The American Revolution 1776 - 1783 part 1

The American Revolution
1776 - 1783

After writing the Declaration of Independence, Americans had to fight for freedom from Great Britain. In this lesson, we will learn how the American Revolution was fought. We will also learn about the important people who made the victory possible. Victory is the defeat of an enemy.

Multiple Choice

What does victory mean?

• Failure or defeat in a competition or struggle
• Defeating an enemy

• A type of dessert
• The name of a famous person

The Long Fight

Not all Americans wanted the Revolution. Some people remained loyal, or faithful, to Great Britain. They were called Loyalists. The people who were in favor of independence called themselves Patriots. The Patriots fought the battles that won the American Revolution.
The British people thought it would be easy to win the war. They didn't think the Americans were good soldiers. For two years, the British army chased General Washington and his soldiers. But even though the Continental army lost many battles, it always escaped the enemy.

Dropdown

Not all Americans wanted independence, those who remained faithful to Great Britain were called ​

Select answer

​Washington and the American Army

General Washington had a hard time taking card of his men. A lot of them did not have uniforms so they wore their regular clothes. Some soldiers had to fight and march without shoes. Many of them had no blankets or tents. During the cold weather, some of the men got sick and died. There wasn't enought food. Many of the soldiers went hungry.

Unlike the British army, the American army was not trained to be soldiers. Most of the men were farmers, fishermen, and store owners who were not used to taking orders from an army commander. Some would fight only in battles near their homes. Others left the army when it was time to plant or harvest crops. So Washington had a hard job keeping the army together.
But Washington was a good leader. His men trusted and respected him. Because of this, Washington was able to keep the army going.

Multiple Choice

What kept the Continental army together through the many hardships they faced?

• Respect and trust for General Washington

• Fear of punishment
• Financial incentives
• Unwillingness to surrender

​Victory at Trenton

It was Christmas Eve, 1776. There were only about 2,500 men left in General Washington's army. They were cold, sick, tired, and ready to give up, but Washington had a plan. He led his men across the Delaware River in boats. Then they marched to Trenton, NJ to surprise a camp of German soldiers. The Germans were fighting for the British. They were celebrating and did not expect the Colonial army on Christmas Eve! Washington and his men captured the camp and took more than 900 German prisoners.
The victory at Trenton made Americans feel more hopeful about winning the war. So more men signed up to fight. The British army, however, was still stronger than the American army.

Multiple Choice

Why were General Washington and his army able to capture the German camp at Trenton, NJ?

• They launched a surprise attack on Christmas eve

• They had superior intelligence and strategy
• They were outnumbered and outgunned
• They had a strong alliance with the local Native American tribes

Open Ended

Why do you think some of the information in the video is different from the information in the text? Which do you think is more accurate?

​Help Arrives from Europe

While Washington worked to keep his army together, other colonial leaders were trying to get help. Benjamin Franklin tried to get France to enter the war on the side of the Americans. Great Britain and France were old enemies. So the Americans thought France might fight with them.
The French entered the war after the American victory at Saratoga, NY in 1777. This victory let the French know that the Americans were strong.

​Marquis de Lafayette

A rich Frenchman, the Marquis de Lafayette, had already joined the Patriots. He arrived in American with other French soldiers in June 1777. He offered to serve in the American army as a regular soldier. Instead the Continental Congress made him a leader. Lafayette was only 2 years old when he joined the Americans.
Help came from other European nations, too. Germany and Poland sent men who were good army leaders. They helped train the American soldiers. Some countries also gave the Americans money.

Multiple Choice

What European countries helped the Patriots?

• France and Poland

• Sweden and Norway
• England and Portugal
• Germany and Italy

​Winter at Valley Forge

The British army was spending a comfortable winter in Philadelphia. But the winter of 1777 was very hard for Washington and his men. They camped on a frozen plain in Pennsylvania called Valley Forge. The soldiers were often hungry. Many men were wick that winter, too. Their shoes, if they had any were worn out. Washington wrote, "You could tell where the army had been by the blood of their feet on the snow."

In these hard times, a soldier came to the Patriot camp to help. His name was Baron Friedrich von Steuben. Be was from Prussia, a country in Europe known for its strong army. George Washington asked him to teach his soldiers how to fight better.
The Patriots were brave, but they did not know how to fight in an organized way. They were used to hiding in the forests and making surprise attacks. Now they had to fight the British in open fields. Von Steuben taught the American soldiers how to fight together as a group.

Multiple Choice

How did Baron Friedrich von Steuben help the American army?

• He negotiated a peace treaty with the British
• He led the American army in the Battle of Bunker Hill
• He provided medical care for the soldiers
• He trained the American army at Valley Forge.