1. Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys
-May, 1776
-Led Vermonters in a surprise attack on Fort Ticonderoga
Easily overpower British
Gain valuable canons

2. Second Continental Congress Creates Continental Army
John Adams proposes that George Washington should be commander
Congress sends Olive Branch Petition to England
professes loyalty to King
Asks to repeal Intolerable Acts
Rejected by King

3. Patriots vs. Loyalists With your partner
Place an “L” next to facts that are about LOYALISTS
Place a “P” next to facts that are about PATRIOTS

4. Battle of Bunker Hill June 16, 1775
First major battle in Revolutionary War
Colonel William Prescott led minutemen up Breed’s Hill (Bunker Hill)
“Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes”
British retreat twice but win battle on third try
Over 1,000 redcoats killed
400 Americans killed

5. The Tide Turns
Washington uses canons won from Fort Ticonderoga to hold Boston
King George III orders blockade of all colonial ports
American armies move into Canada, hoping for help
Benedict Arnold and lead troops toward Quebec
French-Canadians did not support Americans
Americans fail when trying to take city of Quebec
Britain holds Quebec

6. Common Sense January 1776 Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine
“Everything that is right or reasonable pleads for Separation…tis time to part
Paine said it didn’t make sense that a small island country should rule America

7. Declaring Independence
Common Sense affects the minds of colonists
The First Continental Congress chose committee to write a declaration of independence
Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the document
-July 4, declaration is accepted and signed by Congress

8. Britain sends more troops
Heavy fighting starts to shift to the middle states
General Howe leads the British against General Washington
Washington loses the Battle of Long Island and 1,400 Americans were wounded, killed, or captured
Washington sends Nathan Hale to spy on
British and General Howe, Hale is later
captured and hanged.
As Hale walked to the gallows he declared :
“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country”

9. Surprise Attack on Trenton
General Washington led the attack
Washington tricks Cornwallis and leads attack on Princeton the next day
Victory gives new hope to the Americans

10. Battle of Saratoga
Britain plans to send 3 armies to Albany to finish off the Americans
Only one army ( led by General Burgoyne) made it to Albany
Burgoyne retakes Fort Ticonderoga, but many troops are attacked by patriots
Burgoyne is forced to surrender at Saratoga on October 17, 1777
Battle convinces French to become ally of the Americans
They sign first treaty with “Americans”
Recognized America as independent
Agreed to provide military aid
The Netherlands and Spain also join the war against the British

11. Help from overseas France brings soldiers- Marquis de Lafayette
Germany sends general to help train American army (Friedrich von Steuben)
Poland sends 2 officers:
Casimir Pulaski & Thaddeus Kosciusko

12. Valley Forge Washington’s troops suffer at Valley Forge in the winter
Patriots (men and women) from around the nation send help

13. War around the Nation John Paul Jones “I have not yet begun to fight”
Women: help the war effort by harvesting crops, making flags, blankets and clothing.

14. Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown
Yorktown, Virginia
October, 1781
British General Cornwallis goes to the Yorktown Peninsula to be resupplied.
The French navy along with French & American troops surround Cornwallis
After a two-week siege (surround and prevent re- supply) Cornwallis surrenders his army.
“It’s all over!”

15. Treaty of Paris (sound familiar?)
The British recognize the United States of America as an independent nation.
U.S. gains all land East of the Mississippi
April 15, 1783 – Congress ratified the treaty.
8 yrs. after Lexington and Concord.
Franklin, John Adams and John Jay negotiate the treaty of Paris.