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On April 18th, 1775, two lanterns were lit to let people know that the British would be crossing the Charles River. Paul Revere began a ride that evening to warn not only the townspeople, but mainly to warn John Hancock and Samual Adams.
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The British began marching from the Charles River to Concord, Massachusetts. Since Paul Revere had already warned his friends that that British were coming, the Americans engaged in the very first battle in Lexington, while the British were on their way to Concord. The British won this battle.
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By the time the Brititsh reached Concord the Americans had hidden most of their weapons. Many of the Americans were able to get the British soldiers to help them put out fires which gave the Americans more time to gather more people to help them fight the British.
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This battle was important for the Americans in winning the war. The British were taking over Boston, but they were running low on ammunitition. George Washington decided to attack the British from the front to distract them, while another group attacked British ships in the harbor. Then, a terrible snowstorm came during the night, which kept the British from attacking the Americans. The British left Boston without destroying anything, because Americans agreed not to attack them on their way out.
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The British won this battle, but it took the lives of so many of their men that it is often described as an American victory. The British took Boston, but knew they could not afford to win another battle in such a terrible way.
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This was the first formal document that the American patriots wrote to declare that the colonies no longer consider themselves to be under British rule.
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The British won in New York, so George Washington was desperate to win this battle. George Washington was encouraged when another force of American soldiers met thewm halfway in their march to the battle of Trenton. The Americans won the battle of Trenton and made it home knowing that independence was not impossible.
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The surrender of General Burgoyne renewed American hopes and also brought France fully into the war.
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On that day, the British and Americans signed a treaty of peace. The Americans were finally free.
