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a critical, high-risk military maneuver led by General George Washington on the night of December 25–26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. Washington and his Continental Army crossed the icy river to launch a surprise attack on Hessian forces quartered in Trenton, New Jersey. This decisive victory dramatically boosted the Continental Army's morale and is considered a turning point in the war -
it was a decisive American victory that convinced France to ally with the fledgling United States, which provided critical military and financial aid that was instrumental in securing the ultimate American victory at Yorktown. The victory also boosted patriot morale, demonstrated the legitimacy of the American cause to other European powers, and successfully foiled a British plan to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies -
a pivotal event in the American Revolution, during which he and other patriots warned colonial militia that British troops were advancing from Boston to Lexington and Concord to seize military supplies and arrest leaders like Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Using a signal system and a horseback relay, Revere provided a crucial advantage by allowing the Minute Men to prepare, leading to the Battles of Lexington and Concord and sparking the war. -
the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War, marking the start of open armed conflict between Great Britain and the American colonies. British troops marched to seize colonial military supplies but were met by colonial militiamen at Lexington. After a brief clash at Lexington, they proceeded to Concord, but were forced into a disorganized retreat by increasing colonial forces. The British suffered heavy casualties from colonial ambushes during their march back to Boston -
Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17, 1775, during the early stages of the American Revolution, resulting in a British victory but a significant moral victory for the American colonists due to their high casualties. Though named after Bunker Hill, the majority of the fighting occurred on the nearby Breed's Hill, where colonial militia, under Colonel William Prescott, fortified their position and inflicted heavy losses on the British forces before running out of ammunition and retreating. -
a document formally adopted on July 4, 1776, by the Second Continental Congress, declaring the thirteen American colonies independent from Great Britain. It stated the principles of self-governance and rights for all people and listed the colonists' grievances against the British Crown, ultimately asserting their right to form their own government. -
Thomas Paine wrote "The American Crisis" series of pamphlets to inspire the Continental Army and the American public during the Revolution, with the first pamphlet starting with the famous words "These are the times that try men's souls". Written in plain language, the pamphlets aimed to boost morale, clarify the stakes of the war, and encourage perseverance against the challenges of the conflict, playing a crucial role in rallying support for the cause of American independence. -
a surprise attack by General George Washington and the Continental Army on the Hessian garrison in Trenton, New Jersey, on December 26, 1776. After crossing the icy Delaware River on Christmas night, the American forces overwhelmed the unsuspecting German mercenaries, securing a decisive victory that significantly boosted American morale and confidence in their cause. -
a period of extreme hardship for the Continental Army due to harsh weather, lack of food and supplies, and disease, leading to thousands of deaths from exposure and illness. Despite the suffering, General Washington's leadership, the construction of log huts for shelter, and Baron von Steuben's intensive training transformed the army into a disciplined fighting force, ready to continue the fight for independence. -
a decisive siege in 1781 where American and French forces, commanded by George Washington and Rochambeau, trapped British General Cornwallis's army in Yorktown, Virginia. The allied siege was aided by the French navy, which blocked escape and reinforcements, leading to Cornwallis's surrender on October 19, 1781. This decisive victory was the last major battle of the American Revolution and secured American independence -
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, formally ended the American Revolutionary War, recognizing the United States as an independent nation and setting its borders from the Atlantic to the Mississippi River. Key provisions included Britain's acknowledgment of American sovereignty, the establishment of boundaries, and fishing rights for Americans off the coast of Newfoundland. -
it was a major British effort to capture the American capital, which would have been a severe blow to Patriot morale and strategy, and because it resulted in the crucial American victory at Saratoga, which convinced France to form an alliance with the United States, ultimately securing the American victory in the Revolutionary War.