Trials of War
How many people was the Continental Army promised and how many did they actually get?
Promised 75k
Never reached a third of that
What caused France to want an alliance with the Americans?
The Americans winning the battle of Saratoga
What did the Second Continental Congress urge Americans to do in May of 1776?
They urged the Americans to reject royal authority and establish republican governments
Why were the Coercive Acts put in place?
They were to control the colonists and to raise money from the French and Indian war
What was the Philipsburg Proclaimation
Any slave that left their owner to help the British cause would be given protection, freedom, and land
What were some advantages that the British had over the Americans?
Most powerful navy in the world
German (Hessian) mercenaries
Support of thousands of American Loyalists
Even with the Treaty of Paris, What were the French and the Spanish still hoping to gain out of the war with Britain?
Islands in the West Indies (Sugar islands)
What kind of legislature did the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 create?
Unicameral legislature with complete power.
Why were Americans at a disadvantage in the North?
They had no military and pretty much no way to get money for the war effort.
What did the victory at Saratoga gain Americans?
They captured 5000 British troops and were able to gain an alliance with France.
What did the Paris treaty grant Americans from the French?
Fishing rights in Nova Scotia
Etc.
What was the British's plan to attack Saratoga and why did it fail?
A 3 pronged attack that converged on Albany where General John Burgoyne would lead troops South from Quebec, Colonel Bary St. Leger would attack from the West, and General William Howe would lead troops from New York.
It failed because Howe decided to attack from Philadelphia instead of New York.
Why did many Minutemen refuse to take up arms in Virginia
They claimed "the Rich wanted Poor to fight for them"
What was different about General Howe compared to other British generals and his views on the war?
Howe opposed the Coercive Acts and hoped for political compromise instead of war.
Why was retreating to Valley Forge a bad idea for Washington's army?
Disease
Malnutrition
Cold/Hypothermia
What did the French hope to do when they allied with the Americans
They Hoped to seize all of Britain's sugar islands.
Name some of the Coercive Acts and what they enacted.
Sugar Act: Taxed sugar that was "illegally imported"
Currency Act: Disallowed the printing of money in the colonies
Stamp Act: Imposed a stamp duty on newspapers and other legal documents
Townshend Act: Taxes imports on paper, glass, tea, lead, and paint
Quartering Act: Forced colonist to provide shelter and food for British soldiers
Declaritory Act: Repeal of the Stamp Act