1. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR COLONISTS PREPARING FOR WAR
Winter of Minutemen
Train, make bullets, stockpile rifles and muskets

2. THEY ARE IN A STATE OF REBELLION
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
THEY ARE IN A STATE OF REBELLION
I WILL SHOW THEM!!!!!
BRITAIN PREPARING FOR WAR
King George
Announces colonists are “in a state of rebellion
Sends more British troops to Boston area
Orders General Gage to take stockpiles of weapons and ammunition and arrest militia leadership

3. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR LEXINGTON & CONCORD
General Gage learns stockpiles are stored in Concord
Orders 700 troops to Concord
April 18, 1775 Paul Revere Rides with 2 others to warn about British movement

4. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR LEXINGTON & CONCORD Fighting breaks out
First battle of the war was fought at Lexington
“shot heard round the world”
British win at Lexington
Colonists win at Concord
The Revolution had begun…

5. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR FORT TICONDEROGA Benedict Arnold
Arrogant and enjoyed the finer things
Teamed up with the Green Mountain Boys
Captured Fort Ticonderoga on May 10, 1775
Would eventually change sides and conspire to give up West Point
British get fort back in July

6. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL June 16, 1775
“Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes”
British sustain heavy casualties
Ultimately a British victory
British realize victory would not be quick nor easy

7. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR PATRIOTS LOYALIST or TORIES
Colonists who supported independence
Formed the Continental Congress
Militia and Continental Army
Colonists who supported Great Britain
Taxes and regulations not a good reason
Office holders feared losing position
Isolation
Expected Britain to win
Ben Franklin’s son was a loyalist
British soldiers were known as “red coats”

8. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR CONTINENTAL ARMY REDCOATS Advantages:
Home field advantage
Believed in their cause
Great leadership
George Washington
Disadvantages:
Limited weapons, ammunition and supplies
Untrained Militia and Army
Limited Money
Advantages:
Strong Navy
Abundant supply of weapons and ammunition
Well trained Army
Disadvantages:
Fighting in unfamiliar territory
Relied on mercenaries or soldiers that only fight for money
Hessians

9. Questions??? What were the first battles of the American Revolution?
What was a major reason the colonists rebelled against the British?
What founding father stated that the colonists were very divided at the beginning of the war?
What were some advantages of the Continental Army during the Revolution?
What were some disadvantages of the Continental Army?
What were some advantages of the Redcoats?
Where were some disadvantages of the Redcoats?
Why did the British march to Concord?
What group was formed by the Patriots to help run and finance the war effort?

10. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
Patriot leaders gather
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Written by Thomas Jefferson
Took ideas from John Locke
Signed July 4, 1776
Listed our grievances against King George III and made it clear we wanted to be our own independent nation!

11. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
Approved on November 15, 1777
U.S. Government from
Formed to help run the country and the war effort.
Also, helped allow us to seem more legit to other governments.

12. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR LOW TIMES
In the winter of , the Americans had lost many battles.
Shrinking Army
Service term was up.
Many deserted
Morale was bad!
New York City had fallen into British hands with the Battle of Long Island on Aug. 27th, 1776
Continental Army suffers heavy losses
1st Major Defeat
Nathanial Hale
School Teacher volunteered to spy for American side
Caught and hanged
“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country”

13. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR LOW TIMES Thomas Paine
Wrote The American Crisis to inspire soldiers.

14. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR MAJOR BATTLES
Battles of Trenton and Princeton, NJ
Things were going badly for the Americans who had been defeated several times at locations such as Long Island. They needed a win.
On Christmas Night in 1776 George Washington and his men crossed the icy Delaware River and surprised the British at Trenton. Washington captured over 900 Hessians.
Washington then marched his troops to Princeton and drove the British out of New Jersey.
Big moral victories for the Americans.

15. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR MAJOR BATTLES
Run Continental Congress Run!
We now control Philadelphia!
And the cheese steaks are ours! Haha!
MAJOR BATTLES
British capture Philadelphia in Sept
This was the American capital at the time and was where the Continental Congress met.
British forces were led by General William Howe.
General Howe’s army forced the Continental Congress to flee Philadelphia.

16. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR MAJOR BATTLES
British General John Burgoyne attacked the American supply base at Bennington, Vermont.
Defeated by the green mountain boys of Vermont and had to retreat to Saratoga, NY, where he later surrendered on October 17, 1777.
The Battle of Saratoga is considered the turning point of the war because afterwards, France joined the Americans in the war against England.
“How I ask? How is it that my mighty forces should be defeated at Bennington? We are the professional army, they a militia. How is it we were defeated?”

17. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR FRANCE ENTERS THE WAR
France joins the war against England in February 1778.
Benjamin Franklin had been in France trying to convince the French to join.
The Marquis de Lafayette was a French general who fought alongside the Americans.

18. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR SPAIN ENTERS THE WAR
Spain declares war on England in 1779.
Spain helps the most by providing financial assistance or money
Bernado de Galvez shipped supplies to the Americans and led Spanish troops to attack British forts at Mobile and Pensacola.

19. Questions???
What document did the Continental Congress sign on July 4th, 1776?
What British general managed to capture the rebel capital of Philadelphia?
What two European nations entered the war on the American side?
In 1777, what government did the Continental Congress create?
Why did the Continental Congress create this government?
What battle is considered the major turning point of the American Revolution?
Why is this battle considered a turning point in the war?
Why was the Battle of Trenton important for Washington and his army?
How did Bernado de Galvez help the Americans?
What British general was defeated at Saratoga?

20. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR VALLEY FORGE, PENNSYLVANIA 1777-1778
Washington’s troops were suffering terribly
starvation, cold, and lack of clothing
Washington’s biggest challenge was keeping his troops from quitting and going home
Washington’s army ended up bedding down for the winter in Valley Forge. Many died.
Important because it gives Washington time to train his troops.

21. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR THE FINAL MAJOR BATTLE YORKTOWN-1781
Washington’s original plan was to attack New York
French reinforcements arrive in Virginia
Washington changes plan to attack at Yorktown

22. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR THE FINAL MAJOR BATTLE (cont.)
Three Major French- American forces met in Yorktown to attack Cornwallis.
Washington and Rochambeau from New York
Lafayette’s Army
Degrasse’s Naval Fleet

23. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR THE FINAL MAJOR BATTLE (cont.) October 9, 1781
French-American forces attack Cornwallis
October 19, 1781
General Cornwallis surrenders
The war is essentially over! America WINS!!!

24. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR TREATY OF PARIS 1783
Ben Franklin John Adams, and John Jay represent America
Treaty was signed on September 3, 1783.
The treaty also made peace between England, France and Spain.
Great Britain (England) officially recognized the United States of America as an independent nation!

25. Questions??? In what state is Valley Forge located?
What was the final battle of the American Revolution?
Who were the three French generals who helped Washington in the Battle of Yorktown?
What challenges did Washington face at Valley Forge?
Who were the Americans representatives at the signing of the Treaty of Paris of 1783?
What did Great Britain have to do as a result of the treaty?