The American Revolution

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

LEXINGTON AND CONCORD General Gage had a plan…

Use British soldiers stationed in Boston

Go to Lexington to capture John Hancock and Samuel Adams

Go to Concord to seize gunpowder

But the Americans had a plan of their own…

LEXINGTON AND CONCORD Spies and Friends of the Americans

leaked word of Gage’s plans. Two lanterns hanging from Boston's

North Church informed the countryside that the British were going to attack by sea.

A series of horseback riders — men such as Paul Revere, William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott— galloped off to warn the countryside that the REGULARS (British troops) were coming!

LEXINGTON AND CONCORD Colonial Militias assemble throughout

Massachusetts after learning British plans

The militias confronted the British troops of the Lexington Green

Both sides did not know what to expect. Suddenly, a bullet buzzed through the morning air.

It was "the shot heard round the world."

ETHAN ALLEN AND THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS

In modern day Vermont, led a group called the Green Mountain Boys to capture Ft. Ticonderoga. Cannons

Allen + Benedict Arnold took over the fort on May 10, 1775.

BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL Two day battle

Americans occupied “Breed’s Hill” in order to protect the nearby Boston Shipyard

British ended up taking the Hill but suffered heavy losses

BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL The Americans fired until they were out

of ammunition, then quickly retreated. To conserve ammunition, American

leader Colonel Prescott told his men, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!"

SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS The Second Continental

Congress met in Philadelphia after Lexington and Concord.

The delegates discussed… Creating a Continental Army

Sending the Olive Branch Petition

Approving the Declaration of Independence

Choosing George Washington to be commander-in-chief

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Main author was Thomas Jefferson

and was authorized by Second Continental Congress

3 Main Parts Statement of Intent: The Basic Principles List of Grievances: Why the colonists wanted

independence Removes ties with Britain

WINTER AT VALLEY FORGE

BATTLE OF SARATOGA June 1777 when British General John Burgoyne

began moving south from the British province of Quebec to gain control of the Hudson River valley. His plan was to split the eastern New England colonies

from the southern colonies. Burgoyne had the Continental Army, under

General Philip Schuyler, in retreat. In response, General Washington assigned General

Horatio Gates to take command of the Continental Army from General Schuyler. Additional troops were also sent to support General Gates.

SARATOGA CONTINUED… When Burgoyne marched into the Hudson

River Valley, he met the Continental Army just north of Saratoga.

The Continental Army was forced to retreat.

Although the British had won the initial battle, it was with a significant casualties, both in infantry and artillery men.

SARATOGA Burgoyne mounted an attack on Bemis Hill.

The Americans successfully defended the hill and Burgoyne lost many soldiers.

The American troops counter attacked forcing the British to retreat. Burgoyne's army was now surrounded by the

Continental Army. He had lost 1,000 men, and was running low on supplies.

British General Burgoyne was forced to surrender.

BATTLE OF TRENTON

BATTLE OF YORKTOWN The year 1781 found a large squadron of

British troops led by Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia.

A French naval unit led by Admiral de Grasse headed north from the West Indies.

Washington's army was stationed near New York City at the time.

Along with a French unit from Rhode Island, Washington's troops marched over 300 miles

south toward Yorktown.

YORKTOWN CONTINUED Americans led by Lafayette joined in

the siege.\ The French navy kept the British out of

Chesapeake Bay until Cornwallis was forced to surrender his entire unit of nearly 8,000 troops on October 19, 1781.

The capture of the troops severely hampered the British war effort

TREATY OF PARIS The Battle of Yorktown turned the

British public against the war. The following March, a pro-American

Parliament was elected and peace negotiations began in earnest.

Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay met with the British in the hopes of securing a peace treaty.