Major Battles of the American Revolution

SSUSH4 The student will identify the ideological, military, and diplomatic aspects of the American Revolution.

c. Analyze George Washington as a military leader; include the creation of a professional military and the life of a common soldier, and describe the significance of the crossing of the Delaware River and Valley Forge.

d. Explain Yorktown, the role of Lord Cornwallis, and the Treaty of Paris, 1783.

Lexington and Concord 1775

•British General Gage learns of hidden weapons in Concord, Massachusetts•Paul Revere and William Dawes make midnight ride to warn Minutemen of approaching British soldiers

Lexington and Concord 1775

At Lexington, minute men were waiting and “the shot heard round the world” was fired. No one knows who fired the first shot.

The British continued toward Concord where they were again met with minutemen.

Trenton: December 25, 1776

The Continental Army had 3000 men. Washington crossed the Delaware in a storm and defeated British mercenaries by surprise. They killed or captured 1000 mercenaries.

The British were forced to surrender upstate New York. This was the turning point of the war and convinced the French to recognize American independence and send help. The battle encouraged other countries to help the US- France (Marquis de Lafayette), Spain, the Netherlands, and Prussia Saratoga: October 17,1777

No battle was fought at Valley Forge. The Continental Army camped there. It was very cold (no houses to sleep in),

morale was low and there were rumors George Washington would lose his job.

The conditions have been described as “Poor food, hard lodging, cold weather, fatigue, nasty clothes, and nasty cookery.” (Albigence Waldo)

Winter 1777-1778 Washington & his troops spent winter at Valley Forge, PA

Temperature warmed a bit Food and supplies arrived Baron von Steuben (French mercenary)

worked with the troops and made them a fighting force.

The French Alliance provided military and financial support from France.

Army went from being a group of rebels into a mature army.

Things Get Better…

British Lord Cornwallis retreated to Yorktown, VA. The combined French and American Army trapped

Cornwallis’s Army. The siege lasted for one month and ended with the British surrender.

Cornwallis surrendered 7000 men.

Yorktown: October 19, 1781

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Treaty of Paris 1783

The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783. What It Did:

Gave American independence with its boundaries at the Mississippi River, Florida, and Canada

The British creditors could collect their debts in America

The loyalists could receive compensation for their lost property.

What It Did Not Do Have any definite date or penalty for the British

pulling their forts in the Ohio and Mississippi River Valley

Make the states honor the British debts or loyalist claims.