US History Ch 7.3

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