Battles of the American Revolution 4-3.3: Summarize the importance of the key battles of the Revolutionary War and the reasons for the American victories including Lexington and Concord, Bunker (Breed’s) Hill, Charleston, Saratoga, Cowpens, and Yorktown.

Lexington and Concord Small towns outside of Boston First shots of the Revolution were fired at Lexington How did it start? ◦ The British wanted to destroy military supplies at Concord and they wanted to capture troublemakers in Lexington, like the Sons of Liberty, Sam Adams, and John Hancock) ◦ When they arrived at Lexington, Minutemen were ready and the “shot heard round the world” started the Revolutionary War.

Battle of Lexington & Concord

Lexington and Concord Results? The Second Continental Congress met and named George Washington as Commander-in-Chief of the army that had formed near Boston after Lexington and Concord.

Battle of Bunker (Breed’s) Hill Important because of what American’s learned Before American troops were forced to surrender because they ran out of gunpowder, they inflicted heavy casualties on the British. Used “Indian Style” or “Partisan Warfare” where they fought behind rocks and trees. Also showed Americans needed allies to supply ammunition and assistance. After this, the British left to go to NY where they hoped to find more loyalists.

Battle of Bunker (Breed’s) Hill

Battle of Saratoga, New York Turning point of the war! The British tried to split the colonies at the Hudson River, but American forces defeated them. Because of this victory, the French (and Spanish and Dutch) were willing to become an alliance to the Americans Benjamin Franklin and John Adams helped with the alliance which brought ships, soldiers, supplies, and money.

Why did the French want to become our allies? To get back at England (remember that little thing called the French and Indian War??) To continue trade with the Americans.

Battle of Saratoga General Burgoyne surrendering his sword to General Gates

Charleston After defeat in Saratoga, the British turned their attention to S.C., where they hoped to find a large number of loyalists. Their previous attempt at capturing Charleston was unsucessful ◦ Remember William Jasper and the Palmetto Log fort that the cannonballs just bounced off of?

Siege of Charleston This time, the city was under attack for many days. It was attacked by blockading the harbor and cutting off supply lines until it fell to the British. Patriots began fighting the British and loyalists with their Partisan Warfare tactics.

Siege of Charleston

Battle of Cowpens Showed the cooperation of the regular continental army and partisan warfare fighters. Partisans led the attack and then fled the field, tricking the British into thinking they were retreating. Instead, the Partisans led them into the range of the Continental Army. The British were defeated and retreated toward Virginia.

Battle of Cowpens

Yorktown Final battle of the war French navy assisted General George Washington by blockading the harbor. This blockade prevented British ships from entering the harbor and allowing the British army to escape Now the British were surrounded on land and sea and surrendered. A peace treaty was negotiated by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay and agreed upon two years later (Peace of Paris in 1783)

Yorktown