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