How did these two generals, Washington and Cornwallis, meet for the fateful British surrender at Yorktown?

Lexington and Concord April, 1775 “The Shot Heard ‘round the World”  General Gage’s goal: capture John Hancock & Sam Adams; take militia weapon stores  Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott warn colonists  8 Colonists killed at Lexington  73 British Troops killed during retreat back to Boston (130 injured)  Start of the War!

Battle of Bunker Hill June, 1775 “Don’t fire ‘till you see the whites of their eyes”  Colonial militia surround British in Boston and take positions on Breed’s Hill  Fighting? Bunker Hill is too far away; Colonial cannons can’t reach Boston  British advance but stopped 2 times - huge # of casualties  Gunpowder runs out; militia retreats  Colonists gain confidence: We can defeat Brits!

Battle of Quebec Dec., 1775 “The Key to Canada” Benedict Arnold  Arnold/ Montgomery want to take Quebec (control St. Lawrence River)  Trip through Maine: many killed by cold and hunger; Arnold’s leadership holds them together  New Year’s assault is a disaster; British hold onto Quebec

Battle of Long Island- Aug, 1776  General Howe takes his Army from Boston to Canada, then to New York  Washington is badly defeated  Colonial Army barely escapes to New Jersey  Many soldiers killed, captured, or missing  Washington’s army is in bad shape and needs a victory

Battle of Trenton Dec.,1776 -Washington crossing the Delaware  Washington’s Army=losses  Need victory: need soldiers to re-enlist & boost morale of troops and country  Sends a spy to trick the Germans (Hessians) into thinking he won’t attack  Germans drink all night: Merry Christmas!  Washington completely surprises and defeats them  First victory for Colonists/ first Offensive!

Battle of Saratoga Sept-Oct, 1777 Turning Point of the War  “Gentleman” Johnny Burgoyne moves 9,000 British troops south from Canada  Through N.Y. wilderness: very difficult  Goal: split the New England Colonies from the Middle Colonies

Battle of Saratoga 1777 Cont..  British Burgoyne wants fame from a victory  British Reinforcements never show up = a disaster  Benedict Arnold defeats British (gets no credit) Surrender! Now France recognizes the new independent nation. They supply troops, supplies, and a navy to the Continental Army. Spain helps, too! (Lafayette).

Valley Forge Dec.1777-May 1778  Winter Camp for American troops  Many soldiers die of disease, cold, and hunger  Baron Von Steuben hired to train the troops  Now they resemble an army  Confident to fight the British in the field

Battle of Monmouth Courthouse, NJ June 28, 1778  First test of newly trained American troops  Fought British troops all day  No real winner  But proved Americans would not back down from field battle  Continental Army gained a lot of confidence

Battle of Yorktown Oct., 1781  French General Rochambeau and Washington v. British General Cornwallis in Yorktown, VA  French Navy comes up York river  French and Continental Army move in from the south and west  Cornwallis is trapped  After long siege, he surrenders most of the British Army  Brits out of $ for war

Treaty of Paris 1783  Treaty signed by the British - legally ends the American Revolutionary War & sets borders of U.S.  Great Britain now officially recognizes the independence of their former 13 colonies  The United States of America is born