REVOLUTIONARY WAR
* Topic/Objective
Describe the 4 key battles of the Revolutionary War
* Essential Question
How did the Key battles of the Am Revolution result in
the colonies independence from Britain?
* Colonial Attempts to Avoid War – Nothing Worked
1) Boycotts: To avoid buying
or using products as a protest
2) Diplomacy: Sending
ambassadors to Britain to
protest laws & taxes
3) Active Resistance: Direct
disobedience
 Sons of Liberty
 Boston Tea Party
*Battle of Lexington & Concord – April 1775
1) First battle of Revolution
2) 700 British troops sent to
Concord w/orders to:
 Arrest Samuel Adams &
John Hancock in Lex
 Capture colonial arms &
gunpowder in Concord
* Battle of Lexington & Concord – April 1775
3) “Midnight Ride” of Paul Revere
to warn Patriots “the Br are coming”
4) Br were met by 70 Minutemen
 8 Patriots killed near Lex
 4,000 Patriots lined the road
between Lex & Concord
 Br Redcoats forced to retreat
back to Boston
* Battle of Lexington & Concord – April 1775
5) Am Victory – Br Defeated
Known as the “Shot
Heard Round the World”

 The
Revolution begins!
* Declaration of Independence – July 4, 1776
1) Main author: Thomas
Jefferson
2) Founding Document:

Declared Am Colonies
independent & free from
Britain
Declaration of Independence – July 4, 1776

“Chain of Abuses” = a list
of the colonies grievances
(complaints) vs. England.

Stated people had the right
to overthrow an unjust
gov’t.
* George Washington
1) Plantation Owner from Virginia
2) Farmer, Surveyor, Military
3) Elected Commander of the
Continental Army
4) One of our Founding Fathers
5) Considered a great leader
* Battle of Trenton - December 1776
1) The Battle
 Surprise Attack on Christmas night
 Washington led his troops across
the icy Delaware River to Trenton
 Br soldiers & Hessians (hired
German soldiers) were camped
 Most were asleep from drinking &
holiday celebrating
* Battle of Trenton - December 1776
2) Significance of this battle

Washington’s 1st major victory

Boosted colonial morale
Renewed colonists’ faith in
George Washington


As a result, Continental Army
gained more recruits
* Battles of Saratoga – Aug to Oct 1777
1) The Battles

Saratoga - Located near
Albany, NY
 17,000 American vs.
17,000 British troops
 Continental Army won
* Battles of Saratoga – Aug to Oct 1777
* Battles of Saratoga – Aug to Oct 1777
2) Significance:
“Turning point of the war”
 Stopped Britain from splitting the
colonies into two regions
 Convinced European nations that
Am colonies could defeat Britain
 Convinced France to become an
ally; Fr sends $$ & troops to aid the
colonists

* Battle of Yorktown – Aug 1781
1) The Battle
 Yorktown - Located in Virginia
 British General Cornwallis
marched Br Army North to be
picked up by Br Navy
 Fr ships blockaded the Bay; kept
Br fleet from rescuing Gen C & his
troops
 Fr ships bombarded Br troops
 Br trapped by Fr and Am troops
* Battle of Yorktown – Aug 1781
2) Significance of the Battle

Final Battle; ends the Rev War
 Colonists would not have won
w/o French military support
 Br Gen C surrenders in great
shame
 G Washington & Continental
Army declare VICTORY!
* Benjamin Franklin
1) Multi-talented individual: Printer,
scientist, inventor, & Am ambassador
2) Helped edit the Dec of Independence
3) Traveled to France during the Rev
War to seek help from the Fr Gov’t
4) Helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris
* Treaty of Paris -1783
1) The Peace Treaty

Official end of the Am Rev
 Peace talks took place in
Paris, France
 Negotiated by Ben Franklin,
John Adams, & John Jay.
* Treaty of Paris - 1783
2) Outcomes: Terms of the Treaty

Colonies gain freedom from Br rule

US recognized as an independent
country

US boundaries moved: W to the
Mississippi River, N to Canada, & S to
Florida

Each side would repay debts it owed
the other
W