Branches of Government
President
Commander in Chief• Specified in the Constitution• Head of the military forces of the US
Army, Navy / Marines, Air Force• Civilian leader
Will never wear a military uniform• Will salute the troops & expected to be
saluted by the troops• Secretary of Defense advises & helps• Pentagon – building that is HQ of military
Pentagon
George Washington
First Commander in Chief in US history Named by the Second Continental
Congress• Represented all 13 colonies in Philadelphia• They created the Continental Army
Fought the Revolutionary War Chosen because he had experience
from French & Indian War• War between England & France in 1754-
1763, in North America
Battles of Trenton & Princeton Surprise attack - Christmas night 1776 Washington’s crossing the Delaware
• State park today north of Philly British Hessians stationed in Trenton
• What were the Hessians? Successful attack on hung over troops Next week, another victory at Princeton British retreated into NYC
• British General Cornwallis
What is wrong with this picture?
Mort Küntsler, 2011
Campaign of 1777
Campaign – series of battles to win a specific target or goal
British Campaign to capture Philadelphia• Br. General William Howe• sail from NYC & up Chesapeake Bay to MD
Washington chose Brandywine Creek as spot to defend Philly
good location near “Mr. Chad's Ford”
Battle of Brandywine
Frenchmen, Marquis de Lafayette arrived at Brandywine to fight the English• Wanted to avenge his father’s death by
British British marched up the Baltimore Pike
from Kennett Square on Sept. 11, 1777 Howe split the army in two 1st skirmish at the Kennett Meeting
• American scouts & Hessians
Results of Brandywine… Washington doesn't realize that Howe's
army was split until too late Americans retreated through Chester Battle lasted from 4-7pm Why did Howe stop? 2 reasons… If he had chased Washington & captured
him very possible war would have ended at Brandywine- we would’ve lost!
Did lose Philly after loss at Germantown
Valley Forge Video
See video guide…
Battle of Yorktown
Washington vs. Cornwallis• French General Rochambeau too• US & Fr troops outnumbered Br 2:1
French Fleet cut off Br. Navy• Could not help British escape
Siege of Yorktown – almost a month Cornwallis surrendered Last battle of the Revolutionary War
Surrender
Oct 19, 1781 British troops hand over weapons Officers gave swords & flags Br. Fife & drum played “The World
Turned Upside Down” Cornwallis was “sick” and did not go Washington conducted ceremony
perfectly – we were a true Nation!
James Madison
4th President of the US• 1809-1817
War of 1812• US vs. Britain again
Causes: Britain attacked US ships• Provided guns to Indians in NW territories
Mostly a naval war• Battle of Lake Erie
Flagship Niagara
Battle of Bladensburg
Just outside Washington DC Madison personally led the troops
• 1st time sitting president did this British won battle & then took capital Dolley Madison saved items at the
White House – almost captured• Including famous painting of Washington
British Burned gov’t buildings• Retaliation for we burned York in Canada
Battle of Fort McHenry
Fort on island that protected Baltimore British navy bombarded fort for 25
hours Fort did not fall & British retreated from
Baltimore Francis Scott Key – watched from a ship
& saw US flag over fort in morning• What did he write?• “The Star Spangled Banner”
James K. Polk
11th President – 1845-1849 Campaign slogan was for War
• “Fifty-Four, Forty or Fight!”• Meaning fight to expand the country• Did not fight for Oregon, did for Texas
Mexican War – US vs. Mexico Causes: US annexed Texas – Meaning?
• Controversial war as Texas had slavery• Many opposed to adding another slave state
Mexican War
1846-1848 – US won Key generals picked by Polk
• Zachary Taylor – “Old Rough & Ready” Loved by his men
• Winfield Scott – “Old Fuss & Feathers” Served as General in US Army longer than
any other person in US History
Both were very successful in war Both will run for President afterwards Who will become President?
Abraham Lincoln
16th President 1861-1865 Civil War Causes: Slavery in the South
1. States Rights vs. National interests2. Preserve the Union – the nation
Results: North ultimately won• Outlasted the South – supplies, men, etc• More dead than any other US War• Much of South had to be rebuilt
Commanding Generals of War
Lincoln picked & briefly picked himself Winfield Scott – at beginning of war
• Too old, replaced quickly George B. McClellan – moved slowly
• The soldiers loved him – “Old Mac”• From this area
Henry Halleck – excellent at operations – not at winning battles
Ulysses S. Grant – “Unconditional Surrender” – ultimately won war
Generals to President
Several successful generals became President of the US later
7th - Andrew Jackson – War of 1812 9th - William Henry Harrison – War of
1812 12th - Zachary Taylor – Mexican War 18th - Ulysses S. Grant – Civil War 34th - Dwight D. Eisenhower – World
War II