STARR American Revolution

BATTLE OF
LEXINGTON & CONCORD

IMPORTANT BATTLES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Instead of replacing the Intolerable Acts, King George III sent more troops to Boston. So many people were spying for both sides that it wasn't long before General Gage, governor of Massachusetts, learned that the colonial militia was storing weapons in Concord, just outside Boston.

In April of 1775, Gage ordered his men to head there to destroy it and to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock in nearby Lexington.

On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere took a midnight ride through Charleston and on to Lexington and Concord. As he rode, he shouted "The regulars are coming out," secret code words to warn the colonists in Lexington and Concord that the British were coming.

The local militia, called Minutemen, heard Revere and grabbed their weapons. They confronted the British, starting the Battle of Lexington and Concord.

The British quickly defeated the outnumbered militia and marched on to Concord.

As the British left Concord, they were surprised by more minutemen at the North Bridge. The colonists killed almost 200 British soldiers (Redcoats), using the bright red jackets they were as targets.

The British retreated to Boston.

BATTLE OF SARATOGA

IMPORTANT BATTLES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

In the spring of 1777, the British made a plan to capture the city of Albany and take control of the Hudson River.

General William Howe would move up the Hudson.

General John Burgoyne would head south from Canada.

Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Leger would travel down the Mohawk Valley. All three would meet in Albany.

Howe decided it would be better to capture Philadelphia. He forced the Continental Congress to flee the city. Burgoyne recaptured Ticonderoga, but didn't know Howe was trapped by American militias.

St. Leger was forced to retreat by American General Benedict Arnold.

Burgoyne made it Saratoga, New York, where he was met by American General Horatio Gates.

The British had no reinforcements and no escape.

On October 17, 1777, the British troops surrendered, marking the first American victory of the Revolution.

WINTER AT VALLEY FORGE

IMPORTANT BATTLES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

In 1777, the Continental Army suffered through one of the worst winters in American history.

While the British were comfy in Philadelphia, the Continental Army was camped 20 miles west at Valley Forge.

The 12,000 troops had almost no food, clothing, or supplies. About a quarter (1/4) of them died before spring.

Those who survived had spent the winter training under Prussian (German) Officer Baron von Steuben.

They would come out of Valley Forge stronger, as a small but highly skilled new Continental Army.

SIEGE
OF YORKTOWN

IMPORTANT BATTLES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

In early 1781, British General Cornwallis moved his troops to Yorktown, Virginia, on the banks of the York river.

When Washington learned that Cornwallis was in Yorktown, he saw an opportunity.

After a fast and top-secret march south, the Continental Army, with French help, surrounded the city of Yorktown.

French ships had already blocked Chesapeake Bay, making it impossible for Cornwallis to escape or get reinforcements.

On October 19, 1781, after weeks of fighting, Cornwallis surrendered.

TREATY
OF
PARIS

IMPORTANT MOMENT OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

The Treaty of Paris was signed in September 3, 1783. By signing it, British officially agreed that:

• The United States was a free and independent nation.

• Americans could fish in the waters of Canada.

• Debts would be repaid.

• Captured slaves would be returned.