Lexington and Concord
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Date: April 19, 1775
Important Individuals:
Thomas Gage- British Military governor of Massachusetts
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith- Received orders from Gage to proceed to Boston and seize and destroy all military stores
Paul Revere- Went with William Dawes to alert colonial militias in nearby towns of the British
Joseph Warren- Informed Paul and William of the British
Date: April 19, 1775
Important Individuals:
Thomas Gage- British Military governor of Massachusetts
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith- Received orders from Gage to proceed to Boston and seize and destroy all military stores
Paul Revere- Went with William Dawes to alert colonial militias in nearby towns of the British
Joseph Warren- Informed Paul and William of the British
Summary
On April 19, 1775, the first shots fired between American and British troops were fired. The British were ordered to march to Concord since it was where the Americans had stockpiled weapons in military stores. British troops had occupied Boston and passed through Lexington on their way to Concord. No one knows for sure who fired first, but it was the "Shot Heard 'Round the World."
Both sides opened fire, and the Americans were forced to withdraw. Luckily, the Americans had slowed the British advance. When the British militia arrived at Concord, the Americans were waiting for them in force. The weapons depot was saved, and the British were forced to retreat.
Significance
This battle was one of the first militia-based battles of the revolutionary war, and the first one that really drove Boston toward the revolutionary cause. This was the first battle of the Revolutionary War in which shots were fired. No one knows for sure who fired "the shot heard 'round the world." Which was the first shot of that started the revolutionary war.
On April 19, 1775, the first shots fired between American and British troops were fired. The British were ordered to march to Concord since it was where the Americans had stockpiled weapons in military stores. British troops had occupied Boston and passed through Lexington on their way to Concord. No one knows for sure who fired first, but it was the "Shot Heard 'Round the World."
Both sides opened fire, and the Americans were forced to withdraw. Luckily, the Americans had slowed the British advance. When the British militia arrived at Concord, the Americans were waiting for them in force. The weapons depot was saved, and the British were forced to retreat.
Significance
This battle was one of the first militia-based battles of the revolutionary war, and the first one that really drove Boston toward the revolutionary cause. This was the first battle of the Revolutionary War in which shots were fired. No one knows for sure who fired "the shot heard 'round the world." Which was the first shot of that started the revolutionary war.
Bunker Hill
Location: Breed’s Hill
Date: June 17, 1775
Important Indivisuals:
For the Colonists: Gen. Ward, COL Putnam, COL William Prescott, and Cpt. Richard Gridley
For the British: Cpt. Thomas Gage, Gen. William Howe, John Burgoyne, Henry Clinton, and Samuel Grave
Date: June 17, 1775
Important Indivisuals:
For the Colonists: Gen. Ward, COL Putnam, COL William Prescott, and Cpt. Richard Gridley
For the British: Cpt. Thomas Gage, Gen. William Howe, John Burgoyne, Henry Clinton, and Samuel Grave
Summary
The Americans occupied Breed's Hill in Charlestown on June 16, 1775, in order to protect the shipyard of nearby Boston. The next day, the British attacked. The British took the hill, but at a cost. The British suffered heavy losses while trying to take hold of the hill. The Americans fired at the British until they ran out of ammunition and then retreated quickly. The American troops were told, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." to conserve ammunition. Even though the battle was fought on Breed's Hill, it has been remembered as the Battle of Bunker Hill. The battle was a costly victory for the British who lost more than 40% of their force.
Significance
Even though the Americans were defeated, it proved that the British could suffer great losses, too, giving encouragement to the growing rejection of British rule.
Howe's immediate objective was achieved, but did not affect the siege. However, it did demonstrate that the Americans were willing to stand up to a pitched battle.
The British won but sustained heavy casualties. It was a big morale boost for the Americans; it convinced us that we actually had a chance against Britain.
The Americans occupied Breed's Hill in Charlestown on June 16, 1775, in order to protect the shipyard of nearby Boston. The next day, the British attacked. The British took the hill, but at a cost. The British suffered heavy losses while trying to take hold of the hill. The Americans fired at the British until they ran out of ammunition and then retreated quickly. The American troops were told, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." to conserve ammunition. Even though the battle was fought on Breed's Hill, it has been remembered as the Battle of Bunker Hill. The battle was a costly victory for the British who lost more than 40% of their force.
Significance
Even though the Americans were defeated, it proved that the British could suffer great losses, too, giving encouragement to the growing rejection of British rule.
Howe's immediate objective was achieved, but did not affect the siege. However, it did demonstrate that the Americans were willing to stand up to a pitched battle.
The British won but sustained heavy casualties. It was a big morale boost for the Americans; it convinced us that we actually had a chance against Britain.
Saratoga
Location: 9 miles south of Saratoga, New York
Date: September 19, 1777 and October 7, 1777
Significant People:
American Side:
British Side: General John Burgoyne General Horatio Gates, Benedict Arnold, General Daniel Morgan
American Side: General Horatio Gates, Benedict Arnold, General Daniel Morgan British Side: General John Burgoyne
Date: September 19, 1777 and October 7, 1777
Significant People:
American Side:
British Side: General John Burgoyne General Horatio Gates, Benedict Arnold, General Daniel Morgan
American Side: General Horatio Gates, Benedict Arnold, General Daniel Morgan British Side: General John Burgoyne
Summary
John Burgoyne, a British General, came up with a plan to take all of New York away from the Americans. His plan was for three forces to meet at Saratoga. Burgoyne was to advance south from Canada and meet Generals Barry St. Leger and William Howe in Albany. St. Leger was to move east from Fort Oswego, on Lake Ontario; and Howe was to march north from Virginia. Burgoyne thought that his plan was brilliant and clever and he hoped to crush the Northern American Army. In the end, the plan failed. Howe never got the message and went to Philadelphia instead. At Saratoga, American General Benedict Arnold stopped Burgoyne himself. St. Leger made it to Albany and had it all to himself. On October 17, 1777, Burgoyne surrendered almost his entire army to General Horatio Gates. This was another victory for the Americans.
Significance
This war was the turning point of the Revolutionary War American victory. They convinced France that America really did have a chance of winning. French money and supplies were making their way to America. This was also the first surrendered battle in the Revolutionary War. The French secretly became allies with America, giving them supplies and soldiers.
John Burgoyne, a British General, came up with a plan to take all of New York away from the Americans. His plan was for three forces to meet at Saratoga. Burgoyne was to advance south from Canada and meet Generals Barry St. Leger and William Howe in Albany. St. Leger was to move east from Fort Oswego, on Lake Ontario; and Howe was to march north from Virginia. Burgoyne thought that his plan was brilliant and clever and he hoped to crush the Northern American Army. In the end, the plan failed. Howe never got the message and went to Philadelphia instead. At Saratoga, American General Benedict Arnold stopped Burgoyne himself. St. Leger made it to Albany and had it all to himself. On October 17, 1777, Burgoyne surrendered almost his entire army to General Horatio Gates. This was another victory for the Americans.
Significance
This war was the turning point of the Revolutionary War American victory. They convinced France that America really did have a chance of winning. French money and supplies were making their way to America. This was also the first surrendered battle in the Revolutionary War. The French secretly became allies with America, giving them supplies and soldiers.
Yorktown
Location: Virginia, United States of America
Date: 28th September to 19th October 1781
Significant people:
King Henry III- He was the king at the time.
Lord Charles Cornwallis- Commander of the Great Britain's side of the battle of Yorktown.
George Washington- Commander of The U.S Colonies side of the battle of Yorktown.
Date: 28th September to 19th October 1781
Significant people:
King Henry III- He was the king at the time.
Lord Charles Cornwallis- Commander of the Great Britain's side of the battle of Yorktown.
George Washington- Commander of The U.S Colonies side of the battle of Yorktown.
Summary
This last major battle was the American victory that ended the Revolutionary War on October 20, 1781. British General Charles Cornwallis had been defeated in the south, at Cowpens, and especially American General Nathanael Greene at Guilford Courthouse had continually weakened his force. Cornwallis left the Carolinas and proceeded north to Yorktown, Virginia, there to await reinforcements from General Henry Clinton, who was occupied in the north. American forces under Greene and Commander-in-Chief George Washington pursued Cornwallis by land while French ships surrounded the bay of Yorktown. Faced with the prospect of no reinforcements, Cornwallis stood and fought. But the Americans won the battle and the war. At the surrender ceremony, General Benjamin Lincoln accepted Cornwallis’s sword while a British band played "The World Turned Upside Down."
Significance
This battle essentially ended the Revolutionary War. The Battle was a victory for George Washington and the continental army. With the help of the French, the colonists surrounded the British at Yorktown on land and water and forced the British army there to surrender. This was the last major battle of the American Revolution that took place on American ground, although the war didn't officially end until 1783, when the Treaty of Paris was signed.
This last major battle was the American victory that ended the Revolutionary War on October 20, 1781. British General Charles Cornwallis had been defeated in the south, at Cowpens, and especially American General Nathanael Greene at Guilford Courthouse had continually weakened his force. Cornwallis left the Carolinas and proceeded north to Yorktown, Virginia, there to await reinforcements from General Henry Clinton, who was occupied in the north. American forces under Greene and Commander-in-Chief George Washington pursued Cornwallis by land while French ships surrounded the bay of Yorktown. Faced with the prospect of no reinforcements, Cornwallis stood and fought. But the Americans won the battle and the war. At the surrender ceremony, General Benjamin Lincoln accepted Cornwallis’s sword while a British band played "The World Turned Upside Down."
Significance
This battle essentially ended the Revolutionary War. The Battle was a victory for George Washington and the continental army. With the help of the French, the colonists surrounded the British at Yorktown on land and water and forced the British army there to surrender. This was the last major battle of the American Revolution that took place on American ground, although the war didn't officially end until 1783, when the Treaty of Paris was signed.