The American Revolution Major Battles of the War for American Independence

Major Battles of the American Revolution Lexington & Concord The Battle of Saratoga The Battle of New York The Battle of Bunker Hill The Battle of Yorktown The Battles of Trenton and Princeton American Victory British Victory

Lexington & Concord Location - “Shot heard ‘round the world” fired at Lexington, MA. Battles raged on the road from Concord to Boston, MA. Generals - British - Thomas Gage American Militia - John Parker, General Warren Strategy - American militia harasses and ambushes the British on the 20 mile march back to Boston. Guerrilla Warfare. Casualties - British = more than 250. Americans = fewer than 100 Outcome - American Victory - Patriots keep their weapons and inflict heavy losses on the British Significance - “Shot heard ‘round the world” started The Revolutionary War. Americans proved their fighting skill 6

The Battle of Bunker Hill Location - Breed’s Hill and Bunker Hill. Boston, MA. Generals - British - William Howe. American - William Prescott Strategy - Americans were lightly entrenched on top of Breed’s Hill. British forces made several direct charges up the steep hills. Casualties - British = more than 1,000. Americans = ~ 450 Outcome - British Victory (Pyrrhic Victory) Significance - British forces gained little and suffered heavy losses. Americans proved they could stand up to the British. 6

The Battle of New York Location - Long Island, NY Generals - British -William Howe American - George Washington Strategy - 32,000 British soldiers trapped 23,000 American soldiers on Long Island in the biggest battle of the war. Casualties - British = 4,000 American = 4,500 Outcome -British Victory. Washington’s worst defeat of the war. Significance - The British take New York City. Washington’s army escapes to fight another day. 6

The Battles of Trenton and Princeton Location - Trenton and Princeton, NJ Generals - Hessian - Johann Rall British- Cornwallis American -Washington Strategy - American surprise attack on Hessian camp at Trenton. Followed by rear-guard action against the British at Princeton. Casualties -Hessians = 900 captured at Trenton British = ~ 450 at Princeton American = ~ 100 total Outcome - Two Important American Victories Significance - Washington won a much needed victory, American soldiers re-enlist for another year. 6

The Battle of Saratoga Location - Saratoga, NY Generals - British - John Burgoyne American -Horatio Gates Strategy- American’s ambush British forces on the road between Fort Ticonderoga and Saratoga Casualties - British = ~7,500 capture American = ~350 Outcome - Major American Victory Significance - After this victory France joins the War as an American ally. 6

The Battle of Yorktown Location - Yorktown, VA. Generals - British - Lord Cornwallis American - George Washington Strategy - Siege. British were trapped between the French Navy and the Continental Army. Casualties - British = captured 7,800 American = 388 killed Outcome - Huge American Victory, British lose an entire army Significance - This is the victory that won the War for Independence! 6