Important Battles During the American Revolution

1. Important Battles During the American Revolution A Revolutionary Adventure with Mrs. Shreck!

2. Lexington and Concord- 1775 • Colonists stored their military supplies in Concord, Massachusetts. • General Gage of the British army was commanded to destroy the supplies. • Paul Revere and William Dawes made the famous midnight ride to warn the Americans of the British coming. • Minutemen met up with the British in Lexington, where the first shots were fired. • No one is sure who shot the first bullet, but it was the “shot heard round the world” THE WAR HAD BEGUN!

3. Bunker Hill- 1775 • Fought near Boston, Massachusetts. • Actually took place on Breed’s Hill. • Americans lost this battle, but the British lost more than 40% of their force! This encouraged the Continental Army!

4. Saratoga- • Considered the turning point in the war. • Upon winning this battle, France decided to join the Patriots and help their efforts!

5. Valley Forge-1777 • Washington and his troops made their winter camp 20 miles outside of Philadelphia. • British were in Philadelphia. • It was a terrible winter for the Continental Army filled with disease, starvation, and freezing conditions! • Another turning point: Frenchman, Baron Friedrich von Steuben helped to train the troops. They were a strong fighting force by springtime!

6. Yorktown- 1781 • This was the last major battle of the American Revolution! • French Admiral de Grasse was sailing to Virginia to prevent the British Army from leaving Yorktown. • Washington and French General Rochambeau rushed troops to Yorktown to trap the British and prevent them from escaping over land! • The British were surrounded and they surrendered to George Washington and the Continental Army. The Americans won the war!