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Purpose of this Presentation:

The goal of the student is to use the information in this presentation and gather what is necessary to help them understand the key events and difficulties the colonies faced fighting for independence from England.
These include:

Lexington and Concord
The Continental Congress
The Declaration of Independence
Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Trenton
Saratoga
Valley Forge
Yorktown
The Treaty of Paris

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What we’ve learned so far...

Several countries in Europe began making colonies throughout the world to expand their power.

A colony is a permanent settlement where people from one place move to another to create a new society

England began colonizing North America with colonies at Jamestown, Virginia, and Plymouth, Massachusetts.

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What we’ve learned so far...

By 1775, the 13 British colonies in America had about 3 million British subjects living in them who grew more and more frustrated with laws passed by British Parliament that limited their ability to participate in British government, mostly when it concerned taxes.
The anger of the colonists had grown between 1763-1775 to the point where they were ready to fight for independence from England.
King George III of England would not allow the colonies to leave...

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The First Continental Congress

By 1774, many of the colonies realized that King George III and Parliament would not accept the requests of the colonies to have representation in government chosen among themselves.
Leaders from the colonies, except Georgia, met at the First Continental Congress in 1774 to discuss the current issues with England, plan a boycott of British goods, and decided it would be best to prepare for an eventual fight with the British Military.

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Lexington and Concord: April 19, 1775

As tension between the colonies and Britain grew, some colonists started collecting weapons and preparing militias (home-grown militaries).
The British heard of groups doing this in the Massachusetts towns of Lexington and Concord and soon an army regiment of Redcoats was sent to destroy the weapons these groups had collected.
Paul Revere and two other messengers were sent to warn these towns of the approaching soldiers.

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Lexington and Concord: April 19, 1775

When the Redcoats arrived at Lexington, they were met by the colonists’ militia who refused to back down, someone fire a shot (“The Shot Heard ‘Round the World”) and the American Revolution was under way.
The supplies of weapons was burned by the British soldiers and they soon headed to Concord to do the same.
As the British soldiers made the march back to Boston from Concord, over 20 miles, hundreds of colonists heard the news came to fight the British harassing the retreating soldiers all day.
The British reinforced and surrounded Boston in response.

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School House Rock - Shot Heard ‘Round the World

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The Second Continental Congress

In 1776, the Second Continental Congress met to take coordinate the war effort against the British since the Revolution had started at Lexington and Concord.
Thomas Jefferson of Virginia was also asked to write a formal Declaration of Independence from Britain.
After many rewrites and input from others like Benjamin Franklin, the Declaration of Independence was presented on July 2, accepted on July 4, and signed by the leaders of the colonies over the next few months.

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The Declaration of Independence

Mostly written by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence borrows heavily from John Locke, stating his ideas of Natural Rights and the Social Contract as the primary reasons the colonies decided to declare independence.
The rest of the document simply lists all the instances where the British did not respect of the rights of the colonies and would not come to terms to solve these problems.
In short, the Declaration of Independence explains why the colonies decided to separate from England so the rest of the world would agree there was no other option.

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Too Late to Apologize - A Video Declaration

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The Battle of Bunker Hill: June 17, 1775

After Lexington and Concord the British surrounded Boston, MA, and planned on taking Boston Harbor by seizing the surrounding hills.
Colonial forces got wind of this and occupied what they thought was Bunker Hill overnight, but it turned out to be nearby Breed’s Hill.
When the British found out they attacked the colonists who were able to push them back twice and inflict many casualties. Out of ammo, they retreated on the third attack where the British took the hill and killed most of the defenders.
The ferocity of the colonial rebels astonished the British and made them more cautious in future attacks.

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The Battle of Bunker Hill: Aftermath

The ferocity of the colonial resistance astonished the British and made them more cautious in future attacks.
Precautions the British took after Bunker Hill allow colonial forces to escape and regroup many times.
While it was considered a defeat, the colonists inflicted twice as many casualties on the British and convinced many that they could stand up to the British military.

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Americans lose early...

In fighting the British, the Continental Army was at a disadvantage in many ways. The British had many more troops, were better trained and supplied, and had access to the most powerful navy in the world.
During 1776, the British were able to defeat the Americans, capture New York, and force Washington and his army to retreat through New Jersey.
Because of these early defeats, many soldiers were losing hope that they could ever defeat the British. They needed a victory….

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Victory at Trenton, New Jersey: December 26, 1776

On December 26, 1776, George Washington and 2,400 men crossed the Delaware River at night in a storm and attacked the British while they slept. The Continental Army captured 900 British Hessian soldiers and scored a huge victory for the Americans.

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Victory at Trenton, New Jersey: December 26, 1776

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The tide turns…

The American army captured an entire British division in the battle of Saratoga, New York in 1777.
This victory was considered the turning point of the war because it convinced the French and Spanish that Americans could win.
Soon the French and Spanish sent troops and supplies to help the Americans.

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American troops forced the British to retreat all the way from Canada to Saratoga by Sept. 19, 1777. There, 20,000 Americans surrounded the British army of 6,000 and forced them to surrender. This victory turned the tide of the war in favor of America.

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Valley Forge 1777: The Worst Winter in American History?

After regaining New Jersey, American troops spent the winter of 1777 at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

Over 2,000 men died due to malnutrition, cold, and disease.

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After forcing the American army out of Philadelphia, the British spent the winter living in luxury in the houses once occupied by wealthy Americans who had left the city. Though General Washington sent many letters asking for supplies, none came. The soldiers had no blankets, many had no shirts or shoes. Some were forced to sleep outdoors until shelters were built.

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The Final Battle…

In October, 1781, Washington and the Americans defeat the British army at Yorktown with help from the French navy.

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The War Officially Ends, 1783

The Revolutionary War officially ends when the U.S. and Britain agree to the Treaty of Paris.

The Treaty of Paris: Agreement that ended the American Revolution and gave the U.S. independence.

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King George III and His Feelings

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Reason for America’s victory: 1778-1781

Guerilla Warfare - American soldiers used their knowledge of the terrain and fighting techniques learned from American Indians to use surprise attacks against British forces.

Help from the French and Spanish - The French and Spanish, both of whom were enemies and at war with England, sent soldiers, ships and supplies to help the Americans.

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EFFECTS:

After the Revolutionary War:

The United States is free
U.S. controls territory all the way to the Mississippi River
Florida has once again become Spanish territory

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Effects of the War on other Nations

Spain

•Declared war on Great Britain in 1779.

•Gained a major trading partner in the new U.S.

•Regained the Florida territory after the war.

France

•Declared war on Great Britain in 1778.