The American Revolution: Lessons & Resolutions

The American Revolution: Lessons & Resolutions

Quick Review

• Continental Army Victories @ Trenton & Saratoga help keep the United States fight for independence alive

• France (and some other European countries) join the fight on the side of the United States

• Teens both male & female fight and serve

Lessons & Resolutions

Valley Forge & The Battle of Yorktown

Open Ended

We may know what a lesson is, but what exactly is a resolution? In your own words describe, give an example or define what a resolution is:

Valley Forge, 1777-1778

• By the end of 1777, Wash. moves his 11,000 troops to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to set up camp

• Location serves as natural fortress against any possible attack

• Close to Philadelphia (capital of the US) that was under British occupation

Multiple Choice

Where does Washington move his 11,000 troops to set up camp for the winter months?

• Yorktown, Virginia

• Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

• Trenton, New Jersey

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Watch the video & pay attention!

• https://youtu.be/enCE9JbVKcU

• start @ ~24 mins

Open Ended

What is 1 thing you learned, found interesting or surprised you about the video:

Valley Forge, 1777-1778

• Bitterly cold conditions, troops suffer thru a very harsh winter

• Low on supplies, disease spreads

• Washington sends letters to Cont. Congress demanding food, , clothing & weapons

• Some aid did come from Congress and from across the Atlantic

Valley Forge, 1777-1778

• Help also comes in the form of European allies, France & European soldiers

• Europeans helped train US troops with tactics and discipline

• NO BATTLES WERE FOUGHT A VALLEY FORGE

• THRU TRAINING, CONFIDENCE IN WASH. INCREASED

The Battle of Yorktown

Oct 1781

The Battle of Yorktown, 1781

• The war begins to move to the South as winter thaws into Summer of 1778

• Back & Forth between the Redcoats & the Continental Army for a few years

• Last major battle takes place in 1781 in Yorktown, Virginia

Watch the video & pay attention!

• https://youtu.be/enCE9JbVKcU

• start @ ~ 37 mins

The Battle of Yorktown, 1781

• Both sea & land play a big role in the battle

• British Army sets up camp @ Yorktown, thinking it would be easy to be resupplied @ Chesapeake Bay

• American & French forces use location against the British

The Battle of Yorktown, 1781

• French and American soldiers surrounded Yorktown on land.

• The French Navy cut off the British Army’s ability to receive supplies

• After 2 weeks without supplies, Lord Cornwallis of England surrendered to Washington.

Multiple Choice

Where does the last battle of war take place?

• Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

• Yorktown, Virginia

• Trenton, New Jersey

• Saratoga, New York

Multiple Choice

Which European power helps defeat the British Army in Yorktown?

• France

• Prussia

• Spain

Resolution

• The US won the war & their Independence

• Great Britain recognizes American Independence w/ the signing of the Treaty of Paris, 1783