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The Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts of 1774 were a set of acts passed by the British to punish the colonists for the Boston tea Party. One act was the an act on imports and exports. The British closed Boston Harbor. Another was when the British changed a governor position to be one of their officers. The colonists were through with the troubles and said it was time to fight. Source: USHistory.org -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
To start the battles of Lexington and Concord, the British got information of a rebel stock of weapons and went to Concord to get them. On the way, the Minutemen met the British in Lexington, greatly outnumbered, and faced them in a field. Nobody is sure who fired the first shot but it was the "Shot heard around the world." This started the Revolutionary War but the British made the Minutemen run and then went onto Concord. At Concord the British looked, but failed to find any weaponry. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
At the battle of Bunker Hill, which actually happened on nearby Breed's Hill, the British barely won. With a pyhric victory, the British lost so many soldiers the battle was not worth the win. This thought of being so close to winning led the coloists to a new hope, believing there was a posibility of defeating the British and recieving their freedom. Source: Class Notes -
Battle of Long Island
The British Navy had come into New York and Washington had to think fast. He decided to bring all of the canons he could to aim them at the British ships and scare them. His plan worked. The British navy then fled and Washington had succeeded. Source: Class Notes -
Battle of Trenton
While the end of the year was coming, Washington had to make sure he could attack once more before his soldiers returned home. On Christmas night leading into the next morning, Washington and his men crossed the Delaware River planning to ambush German mercenaries. The Colontinental Army ambushed and left with a win under their belt. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of saratoga was a very important battle in the Revolutionary War. Nearly 7,000 British soldiers surrendered this day to militia and Continental regulars. British General John Bugoyne said, "The forturnes of war have made me your prisoner" while handing over his sword. As King Louis XVI got word of this, he finally agreed to become allies because he thought the Americans might have a chance of winning. Source: Class Notes -
Winter at Valley Forge
During the winter of 1777, Washington's army stayed at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. With an army of 14,000 with barely enough food to survive or clothes to wear and diseases spreading around, Washington had ex-British General von Steuben come in and train the army. Von Steuben brought order, organization, and a manual, to which is still used today, to the army. This helped the army unite and they became an official army. Source: Class Notes -
Battle of Yorktown
In this battle to which the eight years of war ended, British General Charles Lord Cornwallis surrendered to American forces controlled by General Rochambeau and General Washington. During this three week battle, the French Navy blocked off Cornwallis from any aid and Washington and Rochambeau blocked them from any land escape. While Cornwallis and his troops were trapped, they were getting fired rapidly upon and after a while a british soldier rose up with a white flag, surrendering.
