Ch.6 Sec.3 "War Moves West & South

Ch.6 Sec.3 "War Moves West & South"

Objective: I will be able to describe how fighting in the West & South affected the course of the War.

Poll

Many people have a nickname. Do you have a nickname?

• yes

• no

Open Ended

What is your nickname?

War in the West

The concerns of Mohawk chief Joseph Brant and other Native Americans about their lands became entangled in the events of the American Revolution. As a result, several important battles involving Native Americans took place along the western frontier. Some Native Americans helped the Patriots, but more sided with the British. For them, the British seemed less of a threat than the Americans. 

Multiple Choice

A Mohawk Chief

• Pontiac

• Joseph Brant

• Sitting Bull

• Geronimo

The British and Native Americans

West of the Appalachian Mountains, the British and their Native American allies raided American settlements. Joseph Brant led a number of brutal attacks in southwestern New York and northern Pennsylvania, Henry Hamilton, British commander at Detroit, was called the "hair buyer." He earned this nickname because he paid Native Americans for settlers' scalps. 

Multiple Choice

What was the nickname of British commander Henry Hamilton?

• Home buyer

• Happy Hamilton

• Hair buyer

• Hammy

Victory at Vincennes

George Rogers Clark, a lieutenant colonel in the Virginia militia, set out to end the British attacks on western settlers. In July 1778, Clark and 175 soldiers sailed west down the Ohio River. After a march of about 120 miles, the Patriots seized the British post at Kaskaskia (ka.SKAS'kee'uh) in present-day Illinois. They then captured the British town of Vincennes (vihn.SEHNZ) in present-day Indiana.

Victory at Vincennes

British troops under Henry Hamilton's command recaptured Vincennes that December. Clark vowed to get it back. In February 1779, Clark and his troops led a surprise attack against the British and forced Hamilton to surrender. George Rogers Clark's victory at Vincennes strengthened the American position in the West. 

Multiple Choice

Virginia militia lieutenant colonel who captured Vinncennes and defeated Hamilton.

• George Rogers Clark

• Roy Clark

• Clark Kent

• Clark the Lark

Multiple Choice

What places in the West did the Patriot militia capture?

• Vincennes and Boston

• Boston and Philadelphia

• Kaskaskia and Vincennes

• Philadelphia and Kaskaskia

Glory at Sea

As fighting continued on the western frontier, other battles raged at sea. Great Britain's powerful navy kept the ships of the Patriots and of their allies from entering or leaving American harbors. This blockade prevented supplies and reinforcements from reaching the Continental Army.

Privateers

To break the blockade, the Second Continental Congress ordered construction of 13 American warships. Only two of these ships, however, sailed to sea. Several were quickly captured by the British. The American navy was too weak to operate effectively. 

Privateers

The Congress authorized approximately 2,000 ships to sail as privateers. These were privately owned merchant ships with weapons. Finding crews for these ships was not difficult. Privateering was a profitable trade. Privateers captured more British ships at sea than the American navy. 

Multiple Choice

What were privately owned merchant ships with weapons called?

• Buccaneers

• Pirates

• Raiders

• Privateers

John Paul Jones

A daring American naval officer, John Paul jones, raided British ports. Near the coast of Great Britain in September 1779, Jones's ship, Bonhomme Richard, met the British warship Serapis escorting a fleet of merchant ships. The Bonhomme Richard and the Serapis fought for hours. The British captain asked whether Jones wished to surrender. Jones is said to have answered, "I have not yet begun to fight." 

John Paul Jones

In the end, the Serapis surrendered, but the Bonhomme Richard sank not long after the battle. Still, his victory made John Paul Jones a naval hero to the American Patriots.

Multiple Choice

Who said "I have not yet begun to fight"

• John Paul Jones

• Davie Jones

• Bonhomme Richard

• King George

Multiple Choice

What Ship was John Paul Jones the commander of

• Bonhomme Richard

• Serapis

• Carpathia

• Titanic

Open Ended

How did privateers contribute to the war effort?