Key Moments & Players in the American Revolution

1. WARM UP • What was the significance of Washington’s actions at Valley Forge? • Why Saratoga is considered a turning of the American Revolution? • Which country was an ally to America? (Provided powerful Navy)

2. Written by: Greg Clevenger

3. Lexington and Concord

4. British Advantages • Well-equipped • Disciplined • Strongest navy

5. American Advantages • Accuracy of the rifle • Knowledge of the land • Guerilla warfare tactics • Superb command

6. Patriot Video Single click screen to view video:

7. Military Leaders—American • George Washington: Commander of Americans Forces • Nathanael Greene: Top Strategist • Henry Knox: Artillery Expert • Benedict Arnold: Commander under Washington

8. British Leaders • General Charles Cornwallis • General John Burgoyne • Benedict Arnold • William Howe • All considered America one of the worst places to serve

9. Marquis de Lafayette Other Key Players • France, Spain, Germany and Poland • Hessian mercenaries from Germany • The Marquis de Lafayette: Frenchman who supported American cause • Huge percentage of American gunpowder came from France

10. Other Key Players • Bernardo De Galvez: Spanish lord in Mexico • Baron Friedrich von Steuben: German military commander who helped train American troops • Nathan Hale: American Spy “ I regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

11. Battle of Bunker Hill - 1775 • Bunker Hill located near Boston • Red Coats victorious in third charge • Americans ran out of ammunition • Moral victory for American Army

12. Bunker Hill • Costliest battle for British during whole war • British casualties 1,054 • American casualties 441 • British began to get nervous • Washington took command of the army two weeks after this battle

13. Bunker Hill Famous Quote “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” —Israel Putnam

14. Battle of Trenton—1776 • Surprise attack the day after Christmas • Washington crossed the Delaware • Approximately 1000 German soldiers fighting for the British captured

15. More Significant Battles • Saratoga • Winter at Valley Forge • Yorktown • Were blend of successes and failures for American Army

16. Battle of Saratoga – 1777 • The turning point of the war • The biggest American victory at the time • Approximately 5,000 British surrender to Washington

17. Battle of Saratoga – 1777 • After the American victory France changed its policies. • Feb. 1778 France and American formed an alliance • France declared war on Britain the next month • Spain declared war in 1779 • Bernardo de Galvez chased British troops out of Louisiana and Florida.

18. Valley Forge – 1777-1778 • American Army out of food and clothing • Valley Forge briefly a refuge • Supplies ran out and many died • Washington appeals to Congress for help • Low point for American Army • Any deserters are shot

19. Valley Forge – 1777-1778 • Marquis de Lafayette joined Washington as an aide • Friedrich von Steuben drilled the troops teaching them military discipline

20. John Paul Jones Battle of Yorktown—1781 • French blockade aided this final battle • Escape for the British was impossible • British General Cornwallis faced American forces approximately twice his size

21. Yorktown

22. Yorktown • Approximately 8,700 British troops surrendered • Pinned in by American and French Naval fleets • General Benjamin Lincoln accepted the surrender sword • British bands played “The World has Turned Upside Down”

23. The Treaty of Paris • 1783: The Treaty of Paris officially ends the Revolutionary War