The Battles

IntroductionIntroduction• Lasting seven years, the American Revolution was decided through Lasting seven years, the American Revolution was decided through

the successes and failures of several important battles.the successes and failures of several important battles.• Each side, British and America had their own advantages they Each side, British and America had their own advantages they

would use to try and win the war.would use to try and win the war.– British:British:

• More guns, supplies, money and soldiersMore guns, supplies, money and soldiers• Experienced in classical warfare Experienced in classical warfare

– AmericansAmericans• Huge motivation fueled by protecting homes and freedomsHuge motivation fueled by protecting homes and freedoms• Knowledge of land led to guerilla warfare tacticsKnowledge of land led to guerilla warfare tactics

• With much help from foreign allies such as the French, America With much help from foreign allies such as the French, America would eventually defeat the British and gain its independence would eventually defeat the British and gain its independence

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Scenario 1: Battle of Gentry and Lange

Having recently exchanged fire with the British and being forced to retreat, you and your colonial army have regrouped and are planning

your next movement. In the initial battle, you lost ten out of your sixty men, causing your men to feel angry and seek retaliation. On the bright

side, word has spread across the country side about the British attack and people from all of the surrounding towns are rallying to your cause. You expect another 900 civilian but untrained men to join you in your battle

with the British. Your intelligence has reported that there are approximately 700 battle hardened, experienced British Red Coats

retreating from the city of Wabash and returning to their base in Broadway. You have also been informed that the route they are taking

takes them through the woods south of Ash which you and your men are very familiar. What is your plan of action?

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Scenario 2: Battle of Chapel Hill

The British have successfully captured the important sea port of

Broadway, the capital of your colony. You have managed to scrape together a militia of 2,000 untrained but armed colonial civilians and ordered them to surround the city. After several days of attacks, your army has run dangerously on ammunition. Broadway is festering with

well over 4,000 British troops trained and are prepared to fight at a moment’s notice. Your informants within Broadway have notified you that the British are planning an attack north of Broadway to split the

colonial army in two. Knowing that you are outnumbered but that you need to retake the city, you must decide where you are going to deploy

your troops to battle the British. In the area where the British are planning their attack, you have a small creek running into the city, a

dense and inaccessible forest, a hill over-looking the city and an open field. What is your plan of action?

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The Battle of Bunker HillThe Battle of Bunker Hill• After the events of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts After the events of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts

Minutemen surround Boston and are attacked by the BritishMinutemen surround Boston and are attacked by the British• Severely unsupplied and running out of ammunition, the Colonists Severely unsupplied and running out of ammunition, the Colonists

took position on Bunker Hill to gain an advantage.took position on Bunker Hill to gain an advantage.– Colonel William Prescott: “Don’t fire ‘till you see the whites in their Colonel William Prescott: “Don’t fire ‘till you see the whites in their

eyes”eyes”

• After much fighting, the Colonists were forced After much fighting, the Colonists were forced to retreat and surrender Bunker Hillto retreat and surrender Bunker Hill

• Casualties: Casualties: – Britain= over 1000Britain= over 1000– Colonial=400Colonial=400

• Significance: Though they lost the battle, the Significance: Though they lost the battle, the Colonists proved they could stand up to the Colonists proved they could stand up to the BritishBritish

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Scenario 3: Battle of Smithton

The revolution has been dragging on for about a year, but major

conflicts have been decreased due to the bitterly cold winters. Your troops, injured, ill and starving have threatened to desert the army. In

order to keep your troops from abandoning the cause, you need a major victory to boost morale. Several miles from your fort, a group of German mercenaries (hired soldiers) employed by the British are

celebrating Christmas. These mercenaries are battle hardened and well-trained but are only fighting for the money. To attack them directly might destroy what is left of your crumbling army but would be less taxing on your men. The other option is to take a route avoiding their defenses but that would force you to march for miles out of your way and to cross an ice-filled river. You are nearly out of supplies and will have only one shot at attacking this British fort. What is your plan of

action?

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Battle of TrentonBattle of Trenton• The British took control of New York City early in the The British took control of New York City early in the

war; began marching on New Jerseywar; began marching on New Jersey• Needing a victory to motivate his troops, Washington Needing a victory to motivate his troops, Washington

planned a sneak attack on a fort in Trenton, NJ on Dec. planned a sneak attack on a fort in Trenton, NJ on Dec. 26 177626 1776– The Patriots used the night to hide their movements and The Patriots used the night to hide their movements and

crossed the Delaware River undetectedcrossed the Delaware River undetected– As 900 German mercenaries (soldier for hire) slept, As 900 German mercenaries (soldier for hire) slept,

Washington attacked and captured the fort and everyone Washington attacked and captured the fort and everyone in it; lost only two menin it; lost only two men

• Significance: Motivated the colonists to continue Significance: Motivated the colonists to continue fighting the British when many were giving up hopefighting the British when many were giving up hope

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Scenario 4: Battle of Providence

With the war dragging on for its second year; the English Redcoats and

the Colonial militia are frustrated by their lack of accomplishments. Your troops are hunkered down near the small town of Providence, recuperating after a long day of marching. Your army needs rest and supplies to continue sustaining the revolution. You have received information from the local townspeople that the British army has

knowledge of your location near Providence. The townspeople also inform you that they out number you and well trained in European

strategy. The British have begun to move toward your position outside of Providence. You realized this while your camp is still lively, with campfires burning. You must take action quickly and lure the British into a trap. How do you ensure the safety of your army and use your

knowledge of the British troop movements to gain an advantage? What is your plan of action?

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Battle of PrincetonBattle of Princeton• Using his spy network, Washington learned that the Using his spy network, Washington learned that the

British were marching to attack the Continental ArmyBritish were marching to attack the Continental Army• Washington ordered his men to build huge fires Washington ordered his men to build huge fires

giving away their position and then hid in the woodsgiving away their position and then hid in the woods• When the British arrived, they attack toward the When the British arrived, they attack toward the

fires, find no soldiers and are then surrounded by the fires, find no soldiers and are then surrounded by the ColonistsColonists– In all, 300 British soldiers were captured and Princeton In all, 300 British soldiers were captured and Princeton

was taken under Colonial controlwas taken under Colonial control

• Significance: Shows the effectiveness of America’s Significance: Shows the effectiveness of America’s spying network, another major blow to the Britishspying network, another major blow to the British

Got Ya!!Got Ya!!

PSYCH!!

PSYCH!!

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Scenario 5: Battle of Hinkson Creek

With constant threat of total annihilation by a superior, well trained British army; the colonies’ Continental Army must have a decisive victory against the British to continue the Revolution. The other

European powers have their eyes trained on these rag-tag, poorly trained rebel colonists have what it takes to defeat the world’s most powerful

army. You are currently stationed surrounding the city of Creasy Springs where the Continental Congress is located. You have just

received a letter informing you that a large battalion of British soldiers are making its way south from Canada to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies. You know that there is a small group of colonists

trying to defend New England from this Canadian invasion. At the same time, Creasy Springs is being a threatened by another large British

battalion heading toward the city. You have to make a choice, save the capital of the colonies and the continental congress or save the upper

colonies from total obliteration. You need to send your troops somewhere. If you head north, you know that the British general is dragging his feet through the densely packed forest while around the

capital it is clear of trees. What is your plan of action?

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The turning point: The Battle of The turning point: The Battle of SaratogaSaratoga

• The British had two goals to defeat the colonistsThe British had two goals to defeat the colonists– Separate New England from the rest of the coloniesSeparate New England from the rest of the colonies– Capture Philadelphia (Unofficial capital of the colonies)Capture Philadelphia (Unofficial capital of the colonies)

• British Generals William Howe and John Burgoyne plan British Generals William Howe and John Burgoyne plan to join their troops to split New England away from the to join their troops to split New England away from the other coloniesother colonies– While moving to meet with Burgoyne’s army, Howe learns While moving to meet with Burgoyne’s army, Howe learns

Philadelphia is undefended and decides to attackPhiladelphia is undefended and decides to attack– Washington purposefully left Philadelphia undefended to Washington purposefully left Philadelphia undefended to

draw Howe in, blocks Howe’s movement Northdraw Howe in, blocks Howe’s movement North• Burgoyne’s army is captured, biggest victory to dateBurgoyne’s army is captured, biggest victory to date

Burgoyne

Howe

Gates

Washington

We’re Saved!!!!!

The turning point: The Battle of Saratoga

• Significance: The victory Significance: The victory at Saratoga convinced at Saratoga convinced France to join on the France to join on the colonial side; considered colonial side; considered the key to Colonial victorythe key to Colonial victory

• The French provide:The French provide:– Money, Guns, SoldiersMoney, Guns, Soldiers– Generals like Marquis de Generals like Marquis de

LafayetteLafayette– Most importantly: A NavyMost importantly: A Navy

The turning point: The Battle of Saratoga

– Valley ForgeValley Forge• Washington’s troops Washington’s troops

set up Winter Camp set up Winter Camp at Valley Forgeat Valley Forge

• General Fredrick von General Fredrick von Steuben joined the Steuben joined the Americans after their Americans after their victoryvictory

• Trained Washington’s Trained Washington’s men into experienced men into experienced soldierssoldiers– Also introduced the Also introduced the

bayonetbayonet

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Scenario 6: Battle of Georgetown

As the war draws to a close, you and your troops have surrounded the

city of Georgetown, the last stronghold of the British Army. The British military inside are battle hardened experience soldiers, but morale is low

as they sense their certain defeat. Just outside of Georgetown, the powerful British navy quickly approaches to resupply and attack the

colonial army. Unlike in most battles, your army outnumbers that of the British and your men can sense victory is just within their reach. Despite the high morale, the Continental Army is preparing for a long drawn out battle or siege. You gain an advantage when your troops gain access to a

small navy to help combat the British forces. Making this task even more difficult, the Continental Army is badly in need of more supplies

and ammunition. You have secured the towns and land surrounding Georgetown and must develop a plan to force the British surrender

before the British Navy arrives. What is your plan of action?

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The War Ends: Battle of Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris

• The war continues for five more years until there is one The war continues for five more years until there is one British general left to defeat: General Charles CornwallisBritish general left to defeat: General Charles Cornwallis

• Washington surrounded Cornwallis in Yorktown attacked Washington surrounded Cornwallis in Yorktown attacked the British there for 18 daysthe British there for 18 days

• British ships try to bring reinforcements to help British ships try to bring reinforcements to help Cornwallis, but are blocked by the French navy from Cornwallis, but are blocked by the French navy from entering the Chesapeake Bayentering the Chesapeake Bay– On October 18On October 18thth,Cornwallis surrenders and the war ends,Cornwallis surrenders and the war ends

• Significance: The French help the colonists defeat the last Significance: The French help the colonists defeat the last remaining British General and the war will soon be overremaining British General and the war will soon be over

British Navy

WashingtonYorktown

Rochambeau

French Navy

Cornwallis

The War Ends: Battle of Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris

• The Treaty of Paris The Treaty of Paris official ends the war official ends the war between Britain and between Britain and AmericaAmerica

• The treaty…:The treaty…:– Makes Britain recognize Makes Britain recognize

America’s independenceAmerica’s independence– Gives America all the Gives America all the

land south of the Great land south of the Great Lakes and East of the Lakes and East of the Mississippi RiverMississippi River