Battles of the Revolution

Battle of Bunker Hill“Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes.”

-Israel Putnam

Date: June 1775Generals: Howe (GB) vs. Ward & Putnam (A)Location: Breed’s Hill, outside of Boston – Boston HarborPrecipitating Events: the British were attacking from Boston HarborOutcomes: British wonSignificance: Americans showed that they can fight, morale boost, British lost more than double the Americans

Battle of Trenton

Date: December 25, 1776Generals: Washington (A) vs. Rahl (GB)Location: New Jersey on the DelawarePrecipitating Events: Americans had been forced out of NY, crossed the Delaware at night – surprise attack against the Hessian soldiersOutcomes: Americans wonSignificance: moral and physical victory for the Americans

Battle of Saratoga

Date: October 1777Generals: Burgoyne (GB) vs Gates & Arnold (A)Location: Saratoga, outside Albany, NYPrecipitating Events: British wanted to cut off New England from the rest of the coloniesOutcomes: Americans winSignificance: turning point in the war, convinced the French to join the Americans

Valley Forge• December 1777-1778• Faced starvation, desertion• Pennsylvania - encampment• Morale & military disciplined triumphed• Washington kept the men together• Aided by the locals – brought food, clothing, etc

Battle of Yorktown“the world turned upside down”

Date: September/October 1781Generals: Washington & Rochambeau (A) vs. Cornwallis (GB) Location: Virginia - peninsulaPrecipitating Events: French cut them off by sea, Americans by land – Cornwallis disregarded an order to retreatOutcomes: Americans winSignificance: last major battle of the war, Americans win the war