ch6sec4

Fighting for Liberty on Many Fronts: 

Fighting for Liberty on Many Fronts Ch. 6 Section 4 pp. 186-189

Objectives: 

Objectives Describe the role of women in the war. List the choices African Americans had during the American Revolution. Explain how the war was fought on the frontier and at sea.

Setting the Scene: 

Setting the Scene While white colonists in Charleston protested the Stamp Act, they shouted, “Liberty.” Later, enslaved Africans marched in their own parade, also shouting, “Liberty!” Americans worked for liberty on many fronts. Women, free blacks and enslaved Africans took part.

Primary Source: 

Primary Source This is a quote made by a slave, published in The Massachusetts Spy, February 10, 1774 “You [white colonists] are taxed without your consent, because you are not represented in parliament. I grant that [is] a grievance…[But] pray, sir,…are not your hearts also hard, when you hold [Africans] in slavery who are entitled to liberty by the law of nature, equal as to yourselves?”

Women Take Part in the War: 

Women Take Part in the War Had additional work at home Some planted, harvested crops Others made shoes, wove cloth for blankets, uniforms Handy Betsy the Blacksmith - known for making cannons and guns for the army.

Women Take Part in the War Cont’d: 

Women Take Part in the War Cont’d Many women joined their husbands at the front. Cared for the wounded Washed clothes Cooked Martha Washington joined her husband as often as possible

New Attitudes: 

New Attitudes Women’s participation in the war encouraged different thinking about women’s rights Women became more confident, willing to speak out Most men in Congress did not agree with equal treatment

African Americans Face Hard Choices: 

African Americans Face Hard Choices By 1776, more than one-half a million African Americans lived in colonies At first, Continental Congress refused to let African Americans join army (free or enslaved) Doubted loyalty of armed African Americans

African Americans Face Hard Choices: 

African Americans Face Hard Choices British offered freedom to some male slaves serving the king Washington - concerned this would increase numbers in British Army Washington changed his policy; asked Congress to allow free African Americans to enlist.

Joining the Fight: 

Joining the Fight 5,000 African Americans from all colonies (except South Carolina) served in the Army 2,000 joined the navy Navy allowed African Americans to join from the start.

Joining the Fight Cont’d: 

Joining the Fight Cont’d At least 9 African Americans were minute men fighting at Lexington and Concord Prince Estabrook, one of them, was wounded Peter Salem and Salem Poor fought at Bunker Hill

Joining the Fight Cont’d: 

Joining the Fight Cont’d Some African Americans joined special regiments Others served with whites as drummers, fifers, spies, and guides Saul Matthews and James Armistead were spies Armistead gained information that contributed to the American victory at Yorktown.

Difficult Choices: 

Difficult Choices African Americans faced difficult choices. If they joined the Patriots, British might capture and sell them If they fled the British to gain freedom, they might be hanged by angry Patriots.

Hoping for Freedom: 

Hoping for Freedom Many slaves left their masters Some hoped for freedom by following British troops through the Carolinas Black Patriots hoped the Revolution would end slavery Declaration said all men were equal Quakers spoke out against slavery

Hoping for Freedom: 

Hoping for Freedom By 1770s slavery on the decline in the northern colonies Several states moved to make slavery illegal (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania) Other colonies debated the slavery issue

War on the Western Front: 

War on the Western Front Both Americans and British wanted supported of Indian tribes British were more successful. Patriots fought with many Indians, including Cherokee, Mohawks, and Iroquois Joseph Brant, a Mohawk leader, joined Loyalists in raiding settlements in New York, Pennsylvania.

Victory at Vincennes: 

Victory at Vincennes George Rogers Clark led Virginia frontier fighters against British in Ohio Valley. Miami Indians helped captured British forts Next led a surprise attack on Fort Vincennes, won in February 1779

Spanish Aid: 

Spanish Aid Help also given in southwestern frontier from New Spain Bernardo de Galvez (governor of Spanish Louisiana) favored Patriots Supplied medicine, cloth, muskets, and gunpowder Later seized forts along the Mississippi Galveston, Texas, named for him

Fighting at Sea: 

Fighting at Sea Powerful British Navy usually unstoppable Occasional American victory Captain John Paul Jones - captured British warship Serapis in September 1779 in the North Sea (located near Britain)