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Marquis de Lafayette
Marquis de Lafayette was a French general and political leader who supported the American Revolution. He was appointed major general in 1777 by the Continental Congress before France entered into an alliance with the Americans. Lafayette was wounded at the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777, and put up with the winter weather at Valley Forge with Washington and his troops. -
Lexingtron Battle
Paul Revere and William Dawes went to Lexington after being told that British troops were coming by Joseph Warren. Later 700 British troops arrived to 77 militiamen on the town Green. The militia were ordered not to and to disperse after a fire had been shot. No one knows which one shot first. But it is known that the result of the battle was eight dead militiamen and nine injured while only one redcoat was injured. -
Concord Battle
After Lexington the British went to Concord looking for arms but they had been moved. So they began to burn what they found of it. The militiamen thought they were destroying the town because the fire grew. Therefore the militiamen went to Concord's North Bridge. The British fired first but fell back when the militiamen fired back. The British ran back to Boston but were followed and attacked. Arrinig at Lexington British reinforcements arrived also and later reacheed naval support for safety. -
Breed's Hill
After being informed that the British were planning to send troops from Boston to occupy the hills surrounding the city, 1,000 militiamen ( lead by Colonel William Prescott) built fortifications on top of Breed’s Hill. They had been ordered to construct their fortifications on Bunker Hill but instead chose Breed’s Hill, which was closer to Boston. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The British (lead by Generals William Howe and Robert Pigot) got on the Charlestown Peninsula, then Breed’s Hill. The militiamen fought with a lethal barrage of musket fire, making the British fall. Later they failed for a 2nd time. The 3rd time the militiamen were short on ammunition. The British went up the hill and they fought by hand. Because the militiamen were outnumbered, they retreated. At the end of this battle the militia men killed 200 and wounded 800. They were winning but retreated. -
New York
One-Third of the Revolutionary War was fought in New York. The battles were called the “Turning Point of the Revolution.” George Washington said that whoever held the Hudson River and New York City controlled “the safety of America.” Therefore the British moved to New York after commanders felt humiliated for being driven out of Boston. The militiamens had imprisoned them in the city of Boston and then forced them out with a canon from one of their own British forts. -
New York
General Howe began to transport men from Staten to Long Island. Washington strengthened his first line of defense at the base of Brooklyn Heights after finding out what the British had done. -
New York
After the British discovered the weakest part of the American defense they went through Jamaica Heights and behind the American front lines, separating them from the second line positioned on Brooklyn Heights. By noon the American position was hopeless. -
Biggest Battle of New York
The battle of New York was a disaster for the Americans but not a complete disaster. More than 300 were killed, 800 were wounded, and another 1000 were captured. -
Battle of Trenton
The British (1,400 lead by Colonel Johann Rall) had was warned of and attack, but his men were exhausted and unprepared for it. Rrumors say that they were drunk from Christmas (the day before) celebrations. After Washington attacked in two seperate groups (lead by Generals Nathaniel Greene and John Sullivan) Rall attempted to rally his troops but was shot from his horse & wounded. 22 British were killed, 92 wounded, 918 captured. The Americans suffered 2 deaths (due to weather) and five injured. -
First Battle of Saratoga
The first battle of Saratoga was won by the British (lead by General John Burgoyne). The battle was small but costly. It was against the americans that were lead by Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold. -
Battle of Philadelphia
More than 1,400 of Pennsylvania loyalists joined the Redcoat army for a restoration of British rule. Several thousand more refused to support the war in any way. It took the British two months to defeat American forts. The damages had angered the populace. General Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga in October had inspired French trust in the Americans. Philadelphia, fearing being cut off by French ships at Delaware, left Philadelphia for New York. Philadelphia lost without a fire being shot. -
Second Battle of Saratoga
The overconfident Burgoyne again attacked the Americans at Bemis Heights. This time he was defeated. He surrendered ten days later. The American victory persuaded the French government to formally recognize the colonist’s cause and enter the war as their ally. -
Valley Forge
No battle was fought at Valley Forge. . It was here that the Continental army camped in the winter and was desperately ready to quit. General Washington said "If the army does not get help soon, in all likelihood it will disband." It is 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Starvation, disease, malnutrition, and exposure killed 2,500 Americans by the end of February 1778. -
Yorktown Battle
The British were extremely outnumbered this time. There were 8,800 Americans, 7,800 French and 6,000 British. The Americans and the French surrounded the British forcing them to surender. -
Treaty of Paris (End of the War)
The Treaty of Paris of 1783, negotiated between the United States and Great Britain, ended the revolutionary war and recognized American independence. A five-member commission to negotiate a treaty, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Laurens was named. Laurens, however, was captured by a British and was held in the Tower of London until the end of the war. Jefferson did not leave the United States in time to take part in the negotiation.
