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Main Idea:
As the Revolutionary War continued, the Americans received support from European countries.
Pages 172-176
October 1777 Am. Win Battle of Saratoga
Winter 1777-1778 Patriot troops suffer at Valley Forge
Feb 1778 France and U.S. form an alliance.
1779 Spain declares war on Britain
Desert:Leaving without permission
Inflation:It taking more & more money to buy the same amount of goods.
European nations helped the American cause. France and Spain were at war with the British in Europe and hated the British.
They realized that the Americans had a chance to win their war, so they offered assistance.
France at first secretly gave $$$$ to help the American war effort and then publicly announced its support. In February 1778, the French and Americans worked out a trade agreement and an alliance. France declared war on British and gave the Americans money, equipment, and troops to fight the British.
Spain did not recognize America’s independence until after the Revolution.
Spain & the Netherlands were at war with Britain
The Spanish governor of Louisiana, Bernardo de Galvez, helped the war effort. He forced troops from Baton Rouge and Natchez. He captured 2 British forts in 1780 and 1781
Washington’s troops spent a hard winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The army lacked enough food, clothing, & shelter.
Some men deserted; others resigned. . Yet the Continental Army survived. In April news of Frances alliances cheered them.
A French noble man, Marquis de Lafayette, spent the winter at Valley Forge. He offered his services and became one of Washington’s trusted aids.
He was enthusiastic with the ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
Other Europeans also volunteered to help.Casimir Pulaski from Poland died fighting for the Continental Army In 1780.
Friedrich von Steuben from Germany taught military discipline to Washington’s troops.
Juan de Miralles from Spain lent money, & became friends with Patriot leaders. He convinced Cuba, Spain, & Mexico to send financial aid to the colonies.
Getting money to finance the war was difficult. To pay for the war, Congress and the states printed hundreds of millions of dollars of paper money. Soldiers had to be paid & supplies bought. Paper quickly lost its value and in turn lead to inflation. Congress stopped issuing paper money because no one would use it.
How was money an issue
during the Revolution?
The Continental Congress had no power to raise money through taxes. The cost of the war was growing, and America needed money to pay for it. So Congress issued paper money to pay for expensesBecause there were so many bills in circulation, the paper money lost its value. The number of bills was greater than the supply of gold and silver used to back the money. This lead to inflation. America had no other way to finance the cost of the war, however.
The issue of slavery was questioned, especially in light of the ideals of freedom for which people went to war. African Americans fought as soldiers in the Revolutionary War.
They hoped that they would soon see the day when slavery would be abolished.
Women often took over the duties of men while the men were in the military. Some women questioned their place in society, and some fought for women’s interests.
The Loyalists in the colonies faced hard times. Those who actively helped the British by spying & informing on the Patriots could be arrested and tried as traitors. Some were victims of mob violence or ignored by their neighbors. Many fled to Britain, to Spanish-owned Florida, or to the Frontier.
Discussion questionWhat did governor William Livingston of New Jersey in 1778 mean when he said That slavery was “utterly inconsistent with the principles of Christianity and humanity?”
Slavery was inhuman as well as why slavery went against the ideals espoused in Christianity. Slavery took away a person’s rights and freedoms, and thus went against the ideals for which the colonies fought against Britain. In fact, the governor felt so strongly that he asked the New Jersey legislature to free all enslaved people in the state.
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