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