Chapter 6
The war in the north: Some people thought that the rebels stood a chance of defeating the British; Great Britain had more people and more money with which to fight. Indians were still against the white settlement so they were not supportive only a few were. Prime Minister North got a large invasion force and selected General. William Howe as leader; North ordered Howe to capture New York City and control of the Hudson River in order to get the radical Patriots alone in New England from the other colonies. The British troops landed in New York 1776 while continental congress was declaring independence.
Armies and Strategies: Howes strategies worked by making the opponent surrender rather than destroying them. General Washington’s strategy was to draw the British away from the seacoast, extending their lines of supply and draining morale in a war of attrition. Most of the continental army was low class and they were not well armed.
Victory at Saratoga: This is also known as the turning point. In order to finance this battle the British were increasing land tax. Their main goal was to isolate New England. Howe had a different plan he wanted to attack Philadelphia and end the rebellion with one victory. General Burgoyne’s troops were forced to surrender to General Horatio Gates and his men at Saratoga, New York.
Social and financial Perils: After the victory at Saratoga difficulties included a British naval blockade that cut supplies of European manufactures, the occupation of Boston and other major cities, and unemployment for urban and rural workers. The fighting led to many deaths in the armies and in civilians. Everything led to a finical crisis; this caused them to print out paper money that was worth less. They borrowed gold from France and farmers refused to sell their crops for less. The continental army suffered in the winter of 1777-1778 due to