit-and-run attacks

Led by Francis Marion Used guerrilla

warfare to destroy communication and supply lines

Became known as the “Swamp Fox” because no one could catch him

Patriot Troubles

Benedict Arnold becomes a traitor Thought he was

treated poorly By Continental Congress

Low on money Pay soldiers Buy supplies

Foreign allies hadn’t helped much yet

Yorktown – Patriot Victory!

Cornwallis sends troops to Yorktown, Virginia Prepares to attack

Patriots being led by Lafayette

Washington was in NY Created a plan with the

French Troops will march south French Navy will travel

down Chesapeake BaySurround Cornwallis

with 16,000 troops and the French Navy

Yorktown

Patriots hold city under siege for weeks

British navy driven back by the French

Cornwallis surrendered in October 1781 British troops

leave Yorktown on October 20, 1781

The Treaty of Paris

At the end of any war, a treaty is signed Agreement between previously warring nations

June 1781 – Continental Congress begins peace negotiations with the British Led by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and

Henry Laurens Franklin: “Let us now forgive and forget…America

will, with God’s blessing, become a great and happy Country; and England, if she has at length gained wisdom, will have gained something”

Negotiations took 2 years

The Treaty of Paris

Great Britain recognizes an independent United States

New borders for the United States

Americans gain rights to settle and trade west of original colonial lines

Soldiers return home

The New United States