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The Battle of Concord
The British continued on to Concord where they found an empty arsenal and after a small fight with the minutemen they gathered to make their way back. By then 3,000 and 4,000 minutemen had gathered and began to fire from behind walls and trees. Soldiers fell by the dozen. Remaining soldiers made their way back to boston and the minutemen became enemies of Britian -
The Battle of Lexington
The Redcoats reached Lexington, Massachusetts April 19, 1775 and saw 70 minutemen drawn up in lines on the village green. They were ordered to leave and as they began to, someone fired and the British officers sent a volley of shots into the departing militia. This battle, the first battle of the Revolutionary War, lasted only 15 minutes. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Known as the deadliest battle of war, the British decided to attack militiamen near Bunker Hill. 2,400 soldiers went up the hill and fired at the last minute. By the time the smoke cleared, colonists lost 400 men and the British suffered over 1,000 casualties. -
The Battle of New York and Trenton
In an effort to stop the rebellion, the British attempted to seize New York City. They sailed into New York Harbor the summer of 1776 with 32,000 soldiers. The Continental Army tried to defend New York but eventually retreated. To have an early victory, Washington risked it all and set up an attack on Christmas night. 2,400 men attacked a groups of soldiers in Trenton, New Jersey, but the British soon regrouped. -
The Surrender at Saratoga
One of the most important events of war on October 17, 1777. Burgoyne made the journey to Saratoga but failed to realize his troops would not be joining him. He surrendered to the American troops. This pushed the French to believe American could win the war and signed an alliance with them Feb. 1778 to join their fight. -
The Struggle at Valley Forge
As this positive turn of events occurred, Washington and his Continental Army were fighting to survive at winter camp with low food and supplies.Over 2,000 soldiers died. -
Marquis de Lafayette
The American troops received help from drillmasters by getting training. Other foreign military leaders like Marquis de Lafayette lobbied France for French reinforcements in 1779. He also led command in Virginia during the last years of war. WIth this help the Continental Army became an effective fighting force. -
Funds from Philadelphia
Morris and Salomon begged and borrowed on their personal credit to try to raise money for the Continental Army. They were able to raise funds from the Philadelphia Quakers and Jews. Civilians were also affected, women were forced to take on jobs of the men at home and some even joined them in war to care for the troops or fight themselves. Slaves also had to opportunity to escape or some chose to fight alongside the white men. -
British Surrender at Yorktown
The armies of Lafayette and Washington moved into Yorktown. A French naval force had defeated a british fleet and blocked the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. In late September 17,000 French and American troops surrounded and bombarded the British.They finally surrendered a month later. The Americans had defeated the British. -
Signing of the Treaty of Paris
This confirmed US independence and set boundaries for the new nation.