Battles of the American Revolution

Battles of the American Revolution

Lexington and Concord, Paul Revere, George Washington

The colonists had grown tired of the British and their laws and taxes. They gathered together and made a plan to protect themselves.

• Militias were groups of armed colonists that formed to fight against the British.

• Minutemen were prepared to fight at a moment's notice.

• All of these men volunteered their time and were ready to stand up against British soldiers.

Multiple Choice

What was the problem with militias and minutemen fighting during the war?

• They were afraid to fight.

• They volunteered for the war and could leave whenever they wanted.

• They were loyalists.

The British soldiers wanted to destroy the colonists weapons to gain an advantage.

• Word spread about the soldiers' plans.

• Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott rode through the to night warn everyone that the British were on their way.

• At the Battle of Lexington, there were 70 American soldiers and 700 British soldiers. Even though they were outnumbered, the Patriots were ready to fight.

• This was the first battle of the American Revolutionary War.

Open Ended

Only a few people were killed at the Battle of Lexington. Why do you think this battle is significant (important)?

After the Battle of Lexington, the British army continued on to Concord, Massachusetts. Hundreds of colonial minutemen gathered and forced the British to retreat back to Boston.

The Second Continental (a group of representatives from each of the Thirteen Colonies) met to devise a plan. They formed a Continental Army.

• This army was led by a future president of the United States of America.

• He trapped the British Army and they had to escape on boats.

Multiple Choice

Who led the Continental Army.

• General George Washington

• General Charles Cornwallis

• General Paul Revere