Lexington and Concord Farmers and townspeople had begun gathering weapons and ammo Train as “Minutemen” Can only respond to British aggression

Lexington and Concord British Commander in Boston is General Thomas Gage He believed that his army was too small to do anything significant He receives orders to arrest both Samuel Adams and John Hancock, and that they are in Lexington, MA He is also told that there is a stash of weapons in Concord, MA

Lexington and Concord Gage wants to avoid as much trouble and bloodshed as possible Decides to send 1,000 troops out of Boston on the evening of April 18th, 1775 This is where the committees of correspondence come into play

Lexington and Concord The Midnight Riders Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott “The Regulars are coming”

Lexington and Concord When the British arrive at Lexington there are roughly 70 minutemen waiting for them Quick fight, nothing that seems real significant “Shot heard around the world” First Battle of the American Revolution British will then march to Concord, but they don’t find any weapons Set fire to the town

Lexington and Concord Minutemen have lined the roadways all the way back to Boston They will use guerilla warfare tactics on the British Chase British all the way back to Boston Lexington was basically a trap to set up the events at Concord

Fort Ticonderoga Located on Lake Champlain in northeastern New York a key point of access to both Canada and the Hudson River Valley Benedict Arnold of Massachusetts joined Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys

Fort Ticonderoga Surprise Attack The Colonists easily defeat the sleeping British garrison. first American victory of the Revolutionary War It would give the Continental Army much needed artillery

Bunker Hill Most of the fighting took place at Breed’s Hill Hills oversees Boston A hard fought battle 228 British killed, 828 wounded Colonists much less Colonists run out of ammo and are forced to retreat. A morale victory for the colonists

Battle of New York Early 1776, Parliament authorized an army of 55,000 troops sent to America Includes 30,000 Hessians August, 1776, 32,000 troops appear off the coast of New York City Under the command of Admiral Richard Howe Offers to pardon the rebels if they lay down their weapons and return to their farms Washington refuses

New York City in Flames (1776) Colonial Troops 20,000 ill-trained militia Led by Washington Easily defeated Will be reduced to 5,000 troops

Battle of New York GW’s forces have to retreat across the Hudson in to NJ all the way across NJ finally settling down in PA The British will give chase before settling in Central NJ for the fall and winter months British will hold NYC until the end of the war American Morale, extremely low

Battle of Trenton GW badly needs a victory Surprise Attack enlistments are almost up. Surprise Attack GW crosses the Delaware River Christmas Night through a fierce storm Marched his troops (2,400) 9 miles through sleet and snow to ambush a British controlled fort at Trenton

WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE FOR TRENTON

Battle of Trenton Surprise Attack GW and his men stormed the fort in the early morning hours Killed 30, Captured 918 Hessian soldiers, took 4 cannons, weapons and food. First major colonial victory of the American Revolution

Battle of Trenton Referred to as the “ten crucial days”…Dec. 25th to Jan. 3rd Raised the morale of the American troops as well as the country Led to soldiers re-enlisting and future enlistments

Surrender at Trenton

Battle of Princeton Washington wins another surprise attack at Princeton 8 days after Trenton The victories at Trenton and Princeton are crucial to the Colonial war effort

Battle of Princeton GW can’t keep either fort the brief victories will be monumentally important for the Americans GW managed to keep his main army intact the British were no closer to total victory than at the start of the year After Princeton, GW will march his troops to Morristown for the rest of the winter

War Strategy The Americans The British Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war  you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down] 1777, separate and control New England. Break the colonies in half by getting between the North and South.

Saratoga (Fall 1777) “Gentleman” John Burgoyne- British General Devises a complex strategy to isolate New England from the rest of the colonies Calls for a multiple-front assault throughout northern and central NY Burgoyne from Canada, Barry St. Ledger from Western NY, Howe from NYC All three units would meet up in Albany Plan looks fantastic on paper

Saratoga (Fall 1777) General Horatio Gates surrounds the British with the help of Benedict Arnold British defeat stopped them from cutting off completely New England from the rest of the country and ending the war. British lacked knowledge of geography and failed at communications. Oct. 1777, British General, John Burgoyne was surrounded by US General Horatio Gates and forced to surrender 6,000 British troops. Led to a military alliance with France providing soldiers, naval fleet and $. (Franco-American alliance, 1778)

Saratoga (Fall 1777) Saratoga is the turning point Greatly alters the course of the war First time the Americans will defeat a major British regiment They won without GW having to be there The loss will drastically alter British war strategy

Surrender at Saratoga

Valley Forge (Winter 1777-1778) The British will settle down comfortably for the winter in Philadelphia The Americans will have to brave it in the extreme conditions of Valley Forge 20 miles to the west of the British. Many American soldiers lack provisions very tough to get resources in the given economic climate Harsh conditions and climate Americans will lose 20% of their soldiers as a result of exposure to the elements Washington’s greatest challenge at Valley Forge was keeping the Continental Army together. Many men deserted and some officers resigned. Two important additions to the military: Marquis de Lafayette and Friedrich von Steuben

Britain’s Southern Strategy

Britain's Southern Strategy Britain thought that there were more Loyalists in the South. Southern resources were more valuable/worth preserving. The British win a number of small victories, but cannot pacify the countryside Good US General: Nathanial Greene

Map-yorktown Battle of Yorktown British General Charles Cornwallis wanted to winter his troops in the South believing the war would be won in the Spring….. Yorktown was chosen because it provided easy access to be reinforced and re-supplied General Washington learned of the British decision to winter their main troops in Yorktown.

15,000 American and French troops surrounded 8,000 British troops…… Battle of Yorktown Strategy included the use of the French navy, French troops and American troops. French navy under the direction of Admiral de Grasse, placed a blockade around the Chesapeake Bay. 15,000 American and French troops surrounded 8,000 British troops…… General Cornwallis is trapped and is forced to his surrender his troops to Washington Brings war to an end

Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown “The World Turned Upside Down!” Painted by John Trumbull, 1797

Why did the British Lose? Controlled cities but not countryside Generals made key mistakes Communication Lack of respect US had the will to fight Alliances with France, Spain and the Netherlands

Treaty of Paris The Patriot victory at Yorktown convinced the British that the war was too costly March 1781, King George appoints three new ministers who are prepared to give the colonies their independence. Ben Franklin, John Adams and John Jay represent the Colonies in peace talks Talks begin in April 1782, six months later English accept a preliminary agreement Treaty is ratified by Congress a year later.

Treaty of Paris America is granted independence America's borders Great Lakes in the North Florida in the South the Mississippi River on the West Loyalists would not be persecuted and repaid.

United States after the Revolutionary War Treaty of Paris, 1783 Great Britain recognized the independence of the United States US acquired land from the Great Lakes to Florida and Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River. British were to remove troops and forts from US Land. US was to pay Loyalists for property. USA United States after the Revolutionary War British Forts