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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
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 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.