1. The Revolutionary War

2. Vocabulary Redcoats: British soldiers
Minutemen: American colonial militia
Militia: Army of citizens
Continental Army: Colonial Army

3. Lexington - Concord
colonists, warned that the British were coming, were waiting in Lexington when the British arrived the next morning.
To this day no one knows for sure who fired first, but a shot rang out. The British soldiers fired a volley into the colonial militia, killing eight men and wounding 10.
The British then moved on to Concord where minutemen drove back three British infantry units guarding Concord’s North Bridge.
On their retreat back to Boston they were peppered by patriot snipers. By the time the redcoats reached Boston, they had suffered 273 casualties compared with fewer than 100 for the patriots.
“Shot Heard Around the World”

4. American Strengths and Weaknesses
The colonists are fighting for independence
George Washington can inspire his men to fight
France will aide the colonies with weapons, supplies and their navy

5. American Strengths and Weaknesses
The colonists are not a trained army
Colonists enlist for months instead of years
Short on money, weapons and supplies to fight a war

6. British Strengths and Weaknesses
The British have an experienced professional army
Outnumber the Continental Army
The British army is well supplied with equipment and weapons

7. British Strengths and Weaknesses
The British are not fighting for a cause
British officers are careless and poor leaders
The British have a to cross the Atlantic Ocean to send men and supplies for the war
The support at home is rather weak

8. The Strategy of War American Colonies Britain
Keep the Colonial Army together
Washington seeks to stretch the British army away from supply lines
Harass the enemy, defeat the British in a major battle
Get allies to help win!
Britain
Seeks to destroy the Colonial Army
Regain control of the colonies by region
Take the fight to the Colonial Army using European war tactics
Use loyalists support against the colonies

9. The Strategy of War

10. People in the Revolution

11. George Washington
Founding father. Member of the Continental Congress, commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, presiding officer of the Constitutional Convention, first President of the United States.

12. Charles Cornwallis
British general and colonial governor, served with distinction in American Revolution, won battle of Brandywine, captured Philadelphia in 1777 and Charleston in 1780, forced to surrender to Washington at Yorktown in 1781 ending the war.

13. Marquis de Lafayette
French citizen who joined Continental Army during Revolutionary War, ardent supporter of American Revolution, voted Major General by Continental Congress, commanded light division in Battle of Yorktown, close associate of George Washington.

14. Key Battles of the American Revolution

15. Battle of Bunker Hill
American troops are dug in along the high ground of Breed's Hill (the actual location) and are attacked by a frontal assault of over 2000 British soldiers who storm up the hill.
The Americans are ordered not to fire until they can see "the whites of their eyes." As the British get within 15 paces, the Americans let loose a deadly volley of rifle fire and halt the British advance.
The British then regroup and attack 30 minutes later with the same result.
A third attack, however, succeeds as the Americans run out of ammunition and are left only with bayonets and stones to defend themselves.
The British succeed in taking the hill, but at a loss of half their force, over a thousand casualties, with the Americans losing about 400, including important colonial leader, General Joseph Warren.

18. Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton began on Christmas Day, December 1776, when General Washington's army was in a pitiful condition, and growing weaker. Troops were deserting, it was bitter cold and they lacked food, shoes and blankets.
It was under these conditions that Washington made his famous crossing of the Delaware river. He had heard from a scout that the Hessians, (German mercenaries) were spending the evening relaxing and enjoying food and wine.
Washington decided to cross at night and surprise them in the morning. So while the Hessians were enjoying their wine and song, the Continental Army was preparing to attack. The army silently advanced to the Delaware River. They crossed the icy Delaware eight miles north of Trenton and nine hours later 2400 men gathered around Washington to hear the order for the assault on Trenton.

19. The famous crossing: Washington and his army cross the Delaware River at night to attack the Hessian mercenaries at Trenton.

20. The Hessians were sleeping at 8:00 a. m
The Hessians were sleeping at 8:00 a.m. when the Americans entered the City. Minutes later, Washington's army attacked - killing five Hessian officers, one non commissioned officer, and sixteen privates. There were 918 prisoners taken to Newtown, Pennsylvania. Of the American losses, two soldiers supposedly froze to death, one or two American privates were wounded, and three officers were wounded, (including future president Lt. James Monroe).

21. The Battle of Saratoga, August- October 1777
The British are harassed by colonial guerilla forces and end up stretching their supply lines.
The British will surrender to the Colonial forces led by General Horatio Gates
Saratoga is important because it is a major defeat for the British and shows the French that the colonies may be able to win the war

22. Battle of Saratoga
The first major American victory of the Revolutionary War,
inflicting 600 British casualties. American losses are only 150.
October 17, After long negotiations, Gen. Burgoyne officially surrendered his 5700 man army on October 17. He was sent back to England in disgrace, and was never given another command.
In Paris the victory is celebrated as if it had been a French victory.
France recognizes the independence of America and enters the war on the side of the patriots.
Money and supplies flowed to the American cause, providing Washington's Continental Army with the support necessary to continue its fight against Great Britain.

23. Victory at Saratoga !!
Britain's loss at Saratoga proved disastrous, in that it signaled to the European powers that the rebels were capable of defeating the English on their own. More than any other single event, it would prove decisive in determining the eventual outcome of the War.

24. The End is near !!- Yorktown
August 1, British Gen. Cornwallis and his 10,000 tired soldiers seek rest at the port of Yorktown, Virginia.
August 14, Gen. Washington abruptly changes plans in favor of Yorktown after receiving a letter indicating a 29-ship French fleet with 3000 soldiers is now heading for the Chesapeake Bay near Cornwallis.
Gen. Washington and Gen. Rochambeau rush their best troops south to Virginia to destroy the British position in Yorktown.

25. The Battle of Yorktown, October 1781
The French are helping the Continental Army with men, weapons and warships
The Americans and the French will corner the British on a small peninsula and bombard them with cannon fire.
The British will surrender and end the American Revolution.
The colonists will win the American Revolution with this victory.

26. Battle of Yorktown

27. The British surrender!!!

28. The Treaty of Paris, 1783 THE WAR ENDS WITH THESE CONDITIONS
“free, sovereign and independent states”
British must remove all troops from forts
Boundary for United States is the Mississippi
Loyalist would have rights and property protected
captured slaves must be returned to owners