01:512:103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Mercy Otis Warren, Continental Army, Abigail Adams
8 Nov 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
1
Adam Ibrahim
APUSH Pd. 6
The American Revolution
American Communities (Chapter 7)
The soldiers at Valley Forge, in Pennsylvania were becoming worn out. Their shoes and
clothes were breaking and they were being fed firecake, they wanted bread. “No bread, no
soldier!” Men in Continental Army suffered through terrible winter and defeats by the British.
Congress refused to pay the high rates for food and clothing. Some of the soldiers were
indentured servants, landless farmers, many free and enslaved African Americans. Many men
died during the winter. The women at the camps were wives, cooks, prostitutes. They cared for
and buried the dead bodies. Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus von Stuben, Prussian officer who came
to America to help. The soldiers had a great bond with each other. Supporters of Revolution
called Patriots. Continental Army acted as a popular democratic force.
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2
I. The War For Independence
- British had strong army & navy @ start of Revolution
- Patriots spread across America
- Independence cause for Americans to fight
A. The Patriot Forces
1. 100,000 served in Continental Army under Washington
2. Militia main part in war, defended own areas
a. ppl rather fight w/ neighbors than Cont. Army
b. Less discipline. More ppl deserted battle
3. Washington wanted to directly attack British. Congress said no draft
4. Militias failed early battles
a. Congress extended terms of service
b. Congress offered free land after victory
5. Discipline was essential
6. 25,324 Americans men killed in Revolution
7. Cont. Army & militia played political role creating nationalist sentiment
8. Food shortages →mutinies. Killed some officers. Mad @ Congress
9. Patriots controlled local gov.
a. Made eligible ppl join militias
b. If you didn’t you were imprisoned
10. Men went to war, women took over businesses
a. Many women volunteered to support war
b. Ex. Abigail Adams, Mercy Otis Warren
11. Some women followed armies “camp followers”
a. Some were prostitutes, some present on battlefield. “Molly Pitcher”
b. Cont. Congress gave pensions to women who fought in husband’s place
12. Women enlisted disguised as men
B. The Loyalists
1. Many ppl still Loyalists, loyal to British crown. Tories to Americans
2. Loyalists- new migrants from England, minorities
3. Patriots prohibited speaking against Rev.
a. Punished Loyalists by bills of attainder, lost civil rights & property
b. Made illegal through United States Constitution
4. “Grand Tory Ride” and “tarring and feathering”
5. Benedict Arnold- hero of Amer. battles. Angry @ America
a. 1779 became informer to Gen. Henry Clinton- head of British army
b. 1780- Amer found plot to betray post. Ran to British
c. Became brigadier general for British
6. British wanted to spread out Loyalists
7. During/after war Loyalists fled to England, many to Canada
a. Canadian provinces were refuges to Loyalists
b. Loyalists disagreed w/ Patriots, but loved America
C. The Campaign for New York and New Jersey
1. Sir William Howe attack Mass.
a. One group head North from NY to Canada (Hessian mercenaries)
b. Another group head South from Canada to Albany
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3
2. Washington fortified NY
3. 1776- Battle of Long Island- Patriots lost. British take NY
4. Ben Franklin, John Adams, & Edward Rutledge peace talks w/ Gen Howe &
Admiral Richard Howe
5. Demanded repeal of Dec. of Independence
6. British attack Manhattan. Many Patriots wiped out
a. Americans lose ports & Fort Washington & Lee
b. Amer. flee South of NJ to avoid British General Charles Cornwallis
7. Amer forces slowly giving up
8. George Wash attack on Christmas night & defeat Hessians @ HQ in Trenton
a. Defeated British at Princeton
b. Push them back to NY
9. Boosted American morale & survival of Continental Army
D. The Northern Campaigns of 1777
1. Amer stopped Howe moving N. & Brit. Moving from Canada
2. Howe retried plan (C1)
a. Howe move troops north to take Philadelphia
b. Gen John Burgoyne went South from Canada
3. Howe took over Fort Ticonderoga
a. Harassed by Patriot militias
b. Retreated to Saratoga b/c of Amer army led by Gen Horatio Gates
c. @ Saratoga surrounded by Americans, forced to surrender his men
4. Howe had many victories against Amer
a. September 11 at Brandywine Creek
b. September 21 at Paoli
c. September 26 at Philadelphia
d. October 4 at Germantown
5. Continental Congress fled to the town of York
6. British still had Philadelphia, most important NA city
a. Continental Congress operated @ York
b. British were failing to suppress Revolution
E. The French Alliance and the Spanish Borderlands
1. French & Spanish helped English
2. Ben Franklin sent to Paris by CC as delegate
a. Made good relations w/ Comte de Vergennes, French minister
b. Created Franco-Amer alliance. Fr finance Rev, minster hesitant
3. English Whigs opposed war
4. Fr signs Treaty of Alliance w/ US
a. No party enter treaty w/ Britain w/out consent of each other
b. Fr. guarantees US all N. parts of America & other conquests gained
c. Fr acquire British islands in W. Indies
5. Fights break out between British & French
6. Spanish enters war b/c feared America
a. Already gave ammo & beef from cattle herded by vaqueros from Texas
b. Father Junipero Serra, Cali Pres weekly prayers for American victories
7. Amer couldn’t make alliance w/ Sp b/c Sp wanted to regain Fla & Miss Valley
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Document Summary
The soldiers at valley forge, in pennsylvania were becoming worn out. American communities (chapter 7) clothes were breaking and they were being fed firecake, they wanted bread. No bread, no soldier! men in continental army suffered through terrible winter and defeats by the british. Congress refused to pay the high rates for food and clothing. Some of the soldiers were indentured servants, landless farmers, many free and enslaved african americans. The women at the camps were wives, cooks, prostitutes. They cared for and buried the dead bodies. Friedrich wilhelm augustus von stuben, prussian officer who came to america to help. The soldiers had a great bond with each other. Continental army acted as a popular democratic force. 1: ppl rather fight w/ neighbors than cont. Congress said no draft: militias failed early battles, discipline was essential, 25,324 americans men killed in revolution, cont. Army & militia played political role creating nationalist sentiment: food shortages mutinies.
