Bell Ringer (REVIEW!)- Complete the “Revolutionary War Leaders Section” of your note sheet using the names below:

Friedrich von Steuben- Prussian born officer who trained Washington’s troops at Valley Forge. Made the Continental Army a more efficient fighting force.

George Rogers Clark- Led many attacks into the Northwest Territory. Won the battles of Kaskaskia and Vincennes. Known as the “Conqueror of the Old Northwest.”

Marquis de Lafayette- French aristocrat who became an officer for Washington. Convinced the king of France to give supplies and aid to the Americans.

Francis Marion- Used “hit and run” tactics to win battles in the South Carolina region. Known as “The Swamp Fox.”

Benedict Arnold- American military leader who attempted to turn West Point over to the British. Infamous as being a traitor. Eventually joined the British army as a brigadier general.

George Washington- Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. Had a tremendous ability to command and inspire troops. Made great strategic decisions with little resources.

Battles of the American RevolutionEssential Question: How did certain events and battles shape the course of the war for American Independence?

"The Shot Heard 'Round the World" (Lexington)

The British government had no intention of meeting the demands of the First Continental Congress

Colonists began forming militia units called "minutemen"

British General Thomas Gage learned that minutemen were storing arms in Concord

Paul Revere and William Dawes warned the minutemen on their famous "Midnight Ride."

"The Shot Heard 'Round the World" (Lexington)

In Lexington, 77 minutemen were waiting on the British

The British commander ordered the minutemen to leave. They refused.

A shot was fired, then the British opened fire and killed eight colonists

Concord

Concord, five miles from Lexington, was the site of a larger battle

400 minutemen, fought the British, killing 3 of them

Americans fired from behind trees and fences (Why?)

By the time the British reached Boston, almost 300 had been killed or wounded

Early victory for the colonists

What message did this send to the British?

Make a Prediction:

Find a partner who shares the same eye color as you Discuss the following:

Who do you believe fired the shot heard round the world? Make a compelling argument

Checkpoint

Colonial militiamen were called __________. Why were they called this? Why were the British trying to get to Concord? Who warned the colonists about the British? Where was the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" fired? What was the significance of the Battles of Lexington

and Concord?

Fort Ticonderoga

Located in northern New York

The fort was at the southern end of Lake Champlain (why would this be a desirable location?)

This was the water route to Canada

The fort also had many cannons

Fort Ticonderoga- Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys

Ethan Allen, a blacksmith, led a group of men from the Green Mountains of Vermont to take Fort Ticonderoga

This group was called "The Green Mountain Boys"

83 of the Green Mountain Boys arrived early in the morning (only 42 British troops were there)

The British surrendered almost immediately

Dozens of cannons were seized

Washington would use these cannons to drive the British out from Boston

From Fort Ticonderoga to Boston

What does this painting indicate

about the Continental Army?

"I return’d to this place on the 15 & brought with me the Cannon being nearly the time I conjectur’d it would take us to transport them to here, It is not easy [to] conceive the difficulties we have had in getting them over the Lake owing to the advanc’d Season of the Year & contrary winds, but the danger is now past & three days ago it was very uncertain whether we could have gotten them untill next spring, but now please God they must go – I have had made forty two exceeding Strong Sleds & have provided eighty Yoke of oxen to drag them as far as Springfield where I shall get fresh Cattle to Carry them to Camp – the rout will be from here to Kinderhook from thence into Great Barrington Massachusetts Bay & down to Springfield There will scarcely be possibility of conveying them from here to Albany or Kinderhook but on sleds the roads being very much gullied, at present the sledding is tolerable to Saratoga about 26 miles; beyond that there is none – I have sent for the Sleds & teams to come here & expect to begin [to] move them to Saratoga on Wednesday or Thursday next trusting that between this & then we shall have a fine fall of snow which will enable us to proceed further & make the carriage easy – if that should be the case I hope in 16 or 17 days time to be able to present to your Excellency a noble train of artillery."- Henry Knox

Discuss this primary source with someone sitting near you.

What does this source indicate about the Continental Army?

Checkpoint

Why did the colonists want to take Fort Ticonderoga? Who was the leader of the group that took the fort? What was the name of this group? Why was the surrender by the British at Fort

Ticonderoga unique? How did the siege of Fort Ticonderoga affect the later

stages of the war?

Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed's Hill) Americans surrounding Boston were

farmers and workers, not trained soldiers (why would this be a disadvantage?)

British general, William Howe, decided to attack straight up Breed's Hill

300 British troops were killed in the first attempt up the hill

The British tried two more times The British finally succeeded in taking

Bunker Hill because the Americans ran out of ammo.

This was a moral victory and a confidence boost for the colonies

This sent a message to the British that the war would not be quick or easy

"Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!"

Legend has William Prescott or Israel Putnam as the person who said this

Why is he saying this?

Why shouldn't they open fire right away?

Discuss this with someone who has the same color shirt as you.

Checkpoint

How were American troops and British troops different? Why did the Americans lose the Battle of Bunker Hill? What message did the moral victory at Bunker Hill give

to the colonists? What message did the Battle of Bunker Hill send to the

British?

Battle of Trenton and Princeton

On Christmas night of 1776, Washington led 2,400 men across the freezing Delaware River in small boats

Soldiers were very poorly equipped (some wrapped their feet in rags since they did not have shoes)

On the far bank, they walked several miles in the snow

Battle of Trenton and Princeton

On December 26, Washington attacked Trenton from two sides

How would you evaluate this strategy? Discuss with someone sitting near you and be ready to defend your answer.

This attack by Washington came as a complete surprise

Battle of Trenton and Princeton- Hessians

Hessians- German soldiers from the region of Hesse

They were among the thousands of "mercenaries" who fought for the British (what does "mercenary" mean?)

Mercenary- hired soldier

Why do you think the British used Hessian mercenaries?

British troops were stretched thin and Hessians were cheap and effective.

Battle of Trenton and Princeton

After winning at Trenton, Washington quietly withdrew and moved toward Princeton

The British were heavily damaged and suffered a loss at Princeton as well

Victories at Trenton and Princeton boosted morale and gave the Americans momentum

Checkpoint

Why was Washington able to win at Trenton? Which side used Hessian mercenaries? Why were these mercenaries used? Why were these victories (Trenton and Princeton)

important?

Battle of Saratoga

British General, John Burgoyne had a plan to cut off New England from the rest of the states.

British Plan: Burgoyne wanted to

attack Albany, NY from 3 directions

General Howe was ordered to attack from the South but the king ordered him to attack Philadelphia, instead

Battle of Saratoga

American general, Horatio Gates had 6,000 men ready to fight at the village of Saratoga, NY

His men quickly surrounded the British and forced Burgoyne to surrender after heavy casualties

Results: Major turning point in the war Ended British threat to New

England Destroyed British hopes of an

easy victory Lifted Patriot spirits Convinced Europeans that

America had a second chance of winning

Checkpoint

What message did the Battle of Saratoga send to the British?

How did the victory at Saratoga affect the attitude of the Patriots?

Valley Forge

During the winter of 1777-1778, Washington’s Continental army camped in Valley Forge, PA

11,000 were not sufficiently fed, clothed, or housed

Many lacked socks, shoes, and pants

Food consisted of dry bread patties and thin soup

Women collected supplies and Martha Washington went to Valley Forge to tend to soldiers

During this winter, troops trained with Baron Von Steuben to strengthen themselves for future battles

Checkpoint

What kinds of hardships did the army face at Valley Forge?

How did Martha Washington help? What role did Baron Friedrich von Steuben play at

Valley Forge?

Battle of King’s Mountain

The British had recently won at Camden, SC

They moved through the Carolinas in September of 1780

British warned locals that they should join them or they would “hang their leaders, and law their country waste…”

The locals (mountain people), formed a militia army

At King’s Mountain, the militiamen killed or captured 1,000 British or Loyalist troops

This victory brought new support for independence from Southerners

Checkpoint

What was the significance of the Battle of King’s Mountain?

Battle of Yorktown

British General Charles Cornwallis led his 7,500 troops to Yorktown near the James River (ring a bell?)

From here, he could receive supplies from British ships in Chesapeake Bay

French Admiral Francois de Grasse blocked the entrance and prevented the British from receiving supplies and escaping

Washington’s army along with 7,000 French troops came from New York to Virginia

Cornwallis was trapped and on October 17, 1781, the British officially surrendered

Checkpoint

What other country helped the Americans win at Yorktown?

What strategy was used? Why was the victory at Yorktown significant?

Day 1 Summarizer

3-2-1 • 3 things you found out, 2 interesting things, and 1

question you still have.

Day 2 Summarizer

Answer the following on a half of a sheet of paper: 1. What were the first battles of the war? 2. Which battle involved the British surrendering without a

fight? 3. Which battles were “moral victories?” 4. Which battle was the turning point? 5. Which battle brought new support from Southerners? 6. Which battle was the final major battle?

Bell Ringer- Day 2 (Use your own paper)

Construct a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the Continental Army with the British Army

Bell Ringer- Day 3

Complete the table summarizing the significance of the major battles and events of the American Revolution. Match each of the battles or events below with their description on your table.

Battle of Lexington Battle of Concord Siege of Fort Ticonderoga Bunker Hill Battles Trenton and Princeton Battle of Saratoga Valley Forge Battle of King’s Mountain Battle of Yorktown

Battles of the Revolution Extension Activity (Choose ONE)

Illustrated Timeline: Construct an illustrated timeline over the major battles of the Revolution. Include a short summary as well as a drawing for each major event.- Work with your assigned

partner- One partner should

construct the drawings and one partner should construct the summaries

Revolutionary War Leader Interview Podcast: Choose a figure from one of the major battles. Construct an 3-5 minute interview about the battle.- Work with your assigned

partner- In addition to your

recorded podcast, you should turn in your interview script.