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Battles and Events of the
American Revolution
Battle of Lexington &
Concord
Ft. Ticonderoga
Ft. Ticonderoga
• An old British fort in New York
Ft. Ticonderoga
• On May 10, 1775
• Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allen and The Green Mountain Boys of Vermont seized the fort.
• Patriot Victory
Ethan Allen:“Come out, you old Rat!”
Ft. Ticonderoga: Important for ammunition and weapons
Later moved cannons and ammo to Boston, Mass.
Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill)
• June 16, 1775
• Boston, Mass.
Colonial militia fought 2,000 British troops.
• British went up the hill 3 times
• Colonial militia had very little gunpowder
• “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”
• British won but suffered heavy losses (Over 1,000 dead and wounded)
Bunker (Breed’s Hill)
Common Sense: January 1776
• By Thomas Paine
• Political Pamphlet
• Helped persuade
thousands to go for
independence.
“The sun never shined on a cause of
greater worth.”
The Colonies Declare Independence
• The Second Continental Congress debated a resolution to support independence.
• The Congress formed a committee to draft a Declaration of Independence.
• Thomas Jefferson was the main author.
After Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams suggested changes.
• On July 2, 1776, twelve colonies (not New York) voted for the resolution for independence.
• On July 4, they approved the Declaration with some changes.
• John Hancock was the first to sign it.
• His signature was large so that the king would have no trouble reading it.
The Colonies Declare Independence
Signers pledged to support independence with…
“…our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
Declaration of Independence
• July 4, 1776
4 parts
Introduction-(Preamble)
“..that these United Colonies are and of RIGHT ought
to be free and independent states”.
Unalienable Rights
Grievances - (Complaints)
Declare Independence
•
Americans
chose sides
Those who wanted to fight the British until they
won their independence were called Patriots.
Loyalists (Tories) wanted to remain with Britain.
American Strengths
• Patriotism - Fighting to protect independence and democracy
• George Washington – experienced & inspirational leader
• Knew the land
• France was secretly helping them
British Strengths
• Professional army of about 42,000 troops. (Almost twice the number of colonial troops.)
• In addition, King George III hired 30,000 mercenaries –paid soldiers - from Germany. (Called Hessians)
• Troops were well trained
• Had plenty of food, uniforms, weapons and ammunition.
Battle of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island – Largest Battle
• General Washington vs. British Lord Howe
• Fewer than 20,000 troops vs. 32,000
• August 27, 1776
• British wanted New York city
• Americans were too inexperienced.
• After 2 days of fighting, Lord Howe thought war was nearly won.
• Washington would not surrender, but did retreat
• Patriots lost
Nathan Hale
• Disguised as a Dutch school teacher from Connecticut
• Volunteered to spy, captured by Howe
• “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”
• Hanged from an apple tree
• He was 21 years old
The American Crisis
By December 1776, people thought the war was almost over.
Thousands were quitting the Continental Army and going home.
Washington had to do something – quickly!
He READ to his troops!
The Crisis
• Thomas Paine wrote “The Crisis”
“THESE are the times that try men's souls…”
“The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”
• Troops felt uplifted
• People helped their troops
Trenton and
Princeton
• Continental Army vs. Hessians
• December 25, 1776-January
• New Jersey
• Delaware River - 2,400 troops
Washington plans two daring attacks - on the Hessians & British.
Washington crossing the Delaware River
Trenton and Princeton
• “Hessian population at 8:00 am - 1,408 men and 39 officers; Hessian population at 9:00 am - 0
• Washington wanted to keep his victory alive
• A week later he marched to Princeton to surprise British troops
• Another Patriot victory
Battle of
Saratoga, NY
• Burgoyne (British) vs. Horatio Gates (Patriot)
• October 17, 1777
• New York
• British wanted to cut New England off from rest of colonies, but were too slow.
• Patriots outnumbered them and won.
• This battle convinced the French to join the war
French Help
• Ben Franklin asked for help
• After Saratoga, France declared war on Britain
• Gave America money, supplies, troops
• Spain also declared war on Britain
Valley Forge
• George Washington and his army
• Winter of 1777-1778
• Pennsylvania
• Terrible suffering • lacked food, clothing and shelter
• Von Steuben drilled troops. Emerged as a well-trained fighting force.
• 12,000 troops – 2, 500 died
Yorktown
Victory and Independence
• Americans wanted to take British stronghold at Yorktown.
• George Washington and Lord Cornwallis
• October 6-14, 1781
• Yorktown, VA
Yorktown
Victory and Independence
• French-American allies trapped Cornwallis in Yorktown.
• Cornwallis asked for a “cease fire” but the terms were unacceptable to GW.
• Cornwallis surrendered.
• This battle ended the American war of Independence