1. Unit 2 Part 2: The American Revolution
Battles
Source: US History for Dummies/NC Journey Through NC

2. Lexington & Concord 1775
The beginning of the American Revolutionary war started with “the shot heard ‘round the world.
The British arrived in Lexington on April 19th with 700 soldiers. They encountered 77 Minutemen who were told not to fire unless fired upon.*

3. Lexington & Concord Cont….
As the British continued towards Concord, the presence of the militia grew. Though the British won this battle 250 British deaths to 90 Americans.

4. Bunker Hill June 17, 1775
This battle was actually fought on Breed’s Hill, which is next to Bunker Hill. 1,400 Americans held the hill, while 2,500 British attacked.
Though the British won this battle as well, the carnage shook the British commander William Howe.*

5. Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge February 27, 1776
North Carolina
American forces defeated the British, bring an end to British authority in NC. This win boosted the morale of the Patriots. North Carolina became the first state to vote for independence from Britain.

6. Trenton & Princeton December 24, 1776
After Washington and his men avoided the British by crossing the Delaware River. The conditions were very icy and dangerous. These battles are remembered because Washington surprised a Hessian (German soldiers for hire.) brigade on Christmas Eve The Hessian were drunk and sleeping from their holiday celebration.

7. Trenton & Princeton NJ cont…
Washington success at Trenton was measured in the number of Hessians he captured, 900 and the collection of 1200 weapons.
But more importantly, his victory did not cost one American life.
The following win in Princeton again, boosted the morale of the Patriots.

8. Battle at Saratoga October 17, 1777
The British lost 2 battles near Saratoga; this American victory convinced the French to enter the war on the American side. The win also came with the surrender of 6,000 British soldiers.
This battle is considered the “turning point” of the war. *

9. The battle of kings mountain NC October 7, 1780
A group of frontier Patriots known as the “over-mountain men” attacked a new force of British Loyalist killing 400 men. This battle convinced more North Carolinians to join the Patriot’s cause. This battle is also considered a turning point because it was the first major victory after Cornwallis invaded Charleston. Thomas Jefferson called it “the turn of the tides of success.”*

10. Guildford court house march 15, 1781
The battle at Guildford Court House was a bittersweet victory for the British after General Cornwallis lost a quarter of his troops. Cornwallis had already lost many men on his move through NC and focused his attention on Major General, Nathaniel Green of the Continental Army. Greene called for his men to retreat, only after shooting as many Loyalists as they could.

11. The Battle at Yorktown October 19, 1781
General George Washington 17,000 American and French troops against General Lord Charles Cornwallis and his 9,ooo British troops. This is considered as the most important battle of the Revolutionary War.*

12. YorkTown Cont…..
The end of the Revolutionary War. History Channel
“Cornwallis chose Yorktown, at the mouth of the Chesapeake, as his base. Washington realized that it was time to act. He ordered Marquis de Lafayette and an American army of 5,000 troops to block Cornwallis' escape from Yorktown by land while the French naval fleet blocked the British escape by sea.”

13. Yorktown cont…
“By September 28, Washington had completely encircled Cornwallis and Yorktown with the combined forces of Continental and French troops. After three weeks of non-stop bombardment, both day and night, from cannon and artillery, Cornwallis surrendered to Washington in the field at Yorktown on October 17, 1781, effectively ending the War for Independence.”*

14. Vocabulary and IDs Minutemen Militia Carnage Hessians
General George Washington
General Lord Charles Cornwallis
Major General Nathaniel Greene
Marquis de Lafayette