Chapter 4 Section 3The Revolutionary War Begins

Deborah Sampson

• Read about Deborah Sampson on page 125. Answer the following questions:

• 1) Why did Robert Shurtleff keep to himself?

• 2) Why was Sampson able to pass for a man?

• 3) What happened to Sampson?

Activity:

• Class breaks into 4 groups, each representing one of the following:• Soldiers• Women• African Americans• NativesEach group will identify the role those people played in the Revolution. Class will create a chart on the board.

Continental Army

Strengths

• Strong military leadership

• Fighting on home territory

• Alliance with France• Passionate about

cause

Weaknesses

• Small, untrained military

• Shortages of resources

• Weak central government

British Army

Strengths

• Well-trained military• Ample resources• Alliances with

Loyalists

Weaknesses

• Fighting in unfamiliar territory

• Fighting far from home

• Not as passionate

Problems with money and morale

• Inflation led to food shortages• Private financiers like Salomon helped

fund Revolution

Thomas Paine’s The Crisis” written in 1776

George Washington read to his troops to rally them to fight

Discuss answer to “the Crisis” questions

New York, Fall 1776

•Gen. Howe & Adm. Howe met on Staten Island with 32,000 soldiers•Washington rallied 23,000 soldiers•Outnumbered, they retreated across NJ and into PA, only 8,000 men remained•Morale very low, British held largest city in colonies

Trenton – December 26, 1776

•Continental Army scored first victory•Crossed the Delaware River on Christmas Night•Surprise attack on Hessians in Trenton, killed 30, took 918 captive, 6 cannons•Scenes from “the Crossing”•A few days later, Patriots win at Princeton (January 1777)•Read letters from Henry Knox to Lucy, answer questions

Philadelphia – Spring 1777

•General Howe wanted to seize capital•Congress fled, British captured city

• British camped for winter, Washington headed to Valley Forge

Saratoga – October 1777

British Gen. Burgoyne led an army from Canada to meet Howe in Albany, Howe didn’t leave Philly

Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys – as well as other militiamen attacked

Continental Army surrounded him at Saratoga, •British surrendered

Turning Point •-British changed strategy – stayed on coast, went

South•-French decided to support Americans

Valley Forge

Winter camp, 1777-1778•10,000 soldiers, 2,000 died during time there•Marquis de Lafayette appealed to France for help•Friedrich von Steuben – Prussian drillmaster who helped train men and make them more effective military •(read Diary of a Soldier)