Revolutionary War BattlesRevolutionary War Battles

Lexington/ConcordLexington/Concord• “Shot heard around the world”• When: April 18-19 1775• Where: Massachusetts• People: Thomas Gage (British)

– William Dawes (American)– Paul Revere (American)– John Parker (American)

• What: The first battles between colonial militia and British regulars.

• COLONIAL VICTORY

Lexington/Concord SignificanceLexington/Concord Significance

• Colonists were able to defeat highly trained and well supplied British regulars.

• Helped colonists believe that they could defeat the British and made the British realize it would not be as simple as they first believed.

Breed’s/Bunker HillBreed’s/Bunker Hill• When: June 17, 1775

• Where: Charleston Neck, North of Boston

• People: Thomas Gage (British)– William Howe (British)– Israel Putnam (American)– Artemas Ward (American)

• What: A British victory at a very high cost as they incurred 44% casualties to the colonists’ 29%.

• British/Colonial Victory

SignificanceSignificance

• Although the British won the battle, their fear was confirmed that the colonists were dedicated to their cause and would not give up easily.

TrentonTrenton

• When: December 26, 1776

• Where: Trenton, NJ

• People: George Washington (American)– Colonel Rall (Hessians’ commander)– Hessians (German mercenaries)

• What: A surprise attack by George Washington in an effort to restore colonial faith in his leadership.

• COLONIAL VICTORY

SignificanceSignificance

• Displayed Washington’s leadership abilities, battle tactics, restored colonial faith and kept the war effort alive.

• Showed the British believed they were superior to colonial forces.

PrincetonPrinceton

• When: January 3, 1777• Where: Surrounding area around

Princeton, NJ COLONIAL VICTORY• People: George Washington (American)

– Lord Cornwallis (British)– General Mercer (American)

• What: Washington once again used clever tactics to outmaneuver Cornwallis and take another British held city.

SignificanceSignificance

• Helped Europeans see that the colonials were a force to be reckoned with (they could not be defeated easily)- major step towards gaining French support.

• Helped cement faith in George Washington’s leadership and battle tactics

SaratogaSaratoga

• When: August-Oct 1777

• Where: Saratoga, NY

• People: John Burgoyne (British)– General William Howe (British)– Horatio Gates (American)– Benedict Arnold (American)

• What: 2 major battles (Freeman’s Farm and Bemis Heights)

• COLONIAL VICTORY

SignificanceSignificance

• Necessary victory that was the turning point in the American Revolution.

• Gained French support as a result of the victory-necessary to win the war.

King’s MountainKing’s Mountain

• When: October 7, 1780• Where: King’s Mountain, NC• People: Major General Patrick Ferguson

(British) COLONIAL VICTORY– Numerous Colonial Colonels

• What: A massive colonial victory as Colonial Loyalists were first defeated and then executed by the victorious American colonials.

SignificanceSignificance

• Showed how brutal both sides were willing to be to win the war as Loyalist colonists tried to surrender and were executed anyways.

• ***Forced Cornwallis to retreat and abandon his original battle plans. Stopped him from splitting the colonies in two.***

CowpensCowpens

• When: January 17, 1781

• Where: Cowpens, SC

• People: Banastre Tarleton (British)– Nathaniel Greene (American)

• What: A significant battle as Nathaniel Greene was able to enact clever tactics that led to Tarleton’s defeat.

• COLONIAL VICTORY

SignificanceSignificance

• ***Forced Cornwallis to retreat hastily and into Yorktown where he was trapped***

• Necessary victory to win the American Revolution.

YorktownYorktown• When: September-October 1781

• Where: Yorktown, VA

• People: General Rochambeau (French fleet) AMERICAN VICTORY

– George Washington (American)

– General DeGrasse (French fleet)

– Lord Cornwallis (British)

• What: French and Americans trapped Cornwallis and forced him to surrender.

SignificanceSignificance

• Decisive victory that signaled a colonial victory for the American Revolution. Made British realize that they were not going to defeat the colonists.

• Fighting continued for 2 more years, but this was the last major battle.

The Battle of Brandywine CreekThe Battle of Brandywine Creek

• September 11, 1777 BRITISH VICTORY

• Fought between British and Colonials

• General Howe (Brit) outmanuvered General Washington

Brandywine SignificanceBrandywine Significance

• The Americans lost a substantial portion of the troops (about 1000)

• Loss led to British control of Philadelphia, the colonial capital

• Physical and Morale Victory

Battle of White PlainsBattle of White Plains

• October 28, 1776 STALEMATE

• British and Hessians versus Colonials

• Series of fights that led to Washington retreating

White Plains SignficanceWhite Plains Signficance

• White Plains, NY

• Washington’s retreat let the British seize the upper colonial territories including New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island

• Made Americans consider surrendering seriously.

Valley ForgeValley Forge

• Winter of 1777-1778

• Encampment used by George Washington and the Colonial military during the winter months

Valley Forge SignificanceValley Forge Significance

• Located in Pennsylvania

• Nearly destroyed the Continental Army due to disease, hunger, expiring contracts and desertion

Valley Forge Sig cont…Valley Forge Sig cont…

• Prussian Baron Von Stuben helped drill soldiers into a strong fighting force

• Soldiers that came out of Valley Forge in 1778 were much more disciplined and able to fight

• Kept the war efforts alive