Battles & Leaders of the American Revolution

Samuel Adams Revolutionary leader in Boston. Helped to form the protest group known as the Sons of Liberty, who used propaganda, boycotts and violence to push the “patriot” cause.

Patrick Henry One of the few early patriots who lived in the southern colonies (Virginia). His oratory skills helped the cause of all patriots.

LEXINGTON Lexington and Concord(Apr. 1775) – opening shots of the war. The minutemen lost at Lexington, but they harassed the Redcoats all the way back to Boston; there were over 200 British casualties. The first shots fired between the “redcoats” and the “minutemen.” It was a “SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD!!”

His pamphlet “Common Sense” caused many neutrals to become patriots. Thomas Paine His pamphlet “Common Sense” caused many neutrals to become patriots.

DON’T FIRE TILL YOU SEE THE WHITES OF THEIR EYES!! Bunker Hill June 17, 1775 Before Washington was made General of the Continental Army, the patriots battled the Redcoats in the city of Boston. The minutemen fought very well, but were outnumbered. This battle ended any real hope of reconciliation. DON’T FIRE TILL YOU SEE THE WHITES OF THEIR EYES!!

George Washington Famous Virginian - General of the Continental Army. His main goal was to keep his army intact. He was not afraid of a fight nor was he afraid to run from a fight. He used the tactic of retreat when facing superior numbers.

Thomas Jefferson Famous Virginian who authored the Declaration of Independence. He used the words of John Locke and Thomas Paine when writing the Declaration.

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government . . . He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:  For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury: For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

Trenton George Washington crossed the Delaware River to attack the German mercenaries fighting for the British in Trenton, New Jersey in December 25, 1776. The victory gave the colonists renewed hope! Washington, however, had his troops retreat to Valley Forge.

Valley Forge From December 1776 to June 1778, Gen. George Washington led the Continental Army through severe hardship during its encampment at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. but they learn to become soldiers!

Saratoga Continental Army WINS!!! This is the turning pointin the war!! Why, because after this battle, the French agree to become an ally for the United States. Thank you Ben Franklin! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txeNC-zG34w

Ben Franklin Revolutionary leader in Philadelphia. Famous for a lot of great accomplishments. But in the American Revolution it was his diplomatic skills that were the most important. As a US diplomat (Ambassador) He was able to convince the French to become America’s ally.

Yorktown

YORKTOWN! Besieged by Gen. George Washington army and trapped by a French Naval force offshore, British general Charles Cornwallis was forced to surrender. This was the decisive battle that won the war for the United States. http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/american-revolution-history/videos/washington-at-yorktown

Why the Colonists Won and England Lost Great Britain had one of the best Armies and one of the best Navies in the World. The United States had one of the worst armies and practically no Navy. How did the thirteen colonies defeat a super power like Great Britain?

General Washington While not the most experienced leader available, the Continental Congress placed Washington in charge of the Continental Army in 1775. Washington realized that his most important job was not winning battles at first, but keeping his army together. That meant retreating whenever outnumbered during the early part of the war.

France becomes an Ally. After the colonists won the Battle of Saratoga, France realized it could be on the winning side of a war against it’s arch enemy. Thanks to Ben Franklin, France became an American ally after the American victory at Saratoga. Both the French Army and Navy were instrumental in helping Washington’s victory at Yorktown.

The War at Home As the war dragged on, it became less and less popular in Great Britain. Soon many were asking the King to “just let the 13 Colonies go.” After, losing at Yorktown, Great Britain gave up. The 1783 Treaty of Paris ended the war. The War was fought in the thirteen colonies. Therefore Americans had the advantages of fighting a defensive war and knowing the lay of the land. Great Britain had to send its troops and supplies over 3000 miles to get to their destination.