US History

U.S. History Study Guide

arrived, almost immediately, French aristocrats and intellectuals embraced Franklin. The French viewed him as the simple, natural man that embodied the intellectual ideas of the Enlightenment. Franklin, attempted many different tactics to convince the French to listen to him. The normally intelligent man, donned clothes of frontiersmen for the amusement of the French, this image was later depicted in various forms. His popularity and diplomatic skills greatly helped the cause, but Franklin alone could not persuade the French to join. The colonists had to have a key victory in order for France to declare war on Great Britain and they needed to be assured the Americans would not throw down their arms and join the British putting them in a two way war with the colonists and the British. After several losses the war seemed hopeless, but after the battle of Saratoga, the rebellion would become a full blown war. 6.5 War in the North The British looked to strike quickly by attacking New York while much of the beginning of the American Revolution was fought in the New England and Middle colonies. The initial problems started in the New England colonies and they hoped to crush the rebellion from top to bottom. The British plan was to take New York, dividing the colonies in the middle 6.6 The Campaign in New York In mid-1776, Washington and his entire army moved to the area around New York City, hoping to meet and defeat the British army. The Continental troops were raw recruits, who panicked and ran in a series of battles in the area. By the fall, Washington and his men almost lost the entire war at the Battle of Brooklyn Heights. Washington and his men were out-flanked and surrounded by British troops. The British did not rush Washington and his army, but allowed him until the morning to surrender. Instead, Washington and his men would escape, leaving the camp fires going and ferrying his men under the protection of a heavy fog which materialized allowing the American army to slip away into New Jersey and then to Pennsylvania. It was a major defeat for the American army, and morale became extremely low. The Continental Army ran for their lives and loss after loss, the lack of money and equipment, and people talking about replacingWashington, all seemed lost. As the weather got colder, more and more American soldiers would leave when their contracts were up. Washington needed something to keep his men motivated. Along with Washington and his men was the author of the pamphlet Common Sense , Thomas Paine. Paine would write another narrative poem which would inspire the soldiers to keep going. The American Crisis which was a powerful poem, which Washington had his officers read it to their men.

©2018

Achieve

Page 72

of 194

Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online