Chapter 6 Lesson 2 Notes
“The War Continues”
Guiding Questions: How did America gain allies?
GAINING ALLIES
Ø By late 1777, Ben Franklin had been in France for over a year trying to get French support.
Ø After the victory at Saratoga, France and other nations realized that the Americans might actually win the war.
Ø February 1778, France declared war on Britain and sent money, equipment, and troops to aid the Americans.
Ø Spain also decided to help the Americans.
ü Spain declared war on Britain in 1779
ü They fought the British in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida
WINTER AT VALLEY FORGE
Ø 1778: news of the French-American alliance did not reach the United States until the spring.
Ø The British and General Howe spent the winter of 1778 in Philadelphia
Ø Meanwhile, Washington set up camp for the winter at Valley Forge (about 20 miles west of Philadelphia)
ü At Valley Forge, Washington and his troops suffered through a terrible winter
ü They lacked food, clothes, shelter, and medicine
ü Snowstorms and bad roads slowed the delivery of supplies
ü The army built huts and gathered supplies from the countryside
ü Martha Washington endured the winter along with the army. She cared for the sick and made clothes
ü Many men lacked blankets, shoes, and shirts
ü The Continental Army seemed to be on the brink of falling apart
§ Many soldiers became sick and died
§ Other men deserted (left without permission)
FOREIGNERS HELP ON THE BATTLEFIELD
Ø Marquis de Lafayette: came from France in 1777 as a 19 year old volunteer
ü He agreed with the ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence
ü Offered his services to Washington and served without pay
ü Became a trusted aide to Washington
Ø Friedrich von Steuben: officer in the Prussian army
ü Helped train the Patriot troops at Valley Forge
ü Made the Continental Army into a more effective fighting force
LIFE ON THE HOME FRONT
Ø The war changed everyone’s lives, not just the soldiers.
Ø Women had to run the farm or business in the absence of husbands.
Ø Problems in the economy:
ü Getting money to pay for the war was a challenge
ü The Continental Congress did not have the power to raise money through taxes
ü Money received from the states and foreign countries was not enough
ü To solve the problem, Congress and states simply printed hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of paper money
§ This paper money quickly lost its value
§ The amount of bills was greater than the supply of gold or silver backing them
§ This led to inflation---it took more and more money to buy the same amount of goods
ü Congress stopped printing paper money because no one would use it
ü This left the Americans with no way to finance the fight for independence
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