The Revolutionary War Students will analyze key events

The Revolutionary War

Students will analyze key events of the American Revolution in order to evaluate their impact on the outcome of the war. • Students will describe the military advantages and strategies of the British and Americans • Students will examine key battles • Students will analyze contributions of various leaders • Students will evaluate the impact of the end of the War.

Vocabulary • Redcoats: British soldiers • Minutemen: American colonial militia • Militia: Army of citizens • Continental Army: Colonial Army

George Washington Founding father. Member of the Continental Congress, commander-in -chief of the Continental Army, presiding officer of the Constitutional Convention, first President of the United States.

Key Battles of the American Revolution

Lexington - Concord • Colonists, warned that the British were coming, were waiting in Lexington when the British arrived the next morning. • To this day no one knows for sure who fired first, but a shot rang out. The British soldiers fired a volley into the colonial militia, killing eight men and wounding 10. • The British then moved on to Concord where minutemen drove back three British infantry units guarding Concord’s North Bridge. • On their retreat back to Boston they were peppered by patriot snipers. By the time the redcoats reached Boston, they had suffered 273 casualties compared with fewer than 100 for the patriots. • “Shot Heard Around the World”

Battle of Trenton • The Battle of Trenton began on Christmas Day, December 1776, when General Washington's army was in a pitiful condition, and growing weaker. Troops were deserting, it was bitter cold and they lacked food, shoes and blankets. • It was under these conditions that Washington made his famous crossing of the Delaware river. He had heard from a scout that the Hessians, (German mercenaries) were spending the evening relaxing and enjoying food and wine. • Washington decided to cross at night and surprise them in the morning. So while the Hessians were enjoying their wine and song, the Continental Army was preparing to attack. The army silently advanced to the Delaware River. They crossed the icy Delaware eight miles north of Trenton and nine hours later 2400 men gathered around Washington to hear the order for the assault on Trenton.

The famous crossing: Washington and his army cross the Delaware River at night to attack the Hessian mercenaries at Trenton.

• The Hessians were sleeping at 8: 00 a. m. when the Americans entered the City. Minutes later, Washington's army attacked - killing five Hessian officers, one non commissioned officer, and sixteen privates. There were 918 prisoners taken to Newtown, Pennsylvania. Of the American losses, two soldiers supposedly froze to death, one or two American privates were wounded, and three officers were wounded, (including future president Lt. James Monroe).

The Battle of Saratoga, August. October 1777 • The British are harassed by colonial guerilla forces and end up stretching their supply lines. • The British will surrender to the Colonial forces led by General Horatio Gates • Saratoga is important because it is a major defeat for the British and shows the French that the colonies may be able to win the war

Battle of Saratoga • • • The first major American victory of the Revolutionary War, inflicting 600 British casualties. American losses are only 150. October 17, 1777 - After long negotiations, Gen. Burgoyne officially surrendered his 5700 man army on October 17. He was sent back to England in disgrace, and was never given another command. In Paris the victory is celebrated as if it had been a French victory. France recognizes the independence of America and enters the war on the side of the patriots. Money and supplies flowed to the American cause, providing Washington's Continental Army with the support necessary to continue its fight against Great Britain.

Victory at Saratoga !! Britain's loss at Saratoga proved disastrous, in that it signaled to the European powers that the rebels were capable of defeating the English on their own. More than any other single event, it would prove decisive in determining the eventual outcome of the War.

Yorktown • August 1, 1781 - British Gen. Cornwallis and his 10, 000 tired soldiers seek rest at the port of Yorktown, Virginia. • August 14, 1781 - Gen. Washington abruptly changes plans in favor of Yorktown after receiving a letter indicating a 29 -ship French fleet with 3000 soldiers is now heading for the Chesapeake Bay near Cornwallis. • Gen. Washington and Gen. Rochambeau rush their best troops south to Virginia to destroy the British position in Yorktown.

The Battle of Yorktown, October 1781 • The French are helping the Continental Army with men, weapons and warships • The Americans and the French will corner the British on a small peninsula and bombard them with cannon fire. • The British will surrender and end the American Revolution. • The colonists will win the American Revolution with this victory.

• • September 28, 1781 - Gen. Washington, with 17, 000 men, begins the siege of Yorktown. French cannons bombard Gen. Cornwallis and his 9000 men day and night while the Allied lines slowly advance and encircle them. British supplies run dangerously low. October 17, 1781 - As Yorktown is about to be taken, the British send out a flag of truce and surrender. October 19, 1781 - As their band plays the tune, "The world turned upside down, " the British army marches out in formation and surrenders. Hopes for a British victory in the war against America are gone. In the English Parliament, there will soon be calls to bring this long costly war to an end. October 24, 1781 – Ships with 7000 British reinforcements arrive but turn back on hearing of the surrender at Yorktown.

Battle of Yorktown

The British surrender