The American The American RevolutionRevolution

The The FightFight for for IndependenceIndependence

Battles of Lexington and ConcordBattles of Lexington and Concord

April 1775 April 1775

Battles of Lexington and ConcordBattles of Lexington and Concord

April 19, 1775April 19, 1775

Lexington was invaded by 700 British troops, while Lexington was invaded by 700 British troops, while there were only 70 militiamen. Though nobody’s there were only 70 militiamen. Though nobody’s really sure who fired the first shot, Ralph Waldo really sure who fired the first shot, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that it was “the shot heard around Emerson wrote that it was “the shot heard around the world. the world.

When the British marched to Concord, almost 4000 When the British marched to Concord, almost 4000 minutemen and militiamen lined the streets, chasing minutemen and militiamen lined the streets, chasing the British troops back to Boston. The famous the British troops back to Boston. The famous Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first of Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first of many in the American Revolution.many in the American Revolution.

Key American RevolutionariesKey American RevolutionariesGeorge Washington Patrick Henry

John Hancock Thomas Jefferson

Key American RevolutionariesKey American Revolutionaries

Battles of Bunker and Breed’s HillBattles of Bunker and Breed’s Hill

June 1775June 1775

The British Army paid a The British Army paid a terrible price to dislodge terrible price to dislodge the Continental troops for the Continental troops for Bunker Hill and Breed’s Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill. American Colonel Hill. American Colonel William Prescott had William Prescott had ordered his men, ordered his men, “DON’T “DON’T FIRE UNTIL YOU SEE FIRE UNTIL YOU SEE THE WHITES OF THEIR THE WHITES OF THEIR EYES!!”.EYES!!”.

Battle Of SaratogaBattle Of SaratogaThe Turning PointThe Turning Point

Summer and early fall Summer and early fall 17771777The defeat of Gen. The defeat of Gen. Burgoyne’s British troops Burgoyne’s British troops by Gen. Gates and by Gen. Gates and Benedict Arnold at the Benedict Arnold at the series of battles at series of battles at Saratoga, showed the Saratoga, showed the French that the French that the Americans were worth Americans were worth helping. These led to helping. These led to French military aid ad French military aid ad support.support.

The Winter at Valley ForgeThe Winter at Valley Forge

Winter of 1777-1778Winter of 1777-1778

Washington’s TroopsWashington’s Troops

Lacked the most Lacked the most basic of supplies.basic of supplies.

The Bonhomme Richard Vs. The SerapisThe Bonhomme Richard Vs. The Serapis

American Naval Officer American Naval Officer John Paul JonesJohn Paul Jones led his led his crew to a hard fought crew to a hard fought victory over the British victory over the British warship warship SerapisSerapis

When asked if he wished When asked if he wished to surrender during the to surrender during the fight, Jones saidfight, Jones said “ “I have I have not yet begun to Fight!!”not yet begun to Fight!!” which has become the which has become the motto of the U.S. Navy.motto of the U.S. Navy.

Battle of YorktownBattle of Yorktown

The battle of Yorktown The battle of Yorktown was started in October was started in October 1781, campaign of the 1781, campaign of the American Revolution. At American Revolution. At the battle of Yorktown the battle of Yorktown General Cornwallis General Cornwallis surrendered.surrendered.

Charles Cornwallis was born in 1738 and died in Charles Cornwallis was born in 1738 and died in 1805. He was a British General in the Battle of 1805. He was a British General in the Battle of Yorktown where he was defeated. He also Yorktown where he was defeated. He also surrendered because the lack of supplies, also surrendered because the lack of supplies, also by the French fleet surrounding them at the by the French fleet surrounding them at the Chesapeake Bay, and the hope of winning.Chesapeake Bay, and the hope of winning.

Treaty of Paris 1783

Ended the Revolutionary WarThe United States was independentThe Boundaries were set at the Mississippi River, Canada, and Spanish Florida, Debts would be paid back to one another