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Battle of Lexington
http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/UsaHistory/AmericanRevolution/Video/ShotHeard.htmJohn Parker was the captain of the Lexington minutemen. His men were surrounded by British soldiers. The first shot was fired, but no one knows which side it came from. This first shot became known as, "the shot heard 'round the world." The British won this battle. -
Battle of Concord
The British searched Concord for weapons but could not find any. As they did, the Patriots gathered at Concord. After a short battle at North Bridge, the British began to retreat. Patriots lined the road and shot the British soldiers as they retreated. By the time the British reached Boston, 250 men were either killed or wounded. The Patriots won the battle of Concord and the American Revolution had begun. -
Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga is located near Lake Champlain. The British used this fort to store munitions and the location helped them to control the waterways to Canada. Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allen, and his Green Mountain Boys set out to overthrow the fort. The British were surprised and captured by Americans. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/videos#britain-wins-a-costly-victory-at-bunker-hillThis battle was fought on Breeds Hill, but was meant to be fought on Bunker Hill. It was the first official planned battle of the Revolution. The Patriots were able to push back the British two times. On the third attempt, the British succeeded in winning the Battle of Bunker Hill. Even though the Patriots surrendered, they inflicted many casualties on the British. -
Quebec
Brigadier Richard Montgomey and Major General Benedict Arnold led the American troops in an attack at night during a snowstorm. Their attack was unsuccessful due to an alert garrison. During this attack Brigadier Richard Montgomery was killed. The British won this battle. -
Long Island
Additional forces brought in by General George Washington to help fight off the Royal Navy failed. Washington was forced to withdraw to the Delaware River. He and his troops spent the winter here. This was a bad time for Washington because the moral of his troops was low and whole companies deserted. -
Battle of Trenton
http://americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/battles.htmGeneral George Washington decided to attach Trenton, New Jersey. Trenton was under control by German mercenaries called Hessians. On December 25th Washington and his men crossed the Delaware River in a snowstorm. His men were poorly dressed and many did not have shoes. On the march to Trenton many men left traces of blood in the snow. Washington was victorious in this battle because British Colonel Rahl ignored a message that the Americans were coming. -
Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga was important to the Americans because it was near the Hudson River to Canada route. This helped to resist the British invasions from the north or the south. On July 1, 1777 British Commander Major General John Burgoyne's troops went to overtake Ticonderoga. American General Arthur St. Clair decided to retreat and abandon Ticonderoga. The colonies were upset with this decision but St. Clair's actions may have lessened American casualities. -
Brandywine
September 1777 Washington's men were positioned behind the Brandywine Creek at Chads Ford. Washington expected Major General Sir William Howe and his men to do a frontal assault from the west. British, loyalist, and Hessian troops took position along the hills on the west bank. A second British troop lead by Howe and Cornwallis came in from the north. Because of this, the Americans were driven from their position and they withdrew. -
The Battle of Saratoga
http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/videos#battle-of-saratoga-turns-the-tide-of-the-american-revolutionSaratoga was the turning point of the war for the American Patriots. British General Burgoyne was trying to split the US in two by taking the Hudson River. A fort near the town of Saratoga was designed by a Polish engineer. When the British arrived at the fort, General Benedict Arnold and his troops were waiting for them. General Bergoyne surrendered his whole army to the Americans. After this battle, the French finally agreed to help the Americans fight the British. -
The Battle of Charleston
The first attemp by the British to capture Charleston was stopped by the low tide and the palmetto log fort know as Fort Moultrie. The British suceeded the second time. The Patriots switched to using hit and run tactics to avoid more casualties. This was the worst loss for the Patriots during the war. -
Battle of Cowpens
Cowpens was a very important battle in South Carolina. The Continental Army and irregular partisan forces worked together to trick the British. The partisians attacked and then fled the field making it appear to the British that the Americans were retreating. The British followed them, unaware they were being led into a trap. The regular American army was waiting for the British and together the partisans and regulars won the battle. The British fled toward Virginia. -
Battle of Yorktown
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/battles/battles.htmThe Battle of Yorktown was the final battle of the war. The French Navy helped General George Washington and his army by blocking the harbor. Because of this, British ships could not enter the harbor. The British army depended on the ships to take them to winter quarters. The Americans and the French defeated the British. This was a victory for America.
