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Colonists Organize an Army
The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to organize an army. The first question the asked was who would command this "New England Army". They appointed General George Washington to be the leader of the Continental Army.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Philadelphia,+PA/@40.0046684,-75.2581197,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c6b7d8d4b54beb:0x89f514d88c3e58c1!8m2!3d39.9525839!4d-75.1652215 -
Battle of Bunker Hill
This battle was led by Isreal Putnam and British General William Howe. 2,000 troops mad two long lines at the bottom of Breed's Hill. More than 1,000 British troops and many Americans were killed or wounded. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Boston,+MA/@42.3132883,-71.1972417,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89e3652d0d3d311b:0x787cbf240162e8a0!8m2!3d42.3600825!4d-71.0588801 -
Washington Takes Command of the Army
After Bunker Hill General George Washington took command of the army. He soon discovered that that the army had little gunpowder and artillery. He sent Henry Knox to Fort Ticonderoga to get some. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fort+Ticonderoga/@43.8416766,-73.3897283,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4cb555da3dd364bd:0x70da98c07bf2f773!8m2!3d43.8416766!4d-73.3875396 -
Olive Branch Petition
Second Continental congress sent a petition to King George asking him to end the fighting. It was called the Olive Branch Petition because olive branches are a symbol of peace. But by the time the petition reacheb London the king declared that colonists be in "open an avowed Rebellion".
https://www.google.com/maps/place/London,+UK/@51.528308,-0.3817765,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x47d8a00baf21de75:0x52963a5addd52a99!8m2!3d51.5073509!4d-0.1277583 -
British Abandon Boston
Dorchester Heights was covered in cannons all pointed at Boston. Instead of having another battle, General Howe decided to leave the city. Many people thought that the war was over, but Washington knew it was just starting.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Boston,+MA/@42.3132883,-71.1972408,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89e3652d0d3d311b:0x787cbf240162e8a0!8m2!3d42.3600825!4d-71.0588801 -
Declaration of Independance
Thomas Jefferson wrote the draft of the Declaration of Independence. This declaration stated why the colonies were separating from Britain. On July 4th, the delegates approved and signed the final version of t.he document
Fun Fact: Independence was formally declared on July 2, 1776 but the final Declaration was signed on July 4, 1776. -
Comparison of American and British Armies
American Strengths:
- people willing to give their lives for democracy
- had George Washington as their leader
American Weaknesses:
- army was short of mean
- they had little guns/gunpowder, food and clothes.
British Strengths:
- outnumbered continental army
British Weaknesses:
- it was hard to get supplies
- bad leader
Fun Fact: The British Army was made of all volunteers -
American defeat in Brooklyn, New York
American and British armies met for a battle. Although Americans came with high spirits, they were outnumbered. In two days of the battle, Americans lost 1,407 men while British only lost 377.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Brooklyn,+NY/@40.6451594,-74.0850816,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c24416947c2109:0x82765c7404007886!8m2!3d40.6781784!4d-73.9441579 -
Victory in Trenton
After George Washington crossed the Delaware river he made his way to Trenton. There, he surprise attacked the stations in the middle of the night. Washington took 868 prisoners without loosing a single man.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Trenton,+NJ/@40.2163375,-74.8091417,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c143482d3dbbb9:0xcf16567f895cd7bc!8m2!3d40.2170534!4d-74.7429384 -
Battle in Saratoga Hills
This battle was known as the turning point in the American Revolution. The Americans won. This was very unexpected because they were outnumbered and low on supplies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxbl-HJ_xE0 -
Winter in Valley Forge
After the win in Saratoga the war was far from over. Americans stopped at Valley Forge. Washington was low on many supplies and many men got frostbite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1Df1fmKVlc -
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was on June 28, 1778. At this time, Sir Henry Clinton became the new British leader. As he led the British, George Washington decided to attack.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Monmouth+Battlefield+State+Park/@40.263121,-74.3134545,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c3d6f34cc35ac1:0x2543b9336c282d31!8m2!3d40.263121!4d-74.3112658 -
War mover to the Southern Region
After the British losses in the north, they decided to move back south. They believed that Loyalists from the south would be eager to join the king's cause. Clinton returned to New York city leaving Lord Charles Cornwallis to control the south.
http://www.teachertube.com/video/revolutionary-war-moves-south-17682?utm_source=video-google&utm_medium=video-view&utm_term=video&utm_content=video-page&utm_campaign=video-view-page -
American Trap at Yorktown and Cornwallis Surrenders
The Americans tapped Cornwallis. Cornwallis surrenders 8000 British soldiers. This starts to end the American Revolution.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-at-yorktown -
Signing the Treaty of Paris
The Continental Army had 5 men make the treaty. The Treaty of Paris is what ended the Revolutionary war. It was signed on September 3, 1783.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/treaty-of-paris-signed
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