Battles and Events of the
American Revolution
Battle of Lexington &
Concord
Ft. Ticonderoga
Ft. Ticonderoga
• An old British fort in New York
Ft. Ticonderoga
• On May 10, 1775
• Benedict Arnold,
Ethan Allen and The
Green Mountain Boys
of Vermont seized
the fort.
• Patriot Victory
Ethan Allen:“Come out, you old Rat!”
Ft. Ticonderoga: Important for
ammunition and weapons
Later
moved
cannons
and ammo
to Boston,
Mass.
Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill)
Colonial militia fought 2,000 British troops.
• June 16, 1775
• Boston, Mass.
Bunker (Breed’s Hill)
• British went up the
hill 3 times
• Colonial militia had
very little gunpowder
• “Don’t fire until you
see the whites of
their eyes!”
• British won but suffered heavy losses
(Over 1,000 dead and wounded)
Common Sense: January 1776
• By Thomas Paine
• Political Pamphlet
• Helped persuade
thousands to go for
independence.
“The sun never
shined on a cause of
greater worth.”
The Colonies Declare Independence
• The Second Continental Congress debated a
resolution to support independence.
• The Congress formed a
committee to draft a Declaration
of Independence.
• Thomas Jefferson was the
main author.
After Thomas
Jefferson
wrote the first
draft of the
Declaration of
Independence,
Benjamin
Franklin and
John Adams
suggested
changes.
The Colonies Declare Independence
• On July 2, 1776, twelve colonies (not New York)
voted for the resolution for independence.
• On July 4, they approved the Declaration
with some changes.
• John Hancock was the first to sign it.
• His signature was large so that the king
would have no trouble reading it.
Signers pledged to support
independence with…
“…our Lives, our Fortunes, and our
sacred Honor.”
Declaration of Independence
• July 4, 1776
4 parts




Introduction-(Preamble)
Unalienable Rights
Grievances - (Complaints)
Declare Independence
“..that these United Colonies are and of RIGHT ought
to be free and independent states”.
•
Americans
chose sides
Those who wanted to fight the British until they
won their independence were called Patriots.
Loyalists (Tories) wanted to remain with Britain.
American Strengths
• Patriotism - Fighting to protect
independence and democracy
• George Washington – experienced &
inspirational leader
• Knew the land
• France was secretly helping them
British Strengths
• Professional army of about 42,000
troops. (Almost twice the number of colonial troops.)
• In addition, King George III hired
30,000 mercenaries –paid soldiers from Germany. (Called Hessians)
• Troops were well trained
• Had plenty of food, uniforms, weapons
and ammunition.
Battle of Long Island
Long
Island
Long Island – Largest Battle
•
•
•
•
•
•
General Washington vs. British Lord Howe
Fewer than 20,000 troops vs. 32,000
August 27, 1776
British wanted New York city
Americans were too inexperienced.
After 2 days of fighting, Lord Howe thought
war was nearly won.
• Washington would not surrender, but did
retreat
• Patriots lost
Nathan Hale
• Disguised as a Dutch school teacher
from Connecticut
• Volunteered to spy, captured by Howe
• “I only regret that I have but one life
to lose for my country.”
• Hanged from an apple tree
• He was 21 years old
The American Crisis
 By December 1776,
people thought the
war was almost over.
 Thousands were
quitting the
Continental Army and
going home.
 Washington had to
do something –
quickly!
He READ to his troops!
The Crisis
• Thomas Paine wrote “The Crisis”
“THESE are the times that try men's souls…”
“The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink
from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves
the love and thanks of man and woman.”
• Troops felt uplifted
• People helped their troops
Trenton and
Princeton
Washington plans two
daring attacks - on the
Hessians & British.
• Continental Army vs. Hessians
• December 25, 1776-January
• New Jersey
• Delaware River - 2,400 troops
Washington crossing the Delaware River
Trenton and Princeton
• “Hessian population at 8:00 am 1,408 men and 39 officers; Hessian
population at 9:00 am - 0
• Washington wanted to keep his victory
alive
• A week later he marched to Princeton
to surprise British troops
• Another Patriot victory
Battle of
Saratoga, NY
• Burgoyne (British) vs.
Horatio Gates
(Patriot)
• October 17, 1777
• New York
• British wanted to cut New England off
from rest of colonies, but were too slow.
• Patriots outnumbered them and won.
• This battle convinced the French to join
the war
French Help
• Ben Franklin asked for help
• After Saratoga, France declared war on
Britain
• Gave America money, supplies, troops
• Spain also declared war on Britain
Valley Forge
• George Washington and his army
• Winter of 1777-1778
• Pennsylvania
• Terrible suffering
• lacked food, clothing and shelter
• Von Steuben drilled troops. Emerged as
a well-trained fighting force.
• 12,000 troops – 2, 500 died
Yorktown
Victory and Independence
• George
Washington and
Lord Cornwallis
• October 6-14,
1781
• Yorktown, VA
• Americans wanted to take
British stronghold at
Yorktown.
Yorktown
Victory and Independence
• French-American allies trapped
Cornwallis in Yorktown.
• Cornwallis asked for a “cease fire” but
the terms were unacceptable to GW.
•
•
Cornwallis surrendered.
This battle ended the American war
of Independence