-
Lexington and Concord
The British were ordered by General Thomas Gage and led by Major John Pitcairn at Lexington. The militiamen were led by Captain John Parker at Lexington. At Concord, the militiamen were led by Maj. John Buttrick and Lt. Col. John Robinson. These are important battles because they essentially started the revolution fighting. The battle of Lexington included the "shot heard round the world." -
The Battle of Bunker (Breed's) Hill
In this battle, the rebels were led by Col. William Prescott. The British suffered extremely heavy casualties in this battle. Although they lost the battle, the Americans discovered that they could hang with the British in Battle. -
The New Jersey Campaign (Trenton and Princeton)
Led by Gen. Washington, the Americans ambushed the Hessians at Trenton. This battle held little strategic significance in the large scope of the war, but it boosted the morale of the American soldiers. Again led by Washington, they outflanked Cornallis and won the battle. This is an important battle because the Americans forced heavy casualties on the British AND won the battle. -
Ft. Ticonderoga
Militiamen, led by Bendict Arnold and Ethan Allen, took Fort Ticonderoga with little resistance. The fort's commander, Capt. William De la Place, surrendered with no resistance. This was a significant victory for the Americans because of the strategic location of the Fort. -
Saratoga (Bemis Heights)
The British, led by General John Burgoyne, were defeated by the Americans. Benedict Arnold led the rebels to an important victory. This was a major battle because it convinced the French to join the Americans against the British. -
Siege of Charleston
Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln surrendered to the British. The British attack was led by Sir Henry Clinton. This was a battle lost by the continental army and was a battle of importance for the British because Gen. Washington had been out strategizing them in most battles. Similar to Trenton for the Amricans, this was a morale raising battle. -
King's Mountain
Led by Benjamin Cleveland, James Johnston, William Campbell, John Sevier, Joseph McDowell and Isaac Shelby, the Patriot militia beat the Loyalist militia in this battle. The loyalists, led by Patrick Ferguson who had arrived in North Carolina in early to recruit troops for the Loyalist militia and protect the flank of Lord Cornwallis' main force, were defeated. This was a major victory for the patriot militia because it held significant strategic value. -
Yorktown
Continental troops led by General George Washington and French Army troops led by the Comte de Rochambeau proved victorious over a British Army commanded by British lord and Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis. This was the last major battle of the Revolutionary War and resulted in the Americans and Fench winning the war. This battle led to the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
