The War Moves West and South - Chapter 6 Section 3 - War in the West

Aug 26, 2026

War in the West and South traces how the Revolutionary War widened across regions and oceans, shaping alliances and tactics. Native Americans became involved on both sides, with many backing the British through raids. George Rogers Clark led a rapid march to seize key posts like Kaskaskia and Vincennes, while British naval blockades disrupted American supply lines until new warships and privateering efforts responded. In the South, shifting strategy, defeats and leadership changes, guerilla warfare under Francis Marion, and Spanish support under Bernardo de Galvez strengthened Patriot momentum, culminating in retreat and the advance toward Yorktown.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time14 min

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The War Moves West and South

CHAPTER 6 SECTION 3

War in the West

Glory at Sea

John Paul Jones

Struggles in the South

Guerilla Warfare

Help From Spain

Patriot Victories

British Retreat

The War Moves West and South CHAPTER 6 SECTION 3 War in the West ► The Native Americans became entangled in the Revolutionary War. They fought in many of the battles in the West. ► Some fought for the Patriots while more fought for the British. They seemed like less of a threat. ► Many Native Americans worked with the British and led raids against American villages. ► George Rogers Clark vowed to end British attacks in the west. ► He set out with 175 soldiers and marched 120 miles to seize the British post Kaskaskia. They then went and captured Vincennes. ► The British fought to get it back but Clark fought to keep it. ► Thanks to Clark’s victory, it strengthened the American position in the West Glory at Sea ► While battles were happening in the West, they were also happening at sea . ► The powerful British navy formed a blockade around the American harbors, which caused American ships and allied ships unable to enter or leave. This also made it to where they could not receive supplies. ► To break the blockade, Congress ordered to build 13 new warships. ► Only 2 of these ships actually made it out to sea . The rest were quickly captured by the British. ► Congress then authorized the use of 2000 ships that were privateered-run by private merchants. ► This made it easier to find crews and were able to capture more British crews than the American Navy. John Paul Jones ► An American naval officer, John Paul Jones, raided many British ports. ► In September of 1779, his ship the Bonhomme Richard met the British ship Serapis. ► The two ships fought for hours and the British captain asked if John Paul Jones was ready to surrender. His answer was“I have not yet begun to fight.” ► The Serapis ended up surrendering but Paul’s ship the Bonhomme Richard sank not long after. ► The victory made John Paul Jones a naval hero to the American Patriots. Struggles in the South ► In the early years of the war, the Patriots won many battles all throughout the South. ► The British realized that bringing the American colonies back into the British empire would not be easy. ► They changed their strategy and concentrating their efforts in the South where there were many Loyalists. ► This strategy worked in the beginning. ► In 1778, General Clinton sent 3500 troops to take Savannah, GA. ► In 1780, Clinton himself went down to attack Charles Town, South Carolina. ► The British won and took thousands of prisoners. This was the worst defeat for the Patriots. ► General Cornwallis was left in charge of the South and met General Horatio Gates in Camden, SC in battle. ► The British won but Cornwallis realized he could not control the land they conquered. Guerilla Warfare ► The British did not get as much support as expected from the Loyalists. ► As the British troops moved through the countryside, they would be attacked by small bands of Patriot soldiers. ► They would attack suddenly, strike, then disappear quickly ► This is called Guerrilla Warfare and caught the British extremely off guard. ► Francis Marion operated the swamps of Eastern South Carolina. ► He was a guerrilla leader for the Patriots. He was also known as the“Swamp Fox” ► He was smart and quick enough to where one British colonel grumbled“The devil himself” could not catch Marion. Help From Spain ► Bernardo de Galvez became governor of Louisiana for Spain. ► He supported the Patriots cause and loaned them thousands of dollars for supplies and also opened the port of New Orleans to free trade. ► He shipped supplies and ammo up to American troops in the Northwest territory. ► In 1779, Spain declared war on Britain. ► Galvez raised an army of Spanish soldiers with Creoles, Native Americans, and African Americans. They marched on British posts along the Mississippi. ► They captured Baton Rouge, Natchez, Mobile, and Pensacola. ► These victories helped open supply lines for military goods from Spain, Franc

FAQs

How did Native Americans become involved in the Revolutionary War in the West?

Many became entangled in battles across the West. Some fought for the Patriots, while more supported the British, including leading raids against American villages.

What was the impact of the British navy blockade, and how did the colonies respond?

The blockade formed around American harbors prevented ships and allies from entering or leaving, cutting off supplies. Congress ordered new warships and later authorized privateering with thousands of ships to capture more British crews and operate more effectively.

Why did guerilla warfare become significant in the Southern campaigns?

British troops lacked expected support from loyalists and faced sudden attacks by small Patriot bands. Francis Marion’s operations in the Eastern South Carolina swamps earned him the name “Swamp Fox” and helped disrupt British control.

Aug 26, 2026

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