1. Bell Ringer Who was Thomas Paine and what was Common Sense?
What was the purpose of the Committees of Correspondence?
What signaled the beginning of the American Revolution?
Where were the first shots of the American Revolution fired?

2. Unit 2: The American Revolution
Lesson 3: American Revolutionary War

3. Click on the following link for the video http://www. history

4. Lexington and Concord Town of Concord had an army of “minutemen”
The King considered this a rebellious act
King sent British troops
Paul Revere warns the troops in Lexington and Concord
The first battle of the Revolutionary War begins!
Click the link on the slide to view a short video on the battle of Lexington and Concord.

5. General George Washington- the Second Continental Congress made him commander of the Continental Army
The early war effort goes poorly for the Americans as they lose several key battles

6. Crossing the Delaware River
Most armies of the time didn’t fight during the winter because of the poor weather conditions, and scarcity of food
On December 25th 1776, Washington, needing a victory to convince many of his soldiers to reenlist, crosses the Delaware River into NJ and captures almost 1,000 British troops and their supplies in Trenton, New Jersey
Click on the link on the slide to view a short video on the surprise attack in Trenton.

7. The Americans appeal to the French
The French, old enemies of Britain, began to secretly send supplies to the Americans
Benjamin Franklin is sent to France in 1776 to try and persuade the French to enter the war. He stayed in France until 1785
The Americans wanted France to send troops as well, but France wanted an impressive American victory before declaring
war on Britain

8. Battle of Saratoga
In October 1777, the Americans defeated the British at Saratoga, NY.
This American victory was a turning point in the war because it boosted American moral and brought France into the war against Britain

9. Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
1777: The British capture Philadelphia in September , Washington takes his troops into winter quarters at Valley Forge
Poorly equipped and supplied, the cold, food shortages, and diseases, kill nearly 2,500 men

10. Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
As a part of the American-French alliance Marquis de Lafayette joined Washington at Valley Forge and helped train the army. He also helped convince the French to send more aid to the Americans.

11. Yorktown, Virginia
In April 1781, British forces led by General Cornwallis invade Virginia
Cornwallis moves his troops to Yorktown in order to gain supplies and keep a line of communication open by sea

12. Yorktown
Washington took the opportunity to march from NY to Yorktown with a combined American and French army
The French navy sailed up from the Caribbean to block supplies from reaching Cornwallis’ army and to cut off his ability to escape by sea
Click on the link on the slide to view a short video on the surprise attack in Trenton.

13. Yorktown What role did the French play in defeating the British?
In September 1781 American and French forces surround Yorktown and begin to attack Cornwallis’ army
After almost 3 weeks of constant bombardment, the 8,000 man British army surrenders
The surrender at Yorktown signaled the end of the war for the British

14. The Treaty of Paris, 1783 Signed in September 1783, the Treaty:
-Recognized the United States as a new nation, setting it’s western border at the Mississippi River
-Gave Florida back to Spain, and gave the French several colonies in Africa and the Caribbean

15. EXIT! What role did Benjamin Franklin play in the Revolution?
When (after what battle) did the French decide to give assistance to the American Colonies?
What obstacles did George Washington and his troops face at Valley Forge?