1. Fighting At Lexington

2. LEXINGTON
April 19, 1775
British troops are looking for weapons and ammo in the towns surrounding Boston.
American minutemen clash with British troops.
8 Americans killed.

3. LEXINGTON WHO WINS? British regulars WHY?
Training, better weapons, unprepared enemy.

4. LEXINGTON
IMPACT
First battle of the American Revolution

6. CONCORD British troops move on to Concord.
American militia has time to rally and they defeat the British as they cross a bridge.
British retreat back to Boston

7. Battle of Concord – The Bridge

8. CONCORD
WHO WINS?
American militia
WHY?
Guerilla tactics

9. CONCORD IMPACT British get pinned down in Boston, lose 300 men.
Americans lose 50 men.

10. The Bridge Today

11. BREED’S (BUNKER) HILL June 17, 1775
British troops try to break out of Boston.
The attack a well defended hill.
2,600 British regulars vs. 1,400 American militia.

12. British Troops Advancing up Breed’s Hill

13. “DON’T FIRE UNTIL YOU SEE THE WHITES OF THEIR EYES”

14. BREED’S (BUNKER) HILL WHO WINS
The British (technically), but they lose over 1/3 of their force in the process (over 1,000 killed and wounded)
WHY?
British training allow them to take the hill, even with huge losses.

15. BREED’S (BUNKER) HILL IMPACT
British lose a large portion of their army in Boston and are forced to give up the town.
Americans show that they are serious.
Following this battle, George Washington takes over the American army.

16. Battle of Trenton – Washington Crossing the Delaware

17. TRENTON
December 26, 1776
Washington’s army is falling apart and he needs a victory.
He locates an isolated British force and executes a daring sneak attack.
The British force was mostly German mercenaries called “Hessians”

18. TRENTON WHO WINS? The Americans (4 wounded)
100 Hessian casualties, plus 1,000 captured
WHY?
The daring nature of their attack.
The fact that many of the Hessians were drunk also helped.

19. Crossing the Delaware

20. TRENTON
IMPACT
Moral victory for America. Right in the middle of their darkest hour, Washington keeps the army together with a big win.

21. BRANDYWINE
Sept 11, 1777
British troops have captured New York City and are moving on to the Colonial capital at Philadelphia.

23. BRANDYWINE WHO WINS? British troops soundly defeat Washington.
Americans lose about 1,200 men, British lose about 500.
WHY?
Washington’s plan is too complex and he tries to fight in the European style.

24. BRANDYWINE IMPACT Philadelphia falls to the British.
Washington realizes the need to change tactics and train his troops.

25. VALLEY FORGE Winter of 1777-78
Washington’s army goes into winter quarters.
2,500 men die of disease, exposure and starvation.
The remainder receive training and unite as a group.

27. SARATOGA July-October 1777
British try to cut the American colonies in half by taking control of the Hudson River in New York.

28. Saratoga

29. SARATOGA WHO WINS? Americans - capture or kill about 9,000 men. WHY?
Guerilla warfare.
Poor leadership of “Gentleman” John Burgoyne

30. Gen. Johnny Burgoyne

31. SARATOGA IMPACT Americans capture 6,000 British troops
Victory proves to Europeans that America has a chance of winning the war.
Turning point of the war.

32. Gen. Burgoyne Surrendering

33. YORKTOWN Sept-October 1781
British flee from a combined French-American force.
Besieged at Yorktown for several weeks.

34. YORKTOWN WHO WINS? American/French WHY?
Americans have the help of the French army and navy

35. YORKTOWN
IMPACT
British surrender about 7,000 men (their last major army in America).
The war ends

36. Yorktown