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Battle of Bunker Hill
On June 17, 1775, early in the Revolutionary War, the British defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts. even though they lost, the inexperienced colonial forces faced significant casualties against the enemy, and the battle provided them with a huge confidence boost. Although commonly referred to as the Battle of Bunker Hill, most of the fighting occurred on nearby Breed’s Hill. -
Battle of Long Island
On August 27, 1776 the British army successfully moved against the American Continental Army led by George Washington. The battle was part of a British campaign to seize control of New York and thereby isolate New England from the rest of the colonies. Washington’s defeat could have led to the surrender of his entire force, but his courage allowed him to escape and continue the fight. -
Battle of Trenton
General George Washington’s army crossed Delaware on Christmas Day 1776 and over the course of the next 10 days, won two important battles of the American Revolution. In the Battle of Trenton (December 26), Washington defeated Hessian mercenaries before withdrawing. A week later he returned to Trenton to lure British forces south, then captured Princeton on January 3. The victories greatly improved the morale and unity of the colonial army and militias. -
Battle of Saratoga
Fought eighteen days apart in the fall of 1777, the two Battles of Saratoga were a turning point in the American Revolution. On September 19th, British General John Burgoyne achieved a small, but costly victory over American forces led by Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold. Though his troop strength had been weakened, Burgoyne again attacked the Americans at Bemis Heights on October 7th, but this time was defeated and forced to retreat. -
Battle of Monmouth
The battle, fought on June 28, 1778 in New Jersey, featured British forces under the command of Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton and Continental forces under the command of General George Washington. While the battle resulted in a draw between the two sides, the fact that the Continental Army held their own against the more experienced British troops proved that the colonial forces were becoming more effective in their tactics and discipline. -
Battle of Yorktown
Led by George Washington and French General Comte de Rochambeau, they began their final attack on October 14th, capturing two British defenses and leading to the surrender, just days later, of British General Lord Corwallis and nearly 9,000 troops. Yorktown proved to be the final battle of the American Revolution, and the British began peace negotiations shortly after the American victory.
