Battles of the Battles of the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

LLet’s - et’s - BBuy -uy -SSome -ome -YYogurtogurt

LLexington - exington - BBunker Hillunker Hill

SSaratoga - aratoga - YYorktownorktown

Lexington and Lexington and ConcordConcord

► The Battles of Lexington and Concord were The Battles of Lexington and Concord were actually the first military engagements of actually the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War.the American Revolutionary War.    They They were fought on April 19, 1775,were fought on April 19, 1775, in Middlesex in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Menotomy (present-day Arlington), and Menotomy (present-day Arlington), and Cambridge, near Boston.  Cambridge, near Boston.  The battles marked The battles marked the outbreak of open armed conflict the outbreak of open armed conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and between the Kingdom of Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in the mainland of its thirteen colonies in the mainland of British North AmericaBritish North America

Lexington and Lexington and ConcordConcord

►BackgroundBackgroundThe colonists had been forming militias of The colonists had been forming militias of various sorts since the 17th century, at first various sorts since the 17th century, at first primarily for defense against local native primarily for defense against local native attacks. These forces were also called to attacks. These forces were also called to action in the French and Indian War in the action in the French and Indian War in the 1750s and 1760s. They were generally local 1750s and 1760s. They were generally local militias, but there was communication and militias, but there was communication and some coordination at the provincial level. some coordination at the provincial level. When the political situation began to When the political situation began to deteriorate, these existing connections were deteriorate, these existing connections were put to use by the colonists for the purpose of put to use by the colonists for the purpose of resistance to the military threat. resistance to the military threat.

Lexington and Lexington and ConcordConcord

► Between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m on the night of April Between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m on the night of April 18, 1775, Joseph Warren told William Dawes and 18, 1775, Joseph Warren told William Dawes and Paul Revere that the King's troops were about to Paul Revere that the King's troops were about to embark in boats from Boston bound for Cambridge embark in boats from Boston bound for Cambridge and the road to Lexington and Concord. and the road to Lexington and Concord.

► Revere and Dawes were sent out to warn them and Revere and Dawes were sent out to warn them and alert Colonists in nearby towns. alert Colonists in nearby towns.

► It is a myth that Revere and other riders It is a myth that Revere and other riders shouted, "The British are coming!" This shouted, "The British are coming!" This warning would have confused a good many of warning would have confused a good many of the Americans living in the countryside who the Americans living in the countryside who still considered themselves British. The still considered themselves British. The Regulars were known to be British soldiers.Regulars were known to be British soldiers.

“The Redcoats are coming!” FALSE

Lexington and Lexington and ConcordConcord

►During the wee hours of April 19, During the wee hours of April 19, 1775, he would send out regiments of 1775, he would send out regiments of British soldiers quartered in Boston. British soldiers quartered in Boston. Their destinations were Their destinations were LexingtonLexington, , where they would capture Colonial where they would capture Colonial leaders Sam Adams and John Hancock, leaders Sam Adams and John Hancock, then then ConcordConcord, where they would seize , where they would seize gunpowder.gunpowder.

Lexington and Lexington and ConcordConcord

► Sure enough, when the advance guard of nearly Sure enough, when the advance guard of nearly 240 British soldiers arrived in Lexington, they 240 British soldiers arrived in Lexington, they found about 70 minutemen formed on the found about 70 minutemen formed on the Lexington GreenLexington Green awaiting them. Both sides awaiting them. Both sides eyed each other warily, not knowing what to eyed each other warily, not knowing what to expect. Suddenly, a bullet buzzed through the expect. Suddenly, a bullet buzzed through the morning air.morning air.

► It was "the shot heard round the world.“It was "the shot heard round the world.“► The first bloodshed at Lexington and The first bloodshed at Lexington and

Concord, marked the crossing of a Concord, marked the crossing of a threshold, and the momentum from these threshold, and the momentum from these events pushed both sides farther apart.events pushed both sides farther apart.

Lexington and Lexington and ConcordConcord

►During the battles of Lexington and During the battles of Lexington and Concord, 73 British soldiers had been Concord, 73 British soldiers had been killed and 174 wounded; 26 were killed and 174 wounded; 26 were missing. missing. LORD PERCYLORD PERCY, who led the , who led the British back into Boston after the British back into Boston after the defeat suffered at Concord, wrote back defeat suffered at Concord, wrote back to London, "Whoever looks upon them to London, "Whoever looks upon them [[THE REBELSTHE REBELS] as an irregular mob ] as an irregular mob will be much mistaken." will be much mistaken."

Bunker Hill On the night of June 16, 1775, a detail of

American troops acting under orders from ARTEMAS WARD moved out of their camp, carrying picks, shovels, and guns. They entrenched themselves on a rise located on Charleston Peninsula overlooking Boston. Their destination: BUNKER HILL.

Bunker Hill From this hill, the rebels could bombard the

town and British ships in Boston Harbor. But Ward's men misunderstood his orders. They went to BREED'S HILL by mistake and entrenched themselves there — closer to the British position.

Bunker Hill The next morning, the British were stunned to see Americans

threatening them. In the 18th century, British military custom demanded that the British attack the Americans, even though the Americans were in a superior position militarily (the Americans had soldiers and cannon pointing down on the British).

Major General William Howe, leading the British forces, could have easily surrounded the Americans with his ships at sea, but instead chose to march his troops uphill. Howe might have believed that the Americans would retreat in the face of a smashing, head-on attack.

He was wrong…

Bunker Hill By the time the third wave of British

charged the hill, the Americans were running low on ammunition. Hand-to-hand fighting ensued. The British eventually took the hill, but at a great cost. Of the 2,300 British soldiers who had gone through the ordeal, 1,054 were either killed or wounded.

Bunker Hill On July, 2, 1775, George Washington rode into

Cambridge, Massachusetts, to take command of the new AMERICAN ARMY. He had a formidable task ahead of him. He needed to establish a CHAIN OF COMMAND and determine a course of action for a war — if there would be a war.

In London, the news of Bunker Hill convinced the king that the situation in the Colonies had escalated into an organized uprising and must be treated as a foreign war. Accordingly, he issued a Proclamation of Rebellion.

Saratoga

The BATTLE OF SARATOGA was the turning point of the Revolutionary War.

The scope of the victory is made clear by a few key facts: On October 17, 1777, 5,895 British and Hessian troops surrendered their arms. General John Burgoyne had lost 86 percent of his expeditionary force

Saratoga

A stupendous American victory in October 1777, the success at Saratoga gave France the confidence in the American cause to enter the war as an American ALLY. Later American successes owed a great deal to French aid in the form of financial and military assistance.

Yorktown

Although the American military was still enduring losses in 1780, the French were making a difference. The French navy was disrupting the British blockade. French commanders such as LAFAYETTE and ROCHAMBEAU earned the respect and admiration of the American troops.

Yorktown

The year 1781 found a large squadron of British troops led by LORD CORNWALLIS at YORKTOWN, Virginia. Cornwallis hoped to keep his men in the Chesapeake town until fresh supplies and reinforcements could arrive from Britain. The French and the Americans conspired to capture the British before that could happen.

Yorktown

When Washington reached Virginia, Americans led by Lafayette joined in the siege. The French navy kept the British out of CHESAPEAKE BAY until Cornwallis was forced to surrender his entire unit of nearly 8,000 troops on October 19, 1781. The capture of the troops severely hampered the British war effort.

Yorktown

Despite the American victory, the British military continued to fight. But the Battle of Yorktown turned the British public against the war. The following March, a pro-American Parliament was elected and peace negotiations began in earnest.

Yorktown

In the 1783 TREATY OF PARIS the British agreed to recognize American independence as far west as the Mississippi River. Americans agreed to honor debts owed to British merchants from before the war and to stop persecuting British Loyalists.

David had triumphed over Goliath. Independence was achieved at last!

The Winter at Valley ForgeThe Winter at Valley Forge

American spirits reached a low point during the American spirits reached a low point during the harsh winter of 1777-78.harsh winter of 1777-78.

Washington's army had spent the summer of Washington's army had spent the summer of 1777 fighting a string of losing battles. The 1777 fighting a string of losing battles. The Americans harassed the British army in Americans harassed the British army in skirmishes and minor battles for much of the skirmishes and minor battles for much of the fighting season. In the fall, the Americans fighting season. In the fall, the Americans showed pluck at the showed pluck at the Battle of BrandywineBattle of Brandywine in in September and the September and the Battle of GermantownBattle of Germantown in in October. Yet the Americans were unable to keep October. Yet the Americans were unable to keep the British out of Philadelphia.the British out of Philadelphia.

The Winter at Valley ForgeThe Winter at Valley Forge

British troops had marched triumphantly into Philadelphia British troops had marched triumphantly into Philadelphia the autumn of 1777.the autumn of 1777. Philadelphia was the largest Philadelphia was the largest city in the Colonies and the seat of political city in the Colonies and the seat of political power.power. After the British swept into Philadelphia, the After the British swept into Philadelphia, the Continental Congress had flee to west, first to Lancaster Continental Congress had flee to west, first to Lancaster then to York.then to York.

In December, Washington marched his tired, In December, Washington marched his tired, beaten, hungry and sick army to beaten, hungry and sick army to VALLEY VALLEY FORGEFORGE, a location about 20 miles northwest of , a location about 20 miles northwest of British-occupied Philadelphia. From Valley British-occupied Philadelphia. From Valley Forge, Washington could keep an eye on Forge, Washington could keep an eye on General Howe's British army ensconced in General Howe's British army ensconced in Philadelphia. Philadelphia.

The Winter at Valley ForgeThe Winter at Valley Forge

At Valley Forge, there were shortages of everything from At Valley Forge, there were shortages of everything from food to clothing to medicine. Washington's men were food to clothing to medicine. Washington's men were sick from disease, hunger, and exposure. sick from disease, hunger, and exposure. The The Continental Army camped in crude Log Cabins and Continental Army camped in crude Log Cabins and endured cold conditions…endured cold conditions…

While the While the Redcoats warmed themselves in colonial Redcoats warmed themselves in colonial homes.homes. The Patriots went hungry while the British The Patriots went hungry while the British soldiers ate well.soldiers ate well.

Terms of enlistment were ending for many soldiers in Terms of enlistment were ending for many soldiers in Washington's army. The General wondered if he would Washington's army. The General wondered if he would even have an army left when the spring thaw finally even have an army left when the spring thaw finally arrived.arrived.

The Winter at Valley ForgeThe Winter at Valley Forge

Then there was the grumbling of some in Then there was the grumbling of some in Congress and among some of Washington's Congress and among some of Washington's own officers. Washington's leadership skills were own officers. Washington's leadership skills were openly questioned.openly questioned.

Help came in the form of a Prussian volunteer, Help came in the form of a Prussian volunteer, BARON VON STEUBENBARON VON STEUBEN. The military leader . The military leader was aghast at the lack of American discipline. At was aghast at the lack of American discipline. At Washington's urging he trained the Continental Washington's urging he trained the Continental Army, Prussian-style. The troops slowly became Army, Prussian-style. The troops slowly became more professional. Among the soldiers who more professional. Among the soldiers who remained, confidence grew.remained, confidence grew.

The Winter at Valley ForgeThe Winter at Valley Forge

The Continental Army encamped at Valley The Continental Army encamped at Valley Forge in the fall of 1777 with about 12,000 Forge in the fall of 1777 with about 12,000 men in its ranks. Death claimed about a men in its ranks. Death claimed about a quarter of them before spring arrived. quarter of them before spring arrived. Another thousand didn't reenlist or Another thousand didn't reenlist or deserted. But the army that remained was deserted. But the army that remained was stronger. They were fewer, but more stronger. They were fewer, but more disciplined. They were weary, but firmly disciplined. They were weary, but firmly resolved.resolved.