Battles of the American Revolution

Unit 3

American Revolution

Lexington and Concord• Date: April 19, 1775• Cause: British soldiers came to confiscate

weapons that the militia were storing.• Summary: British troops (redcoats) marched into

Lexington and fought 70 minutemen. After the minutemen retreated, the British troops marched to Concord where they were stopped at the North Bridge by colonial troops.

• Why important: First battle of the American Revolution “Shots Heard Around the World”

• Victor: Colonial troops won at the North Bridge

Battle of Saratoga• Date: October 7 - 17, 1777• Cause: British troops retreated to Saratoga for supplies

after being defeated in Vermont• Summary: Colonial troops blocked and surrounded

British troops. British troops surrendered. • Why important? turning point of the war; France

joined the colonists after this victory, tipping the scale. European countries realized colonists could win.

• Victor: Continental Army (colonists)

Winter at Valley Forge

• Date: winter of 1777. • Summary: after suffering several defeats,

Washington took his army to Valley Forge for the winter. The winter was harsh and men suffered from starvation and frostbite.

• Why important: the men were trained and became more of a professional army (rather than militias). George Washington became known as a great leader.

Battle of Yorktown

• Date: September - October 19, 1781• Cause: George Washington’s spies discovered the

location of General Cornwallis’ troops and planned an ambush.

• Event Summary: Continental and French troops surrounded General Cornwallis on land and by sea in Chesapeake Bay. British and Hessian (German) troops were trapped and ran out of supplies. Colonial troops attacked and the British surrendered.

• Why important: Last Battle of the American Revolution• Victor: Continental Army wins the war!

Battle of Yorktown

Colonial Leader and Advantages

• Leader: General George Washington• Advantages:– Americans were fighting on their own land and

new the land better.– Patriots (Americans) had more motivation- they

wanted to be free!– Leader George Washington.

British Leader and Advantages

• Leader: General Charles Cornwallis• Advantages: – Strongest army in the world– More money to spend on war– Best navy in the world

Allies

• France– Marquis de Lafayette

• Spain– Juan de Miralles

• Poland– Thaddeus Kosciuszko– Casimir Pulaski

• Prussia– Friedrich von Steuben

Treaty of Paris

• Date: September 2, 1783• Location: France• Officially ended the American Revolution• Britain recognized the independent nation of the

United States of America. • Britain agreed to remove all of its troops from

America. • The treaty also set new borders for the United States

including all land from the Great Lakes on the north to Florida on the south, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River.

Treaty of Paris