The War for Independence

Learning Objective: Compare and Contrast the advantages and

disadvantages of the opposing sides

Foldable

• Read pages 144 – 146• List advantages and disadvantages of the

British and the Patriots

British Advantages

• At least 1 in 5 Americans were “Loyalists” or “Tories”

• Varied from region to region – strongest in Carolinas and Georgia; weakest in New England

• Hired German Hessians (mercenaries) to fight for them

African Americans in Battle

• British promised freedom for African Americans who joined them

• Washington suggested allowing free African American to enlist; Southern colonies feared revolt

• Need for soldiers had some colonies ignoring the ban on African American soldiers

• About 5,000 join the Patriot cause; Rhode Island has first all African-American regiment; by end of war South Carolina only state not to enlist African Americans

Why do African Americans join the Continental Army?

• Some believed in the Patriot cause• Chance to earn money• Some were enslaved and ran away to enlist

others had permission from owners to enlist

Continental Congress

• Served as the national government• Lacked power to raise money through taxes;

in some ways 13 separate wars being fought• Difficult to recruit soldiers and pay them• Depended on states to recruit soldiers; signed

up for a year; Washington asks for longer terms

• Lacked military commanders

Women of the Revolution

• Margaret Corbin – when her husband died in battle she took his place

• Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley – “Molly Pitcher” – carried water pitchers to the soldiers

• Deborah Sampson – disguised herself as a man and joined as a the Continental Army as a soldier

Summary• Why did the Hessians have less motivation than the

Patriots?• How were the militia forces different from the

Continental Army?• How did women help the war efforts of the

Continental Army?Activity suggestions: write a letter as a patriot to a

local newspaper; illustrate advantages/disadvantages of each army; show how women or African Americans helped in the war effort