History Chapter 6 Study Guide

What disease killed many people during the Revolution?

A smallpox epidemic made matters even worse for the people of the Revolution. The disease first spread among American soldiers in Quebec in 1775, and then along the east coast of the colonies. By 1779, it had reached New Orleans. Soon after, it spread to Native American groups all across North America. Smallpox deaths far outnumbered casualties during the American Revolution. By 1782, more than 130,000 whites and Indians had died from smallpox.

Why did most Native Americans side with the British?

Americans tried to keep the Native Americans neutral. They offered payments to groups willing to remain at peace. Still, most Native American groups sided with the Britain. They feared that an American victory would mean more settlers moving west or south onto Native American lands.

What did women do during the Revolution?

As men went to war, women took over many of their duties. On farms, women planted crops and cared for their livestock. In towns, women often ran their husbands' businesses. Some women even accompanied their husband to military camps. In battle, they would care for the wounded.

Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?

Before voting on Lee's resolution, Congress appointed a committee to draw up a statement stating the reasons for separation from Britain. Thomas Jefferson, a 33-year-old delegate from Virginia, was given the task of composing the declaration. Highly educated but shy, Jefferson spoke little in Congress. However, he was known for his graceful writing style.

What was the final battle of the Revolution, and how did the Americans win it?

By heading to Virginia, Cornwallis had made a fateful mistake. He moved his main army to the Yorktown peninsula, a tongue of Virginia land poking into Chesapeake Bay. There, he thought, the British fleet could reinforce his position. But at the end of August, the French fleet arrived off Yorktown and chased off British ships. At the same time, Washington rushed toward Virginia with American and French troops. Cornwallis found himself in a trap. American and French soldiers barred escape by land, while the French fleet blocked escape by sea. After three weeks, Cornwallis had no option but to surrender. On October 19, 1781, the Americans and French lined up in two facing columns. The British marched glumly between the two columns and tossed their weapons into a large pile on the ground. The victory at Yorktown was the last major battle of the war.

Who wrote "Common Sense," and what did it say about the idea of American independence?

In January 1776, a 50-page pamphlet titled Common Sense was published in Philadelphia. The pamphlet stimulated broad support for independence. The author, Thomas Paine, called King George III a "royal brute." Paine ridiculed the very idea of rule by kings. Americans, he said, would be far better off if they governed themselves.

How did the war go for the Americans in New York?

In June 1776, George Washington was preparing for an attack that would be made by Sir William Howe, the British commander in New York. Washington had already led his forces south from Boston to Brooklyn on Long Island. However, his army was no match for the British. Howe had about 34,000 well-trained troops and 10,000 sailors, as well as ships to ferry them ashore. Washington had fewer than 20,000 poorly trained troops and no navy. That summer saw a long series of battles and American retreats. In the Battle of Long Island, in August 1776, the British drove Washington's troops out of Brooklyn. The following month, Washington had to abandon New York City. The British pursued the Americans north to White Plains, then west and south across New Jersey.

Who was Benedict Arnold, and what was he noted for?

In addition to Cornwallis's forces, the British had troops under the command of an American traitor, Benedict Arnold. Early in the war, Arnold fought bravely for the Patriots. But Arnold felt Congress undervalued him. He plotted to turn West point, a key fort on the Hudson River in New York, over to the British. When the plot was discovered in September 1780, Arnold escaped. He and his Loyalist soldiers then staged a series of destructive raids in Virginia.

What were the four key reasons the Americans won the Revolution?

Many factors contributed to the American victory. They fell into four main groups: geographic advantages, help from abroad, patriotic spirit, and skilled leadership.

When did Washington cross the Delaware River, and why?

On Christmas night, 1776, Washington led 2,400 men across the Delaware River in small boats. Soldiers huddled in the boats as the spray from the river froze on their faces. So poorly supplied were the troops that some had no shoes. Once across the river, the soldiers marched in the swirling snow. To keep their feet from freezing, the soldiers bound the in rags. On the far bank, the men trudged several miles with Washington urging them on. Early on December 26, all of this would be for something. The americans has attacked Trenton from two sides, achieving complete surprise.

About how many African Americans served in the American Revolution?

On the American side, Washington at first refused to accept African American soldiers. But the British offer of freedom to enslaved people made Washington change his policy. By the end of the war, some 7,000 African Americans had served on the American side, including 2,000 in the navy. African Americans also served in northern militias and state armies. Most southern states, however, refused to accept African American soldiers. Slave owners feared slave revolts.

Who was John Paul Jones, and what did he do?

One of the most famous naval battles took place off the coast of England in 1779. The American ship Bonhomme Richard, under the command of John Paul Jones, fought side by side with the larger British warship Serapis. Cannon and musket fire ripped the sails of both ships to shreds and blasted holes in their wooden sides. Though his ship was in tatters, Jones refused to give up. "I have not yet begun to fight," he vowed. Finally, with dozens of soldiers dead on each side, the captain of the Serapis surrendered.

Who won the Battle of Saratoga, and why was this a turning point?

Since the British were dragging a large train of baggage carts through the woods, the Americans were rushing to block them. By September, the American commander in New York, General Horatio Gates, had 6,000 men ready to fight. At the village of Saratoga, New York, the Americans surrounded the British. After suffering haevy casualties, Burgoyne, the British commander, surrendered on October 17, 1777. The Battle of Saratoga marked a major turning point in the war. The American victory ended the British threat to New England and destroyed British hopes of an easy victory. It also lifted Patriot spirits at a time when Washington's army was suffering defeats. Perhaps most important, the Battle of Saratoga helped convince Europeans that the Americans had a chance of winning.

What major foreign country helped the Americans, and why?

Soon after Saratoga, France agreed to openly support American independence. France was eager to weaken Britain. Even before Saratoga, the French had secretly supplied money and arms to the Americans. But the French did not want to take an open stand until it seemed the Americans might win. The Battle of Saratoga convinced the French government to help the struggling young nation. In February 1778, France became the first nation to sign a treaty with the United States.

What did the privateers do?

The American navy had help from some 800 privateers, armed civilian ships, that harassed British shipping. Operating like pirate ships, privateers seized cargoes of rum from the West Indies, wool from England, and furs from Canada. Such attacks forced Britain to spend valuable resources protecting merchant ships.

What other country helped America, and why?

The Americans got unofficial help from Spain. At the time, Spain governed Louisiana, the land west of the Mississippi stretching as far north as Canada. The Spanish helped since they were eager to get back Florida, which they had lost to Britain at the end of the French and Indian War.

To what region of the country did much of the war move later in the war?

The British turned to the South late in 1778. Their aim was to capture some key cities, win over the local population, and then march north, acquiring one state after the another. At first, the plan seemed to work. British soldiers moved north from Florida to Georgia. In December 1778, the British took the city of Savannah. Within a month, they controlled most of Georgia. Moving on to South Carolina, the British captured the main port, Charles Town, and then the rest of the state. The British commander, Lord Charles Cornwallis, then carried the war into North Carolina. It looked as if the British might be unstoppable.

After the preamble, the Declaration of Independence has three main parts. What are they?

The Declaration is divided into three main sections. The first section states some general ideas about society, government, and natural rights. Jefferson's next task was to prove that the British government had, in fact, violated the rights of the colonists. So the next section details a long list of specific grievances against King George III of England. After stating the basic principle that the people have a right to abolish an unjust government and showing that the king has violated the rights of the colonists, the Declaration reaches a logical conclusion that dissolves the bonds.

How did the Declaration of Independence change the nature of the Revolution?

The Declaration of Independence changed the nature of the Revolution. No longer were the Patriots fighting for fairer treatment from Britain. Now, they were fighting to create a new nation. There was no turning back.

What were the impacts, or results, of the American Revolution?

The immediate effect of the American Revolution was to create a new nation of 13 independent states, linked by ties of custom and history. The long-term effects are still being felt today. The Declaration of Independence cemented ideas like equality and liberty in the American mind. Over time, those concepts have gained broader meanings. The impact of American independence reached far beyond the borders of the infant nation. In 1789, French citizens rebelled. Leaders of the French Revolution, including Lafayette, looked to the American example. They issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, modeled in part on the Declaration of Independence. The American Revolution also inspired later independence movements in Latin America.

What were guerrilla tactics, and who used them?

To slow the British advance, Americans used guerilla tactics. Guerillas are fighters who work in small bands to make hit-and-run attacks. In South Carolina, Francis Marion led his men silently through the swamps. They attacked without warning, then escaped. Marion's guerrilla attacks were so efficient that he won the nickname the Swamp Fox. Other bands of guerrillas were also active.

What was it like at Valley Forge?

Washington's Continental army suffered through the cruel winter of 1777-1778 in a hastily built camp at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. The 11,000 Continental soldiers were not sufficiently fed, clothed, or housed. Many lacked socks, shoes, and even trousers. Throughout the winter, they shivered in drafty huts. At any one time, about one soldier in four was sick with chills, fever, or worse. Because food was so scarce, the soldiers mainly ate thin soup and dry bread patties. Times sure were bad at Valley Forge.

When was the Declaration of Independence approved by the Continental Congress?

When Congress met to debate Lee's resolution, it still was not certain that they would declare independence. But on July 4, 1776, Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. Since then, Americans have celebrated July 4th as Independence Day.