Post on 05-Jan-2016
Fighting At Lexington
LEXINGTON
April 19, 1775
British troops are looking for weapons and ammo in the towns surrounding Boston.
American minutemen clash with British troops.
8 Americans killed.
LEXINGTON
• WHO WINS?
• British regulars
• WHY?
• Training, better weapons, unprepared enemy.
LEXINGTON
• IMPACT
• First battle of the American Revolution
CONCORD
• British troops move on to Concord.
• American militia has time to rally and they defeat the British as they cross a bridge.
• British retreat back to Boston
Battle of Concord – The Bridge
CONCORD
• WHO WINS?
• American militia
• WHY?
• Guerilla tactics
CONCORD
• IMPACT
• British get pinned down in Boston, lose 300 men.
• Americans lose 50 men.
The Bridge Today
BREED’S (BUNKER) HILL
• June 17, 1775
• British troops try to break out of Boston.
• The attack a well defended hill.
• 2,600 British regulars vs. 1,400 American militia.
British Troops Advancing up Breed’s Hill
•“DON’T FIRE UNTIL YOU SEE THE
WHITES OF THEIR EYES”
BREED’S (BUNKER) HILL
• WHO WINS
• The British (technically), but they lose over 1/3 of their force in the process (over 1,000 killed and wounded)
• WHY?
• British training allow them to take the hill, even with huge losses.
BREED’S (BUNKER) HILL
• IMPACT• British lose a large portion of their
army in Boston and are forced to give up the town.
• Americans show that they are serious.
• Following this battle, George Washington takes over the American army.
Battle of Trenton – Washington Crossing the Delaware
TRENTON
• December 26, 1776
• Washington’s army is falling apart and he needs a victory.
• He locates an isolated British force and executes a daring sneak attack.
• The British force was mostly German mercenaries called “Hessians”
TRENTON
• WHO WINS?
• The Americans (4 wounded)
• 100 Hessian casualties, plus 1,000 captured
• WHY?
• The daring nature of their attack.
• The fact that many of the Hessians were drunk also helped.
Crossing the Delaware
TRENTON
• IMPACT
• Moral victory for America. Right in the middle of their darkest hour, Washington keeps the army together with a big win.
BRANDYWINE
• Sept 11, 1777
• British troops have captured New York City and are moving on to the Colonial capital at Philadelphia.
BRANDYWINE
• WHO WINS?
• British troops soundly defeat Washington.
• Americans lose about 1,200 men, British lose about 500.
• WHY?
• Washington’s plan is too complex and he tries to fight in the European style.
BRANDYWINE
• IMPACT
• Philadelphia falls to the British.
• Washington realizes the need to change tactics and train his troops.
VALLEY FORGE
• Winter of 1777-78
• Washington’s army goes into winter quarters.
• 2,500 men die of disease, exposure and starvation.
• The remainder receive training and unite as a group.
SARATOGA
• July-October 1777
• British try to cut the American colonies in half by taking control of the Hudson River in New York.
Saratoga
SARATOGA
• WHO WINS?
• Americans - capture or kill about 9,000 men.
• WHY?
• Guerilla warfare.
• Poor leadership of “Gentleman” John Burgoyne
Gen. Johnny Burgoyne
SARATOGA
• IMPACT
• Americans capture 6,000 British troops
• Victory proves to Europeans that America has a chance of winning the war.
• Turning point of the war.
Gen. Burgoyne Surrendering
YORKTOWN
• Sept-October 1781
• British flee from a combined French-American force.
• Besieged at Yorktown for several weeks.
YORKTOWN
• WHO WINS?
• American/French
• WHY?
• Americans have the help of the French army and navy
YORKTOWN
• IMPACT
• British surrender about 7,000 men (their last major army in America).
• The war ends
Yorktown