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Introduction to Revolutionary War- Cheyenne
After congress had signed for independence it resulted in an all out war between America and Britain. In the year 1775 the Revolutionary War began. The American army appeared much weaker than the powerful British army. The Continental Army was short on men, supplies, training, and money. The British had a professional army with tons of supplies at their disposal. Even though it may seem that Britain had a huge advantage, they lacked the drive that the patriots had. For the Continental Army th -
The Battle in Brooklyn, New York - Carmen
On August 27, 1776, American and British met in Brookyln for what promised to be a decisive battle. In two days of fighting, the British lost 377 men; the Americans lost 1,407. Howe thought the war was almost won. He ordered a halt to the British Attack. Washington had no intention of giving up. For his army to survive, he would have to retreat. This event helped the Revolutionary War because the British gained lots of confidence and thought the could win the war. Howe ordered the British to h -
The Crisis- CHeyenne
By the end of 1776, the British thought they won. General Howe offered to pardon all rebels who signed a statement promising to "remain in peaceful obedience" to the king. Thousands took him up on his offer. Washington knew that he had to do something, and quickly gathering his last troops together, he read from Thomas Paine's new pamphlet "The Crisis." It said “These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service o -
Battle at Trenton, New Jersey- Carmen
*Late December 25, 1776, Washington's army crossed the ice-choked Delaware river in small boats. On the Ne shore, Washington told the men: victory or death. As they made their way towards Trenton, snow chilled them to the bone. Ice and rocks wore out their shoes. The guns were too wet to fire, do they used bayonets. When they got to Trenton, the Hessians were happily sleeping off their Christmas feasts. They were caught by surprise and they surrendered. Washington took 868 prisoners without losi -
Battle of Saratoga, New York -Cheyenne
When Burgoyne finally reached Saratoga Springs on the Hudson River, the area was filled with militia. Burgoyne still ordered his troops to attack even though the rebels outnumbered his army. Again and again the rebels beat back Burgoyne's troops. On October 17, 1777, Gentleman Johnny accepted defeat. Burgoyne's surrender signified a turning point in the war. Before the victory at Saratoga, the American cause had looked hopeless to most of the world. This showed that the American could actua -
Winter at Vally Forge- Carmen
*While Washington’s army roamed the countryside, Howe’s forces occupied Philadelphia. Late in 1777, Congress declared a day of thanksgiving. By this time, Washington and his army were on their way to Valley Forge, PA to set up camp for the winter. Washington’s troops were hungry because many farmers preferred to sell food to the British because they paid them in gold; the Americans used paper money. To distract the men from their misery, Washington put Baron Friedrich von Steuben, a volunteer fr -
Battle at Monmouth- Cheyenne
Sir Henry Clinton had replaced General Howe as commander of the British forces in America. In the eye of Clinton, taking over Philadelphia had gained the British nothing. He ordered his army to retreat to New York City, where the Royal Navy could keep it supplied by sea. On June 28, 1778, he caught up with the retreating British near Monmouth, New Jersey. In the battle that followed, Washington was everywhere, constantly rallying his men to stand and fight. Late that night, the British slipped -
Guerilla warfare in the South - Carmen
Guerillas are soldiers who operate on their own and are not part of a regular army. Many guerillas kept the American cause alive. One of them was Francis Marion, who was also known as the ‘Swamp Fox”. Marion’s band of rebels harassed the British with hit-and-run raids. They faded into swamps and forests like foxes. Late in 1780, Washington sent General Nathaniel Greene to slow the British advance through the south.Greene led Cornwallis’s troops on an exhausting chase through the southern backcou -
Battle of Yorktown, Virginia -Cheyenne
When Cornwallis was settling into Yorktown, France had already sent nearly 5,000 troops to join Washington's army in New York. In August, Washington learned that another 3,000 troops were scheduled to arrive soon in 29 French warships
Washington used the new information to set a trap for Cornwallis. Behind the scenes, he moved his army south to Virginia. When they arrived, they joined the French and surrounded Yorktown on land with more than 16,000 troops. While this was happening, the French wa -
Signing the Treaty of Paris- Carmen
Early in 1783, representatives of the United States and Britain signed a peace treaty (agreement) in Paris. There were 3 important parts to the Treaty of Paris. First, Great Britain agreed to recognize the United States as an independent nation. Second, Britain gave up its claims to all lands between the Atlantic Coast and Mississippi River, from Canada south to Florida. Third, the United States agreed to return all rights and property taken from the Loyalists during the war. Many Loyalists did
