Revolutionary War Begins!

1. Revolutionary War Begins! America declares Independence

2. King George rejects letter from Continental Congress. Sends General Gage to Concord where spies say that the Americans are stock- piling weapons. The First Battles of the War

3. “The British are Coming!”Paul Revere and William Dawes

4. Gage leaves Boston headed for concord with 700 troops. Minutemen meet them in Lexington. Easy victory for British. LEXINGTON

5. Colonists moved the gunpowder and weapons before the British got there. Angry British started to burn the city. Colonists attacked the British army at North Bridge causing them to retreat back to Boston. CONCORD

6. Route of the British Troops attacking Lexington and Concord then retreating

7. 4,000 minutemen were lined up along the road back to Boston. They fired upon the Redcoats killing 74. About 10 miles from Concord to Boston Bloody Retreat

8. Continental Congress named George Washington Commander-in-Chief. Troops were undisciplined and weapons were scarce. Continental Army

9. Colonial militia decided to take a position on Breeds Hill just outside Boston. British General William Howe attacked them with 2,000 redcoats. 1,000 British troops killed or wounded. American’s ran out of gunpowder and retreated. Battle mistakenly named Bunker Hill was fought on Breed’s Hill. Battle of Bunker Hill

10. Siege of Boston General George Washington brought his troops and canons to the ridge overlooking Boston. General Howe evacuated 9,000 troops from Boston.

11. Olive Branch Petition Continental Congress sent a nice letter to King George in 1775. King George called them Traitors. Common Sense Thomas Paine published a pamphlet that made practical arguments for Independence. 120,000 copies printed. Independence Heats Up

12. Thomas Payne wrote Common Sense, an easily read pamphlet outlining the conflict to the colonists. John Locke a British Enlightenment Philosopher wrote of the natural rights of man being life, liberty, and property. Spirit of Revolution

13. Franklin, Adams and Jefferson Thomas Jefferson borrowed the idea of Natural Rights from Philosopher John Locke in declaring America’s independence. Signed July 4th, 1776 by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Independence Day!

14. Signing of the Declaration of Independence

15. British Generals Howe, Gage, Cornwallis, and Clinton lead well trained “Redcoat” troops. 50,000 Loyalists fought, 80,000 Loyalists fled the country. 30,000 hired Mercenaries (Hessians from Germany) Indians supported British fearing American expansion. American Hero Benedict Arnold switch sides and became Brigadier General for the British. General Washington lead Patriot Forces. Out of 350,000 eligible men in Colonies, 200,000 saw action. 5,000 African-American. No more than 25,000 engaged at one time. Half served in Continental Army under Washington, other half served in militia companies. Approx. 25,000 died. Tale of the Tape

16. Battle of Trenton British capture New York and dominate poorly equipped and trained Patriots. Washington uses unconventional tactic of fighting during winter. Crosses Delaware River in middle of night with 2,400 troops capturing Hessians in Trenton, inspiring confidence.

17. France agrees to alliance with United States, Feb 6th, 1778. - Navy and Troops Spain also enters war on U.S. side. Some Dutch, Polish and Germans also join U.S. cause. Marquis de Lafayette A little help from English Enemies

18. From 1778 – 1781 U.S. would fight battle of attrition, French naval blockade and troops would turn tide. Valley Forge – Continental Army endured winter. Battle of Yorktown – Rochembeau’s army and Washington’s army force Cornwallis to surrender October 19, 1781. Surrender at Yorktown Victory!

19. Treaty of Paris, 1783 • Great Britain recognized U.S. independence. • Northern border between British Canada and U.S. set in current location. • Mississippi River set as boundary between U.S. and New Spain. • Florida returned to Spain. • Great Britain withdraws remaining troops. • U.S. agreed not to persecute loyalists. (did anyway)