Battles of the American Revolution 1775 - 1783

The British Armies British Army most powerful in world Well-equipped with weapons Highly trained and disciplined for war on land and sea Carried three days provisions British gear weighed about 100 pounds

British Military Leaders General Charles Cornwallis General John Burgoyne Benedict Arnold William Howe All considered America one of the worst places to serve

The American Army Had fewer weapons, but they had better guns, and were excellent shots. They were quicker, and had great strength and endurance. Revolutionary Army knew lay of the land Used weapons appropriate for landscape Wore pieces of different uniforms

American Military Leaders George Washington: Commander of Americans Forces Nathanael Greene: Top Strategist Henry Knox: Artillery Expert Benedict Arnold: Commander under Washington

Other Key People France, Spain, Germany and Poland Hessian mercenaries from Germany The Marquis de Lafayette: Frenchman who supported the American cause Huge percentage of American gunpowder came from France Bernardo De Galvez: Spanish lord in Mexico Baron Friedrich von Steuben: German military commander who helped train American troops Nathan Hale: American Spy “ I regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

Major Battles Lexington & Concord Fort Ticonderoga Bunker Hill Long Island Trenton Saratoga Yorktown

Battles of Lexington & Concord Troops were beginning to organize – Minutemen were colonists who had no military training who were ready and willing to fight at any minute Parliament declared MA to be in a state of rebellion April 18, 1775 British General Gage sent 700 soldiers to seize a supply of weapons the Patriots were storing in Concord On the way they were supposed to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock in Lexington Paul Revere, Dr. Samuel Prescott, and William Dawes rode ahead to warn the Minutemen that the British were coming Revere reached Lexington, but he and Dawes were captured on their way to Concord - Prescott made it

The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga 1775 Key strategic location in New York - overlooking the major route through the Hudson River Valley from the Canadian border The Fort was not seen as very important by the British since the end of the French and Indian War The British had only 2 officers and 46 men guarding it, and there were also 25 women and children living there. The Americans saw the Fort as valuable because it stored heavy artillery. Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys found only 1 guard on duty who ran away when his musket wouldn’t fire. The rest of the British soldiers were captured in their beds asleep. Not a single shot was fired and no one was hurt during the capture.

Battle of Bunker Hill 1775 Fun Fact: Actually took place on Breed’s Hill in Boston Was the first major fight between the British and the colonist troops Minutemen dug in at the top if the hill and were ordered not to shoot until they saw “the whites of their eyes” Minutemen stopped the British from advancing 2 times but ran out of ammunition and the British took the hill British won the battle, but they lost nearly half of their men (over 1000 casualties) The colonists lost about 400 men

Battle of Long Island 1776 New York was the focal point for communications between the northern and southern colonies. Washington marched his troops from Boston to New York. On August 22, 1776 the British landed on Long Island. British General William Howe defeated General Charles Lee at the Battle of Long Island. George Washington had lost almost a quarter of his entire command. Washington’s army escaped at night while the British slept.

Battle of Trenton 1776 Was a surprise attack by General Washington the day after Christmas Washington crossed the Delaware River in NJ Approximately 1000 German soldiers fighting for the British were captured Washington’s brilliant strategy led to a great American victory.

Battle of Saratoga 1777 The turning point of the war The biggest American victory at the time Approximately 5,000 British surrender to Washington After the American victory France changed its policies. Feb. 1778 France and America formed an alliance France declared war on Britain the next month Spain declared war in 1779 Bernardo de Galvez chased British troops out of Louisiana and Florida (owned by Spain)

Valley Forge 1777-1778 Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, saw the Americans in a battle not against the British but rather against nature. The winter of 1777-1778 was a time for Americans to regroup, re-supply, and train. The American Army had run out of food and clothing, and Washington had to appeal to Congress for help because supplies were quickly used up at Valley Forge. Baron von Steuban joined Washington as an aide. The bitter cold added to the deaths of many exhausted, wounded, maimed, malnourished, and dispirited soldiers. The American Army reached a low point during this time. Stayed until mid June 1778

“The army which has been surprisingly healthy hitherto, now begins to grow sickly…I am sick—discontented—and out of humor.” —Albigence Waldo (1777)

Battle of Yorktown 1781 French blockade aided this final battle Escape for the British was impossible because they were pinned in by American and French Naval fleets British General Cornwallis faced American forces approximately twice his size Approximately 8,700 British troops surrendered General Benjamin Lincoln accepted the surrender sword at Yorktown, VA British bands played “The World has Turned Upside Down”

Treaty of Paris 1783 Signed on Sept. 3, 1783 in Paris by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. Officially ended Revolutionary War Terms: Britain recognized the independent nation of the United States of America. Britain agreed to remove all of its troops from the new nation. Set new borders for the United States The United States agreed to allow British troops still in America to leave and also agreed to pay all existing debts owed to Great Britain. The United States also agreed not to persecute loyalists still in America and allow those that left America to return.

Effects of the American Revolution 13 colonies become independent nation, the United States of America Britain gave the U.S. the land east of the Mississippi River, north to Canada, and south to the border of Florida All British control of America trade was lifted A new government with elected representatives was formed under the Articles of Confederation The successful revolution encouraged other people, especially the French, to overthrow their governments