Revolutionary War Battles and People

Loyalists

American colonists who remained loyal to Britain and opposed the war for independence

Patriots

American colonists who were determined to fight the British until American independence was won

Battle of Saratoga

American victory over British troops in 1777 that was a turning point in the American Revolution. This victory caused France send military aid to the American cause.

Paul Revere

Boston silversmith who rode into the countryside to spread news of British troop movement.

British advantage

Experienced soldiers and military leaders

Battle of Bunker Hill

First major battle of the Revolution. It showed that the Americans could hold their own; however, the Americans were forced to withdraw after running out of ammunition, and Bunker Hill was in British hands. The British "won", but lost more than twice as many men as the Americans.

Marquis de Lafayette

French major general who aided the colonies during the Revolutionary War- Not only did he help convince the French to aid the Americans, he was one of the military experts who helped train the colonial armies. He was 19 when he came over at the beginning of the war!

Lord Cornwallis

General who surrendered at Yorktown to Washington

Baron Von Stueben

Prussian officer who trained Washington's army at Valley Forge- turning it into a modern fighting force.

Battle of Ticonderoga, New York

May 1775 Early victory for the Colonists when they raided the fort and forced the sleeping British troops to surrender. Henry Knox helped bring cannons back to General Washington encamped outside of Boston by sled through frozen forests and mountains, one of the most amazing logistical feats of the war.

Colonial advantage

Motivation for fighting was strong

Battle of Trenton, New Jersey

12/26/1776 -On Christmas day at night, in a near blizzard, Washington's soldiers began crossing the Delaware River, launching a surprise attack on the Hessian Mercenaries fighting for the British in the morning. While the Hessians had been warned by both spies and deserters, they believed the storm to be too bad for a crossing. This colonial victory improved the moral of the Americans.

Declaration of Independence

1776 statement, issued by the Second Continental Congress, explaining why the colonies wanted independence from Britain.

Sons of Liberty

A group of colonists who formed a secret society to oppose British policies at the time of the American Revolution

Benedict Arnold

American Hero at Saratoga, later turned traitor

Battle of Yorktown, Virginia

Last major battle of the Revolutionary War. Cornwallis and his troops were trapped on a peninsula in the Chesapeake Bay (poor choice of location for an encampment!) by the French fleet. He was sandwiched between the French navy and the American army. He surrendered October 19, 1781 while the British Army band played the song "The World Turned Upside Down".

Patrick Henry

Stated "Give Me liberty or Give me death" in response to British "tyranny"!

Crispus Attucks

The African-Native American man who was the first man to die in the Boston Massacre, also considered the first death in the Revolutionary War(Martyr)

Battle of Lexington and Concord

The first battle of the Revolutionary War. It occurred on April 19, 1775, when British soldiers fired into a much smaller body of minutemen on Lexington green. The British set out to capture American Arms and ammunition from the town armories, and to arrest the leaders of the Sons of Liberty, Sam Adams and John Hancock.

Treaty of Paris 1783

This treaty ended the Revolutionary War, recognized the independence of the American colonies, and granted the colonies the territory from the southern border of Canada to the northern border of Florida, and from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River

Valley Forge

Where Washington and his men spent the harsh winter of 1777-1778. Though times were bleak, troops were trained by Baron Von Stueben under Washington and improved their ability to fight while wintering in Pennsylvania.

Abigail Adams

Wife of John Adams. During the Revolutionary War, she wrote letters to her husband describing life on the homefront. She urged her husband to remember America's women in the new government he was helping to create.

Thomas Paine

Writer of "Common Sense", to persuade people to revolt and "The Crisis" to convince soldiers to re-enlist during the low points of the war.