0. REVOLUTIONARY WAR

1. * Topic/Objective Describe the 4 key battles of the Revolutionary War
* Essential Question
How did the Key battles of the Am Revolution result in the colonies independence from Britain?

2. * Colonial Attempts to Avoid War – Nothing Worked
1) Boycotts: To avoid buying or using products as a protest
2) Diplomacy: Sending ambassadors to Britain to protest laws & taxes
3) Active Resistance: Direct disobedience
Sons of Liberty
Boston Tea Party

3. *Battle of Lexington & Concord – April 1775
1) First battle of Revolution
2) 700 British troops sent to Concord w/orders to:
Arrest Samuel Adams & John Hancock in Lex
Capture colonial arms & gunpowder in Concord

4. * Battle of Lexington & Concord – April 1775
3) “Midnight Ride” of Paul Revere to warn Patriots “the Br are coming”
4) Br were met by 70 Minutemen
8 Patriots killed near Lex
4,000 Patriots lined the road
between Lex & Concord
Br Redcoats forced to retreat
back to Boston

5. * Battle of Lexington & Concord – April 1775
5) Am Victory – Br Defeated
Known as the “Shot
Heard Round the World”
The Revolution begins!

6. * Declaration of Independence – July 4, 1776
1) Main author: Thomas Jefferson
2) Founding Document:
Declared Am Colonies independent & free from Britain

7. Declaration of Independence – July 4, 1776
“Chain of Abuses” = a list
of the colonies grievances
(complaints) vs. England.
Stated people had the right to overthrow an unjust gov’t.

8. * George Washington 1) Plantation Owner from Virginia
2) Farmer, Surveyor, Military
3) Elected Commander of the Continental Army
4) One of our Founding Fathers
5) Considered a great leader

9. * Battle of Trenton - December 1776
1) The Battle
Surprise Attack on Christmas night
Washington led his troops across the icy Delaware River to Trenton
Br soldiers & Hessians (hired German soldiers) were camped
Most were asleep from drinking & holiday celebrating

10. * Battle of Trenton - December 1776
2) Significance of this battle
Washington’s 1st major victory
Boosted colonial morale
Renewed colonists’ faith in George Washington
As a result, Continental Army gained more recruits

11. * Battles of Saratoga – Aug to Oct 1777
1) The Battles
Saratoga - Located near Albany, NY
17,000 American vs.
17,000 British troops
Continental Army won

12. * Battles of Saratoga – Aug to Oct 1777
New York

13. * Battles of Saratoga – Aug to Oct 1777
2) Significance:
“Turning point of the war”
Stopped Britain from splitting the colonies into two regions
Convinced European nations that Am colonies could defeat Britain
Convinced France to become an ally; Fr sends $$ & troops to aid the colonists

14. * Battle of Yorktown – Aug 1781
1) The Battle
Yorktown - Located in Virginia
British General Cornwallis marched Br Army North to be picked up by Br Navy
Fr ships blockaded the Bay; kept Br fleet from rescuing Gen C & his troops
Fr ships bombarded Br troops
Br trapped by Fr and Am troops

15. * Battle of Yorktown – Aug 1781
2) Significance of the Battle
Final Battle; ends the Rev War
Colonists would not have won
w/o French military support
Br Gen C surrenders in great shame
G Washington & Continental Army declare VICTORY!

16. * Benjamin Franklin
1) Multi-talented individual: Printer, scientist, inventor, & Am ambassador
2) Helped edit the Dec of Independence
3) Traveled to France during the Rev War to seek help from the Fr Gov’t
4) Helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris

17. * Treaty of Paris -1783 1) The Peace Treaty Official end of the Am Rev
Peace talks took place in Paris, France
Negotiated by Ben Franklin, John Adams, & John Jay.

18. * Treaty of Paris - 1783 2) Outcomes: Terms of the Treaty
Colonies gain freedom from Br rule
US recognized as an independent country
US boundaries moved: W to the Mississippi River, N to Canada, & S to Florida
Each side would repay debts it owed the other N W S