the American Revolution Turning Points

Battle of Lexington/ Concord 1st military engagements of the Revolution; April 19, 1775 An illegal Patriot shadow government known as the Massachusetts Provincial Congress was formed after Boston Tea Party As a result about 700 British soldiers in Boston, were given orders to capture and destroy rebel military supplies that were reportedly stored by the Massachusetts militia at Concord Colonists found out the British plans on the night before the battle and were able to warn the area militias of the enemy movement (Story of Paul Revere)

Battle of Lexington/ Concord The first shots were fired at Lexington. The militia were outnumbered and fell back, and the British proceeded on to Concord, where they searched for the supplies. At the North Bridge in Concord, approximately 500 militiamen fought and defeated three companies of the King's troops. The outnumbered regulars fell back from the "Minutemen" More militiamen arrived and inflicted heavy damage on the British as they marched back towards Boston Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his "Concord Hymn", described the first shot fired by the Patriots at the North Bridge as the "shot heard round the world”

Battle of Bunker Hill June 1775-British had 6500 troops in Boston; Americans 10,000 troops surrounding Boston Americans occupied Breed’s Hill and Bunker Hill overlooking Boston (vantage point-could fire on British ships in harbor) British General William Howe ordered attack straight up the hill; American commander Israel Putnam ordered close attach to save ammunition (“whites of their eyes”) Third British attempt worked British won at high cost-1000 killed or wounded to 400 Americans Significance—British knew they would be in for a fight; boosted confidence of Americans; British eventually forced to withdraw from Boston on March 17, 1776

Publication of Common Sense Published on January 10, 1776 in Philadelphia Sold up to 150,000 copies in American and England Written by an Englishman who had only been in American for 15 months Expressed America’s pent up rage against the mother country in “fighting” words His common language helped convince common folk to rise up against British tyranny

Publication of Common Sense It was absurd for an island (England) to rule a continent (America). America was not a "British nation"; it was composed of influences and peoples from all of Europe. The distance between the two nations made governing the colonies from England tough. Britain ruled the colonies for its own benefit, and did not consider the best interests of the colonists in governing them.

Signing of the Declaration of Independence See notes

Battle for New York Mid 1776-fighting shifted from New England to Middle Colonies June 1776-British fleet led by William Howe stationed outside of Staten Island Washington suspected attack and led troops from Boston to Brooklyn on Long Island 34,000 British troops vs. 20,000 Continental Army troops led by George Washington August 1776-British drove Continentals out of Brooklyn and NY City; British pursued Americans all the way to New Jersey Hero-Connecticut officer Nathan Hale caught spying “I only regret that I have but one life to give to my country” Significance-led to defeat at Philadelphia and set stage for success at Trenton

Battle of Trenton Christmas night 1776-Washington led 2,400 men across Delaware River Complete surprise—major win for colonists Captured 1000 Hessian mercenaries fighting for the British Significance—Boosted morale; 1 year enlistments would be up at the end of the year; most members of Continental Army would not have reenlisted without the victory Washington would lead escape in middle of night while campfires lit; led to another victory at Princeton

Battle of Saratoga October 17, 1777 British general John Burgoyne’s plan was to cut New England off from the rest of the states Significance-major turning point; February 1778-France agreed to form an alliance with Americans Netherlands and Spain fought European front against British Led to European volunteers who loved cause of liberty—Marquis de Lafayette was an aid to Washington; Friedrich von Steuben helped train Continental army “Gentlemen Johnny” Burgoyne

Battle of Saratoga Burgoyne plan—drive toward Albany NY from 3 directions; failed on all three fronts A. From Canada; bogged down by terrain B. From West; bogged down by terrain C. From South; General Howe supposed to lead large army from NYC up the Hudson River Failure of Saratoga, force British to turn their attention to the Southern colonies Horatio Gates

Winter at Valley Forge December 19, 1777–June 18, 1778  the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army just south of Philadelphia Starvation, disease, and exposure killed nearly 2,500 American soldiers by the end of February 1778

Battle of King’s Mountain October 7, 1780 After battle of Camden, Cornwallis split British army in two parts; one part was to stay in SC; the other was to take NC b/c it had a high population of Tories (Loyalists) Militia known as “Over Mountain Men” and colonists in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, led by William R. Davie, forced British to retreat back into South Carolina

Battle of Guilford Court House March 15, 1781 (Greensboro) Colonial commander Nathanael Greene’s troops outnumbered the British 2 to 1 After 1 ½ hours of fighting, British won but suffered heavy casualties Forced British to retreat to Wilmington to regroup; from there Cornwallis would lead march to Yorktown, VA.

 Battle of Yorktown British surrendered on October 19, 1781 at Yorktown, Virginia, (the last major land battle of the American Revolutionary War) was a decisive victory by a combined force of American Continental Army troops led by General George Washington and French Army troops led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by British lord and Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis.

Treaty of Paris Signed on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain and the United States of America Negotiated by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams Recognized the United States to be free, sovereign and independent states, and that the British Crown give up claims to the Government, property, and territorial rights Established the boundaries between the United States and British North America