American Revolution

April 19, 1775 Lexington & Concord

The British Army infantry had occupied Boston since 1768 and were reinforced by their naval forces and marines. They were ordered to enforce the Intolerable Acts, which the British Parliament had passed to punish the Province of Massachusetts Bay for the “Boston Tea Party”.

On April 18, 1775, an 80 strong band of militiamen stood guard in the village common, under the leadership of Captain John Parker. After standing guard most of the night, with nothing happening, they were about to disperse, when word came that the British troops were advancing towards them. At sunrise on April 19, the advance guard of the British troops, reached the commons of Lexington and ordered the assembled militia to disperse. Since no hostilities had commenced, Captain Parker of the militias, knew he was outmatched. One of the British Officers called out to the militias to lay down their arms……. Read: Causalities http://totallyhistory.com/battles-of-lexington-and-concord/ Watch: _____ British https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUwfnC0jaDs&list=PLYEU9jLVlDxQ8qO52Xa8hQHyEzeP4MU35 _____ Continental If you are Captain Parker what do you do?

A. Lay down your arms and disperse (or leave) because you will lose many men and perhaps your own life. B. Knowing you are outmatched you decide to fire first and take the advantage. C. You dare not order your militia men to fire because you are outmatched and hope that the British will not fire and back down. If they fire you know you must fight.

Why: ______

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June 17, 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill

Following the beginning of the war at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 the citizens of Boston found blockaded the land approaches; General Thomas Gage and 4,600 British soldiers held the city itself. One Bostonian wrote, "We are besieged this moment with 10 or 15,000 men, from Roxbury to Cambridge... We are every hour expecting an attack by land or water."

Critical to the British occupation of Boston was control of the hills on the Charlestown peninsula. An army holding this position overlooked both Boston and her harbor. On June 15 the Americans learned that the British planned to occupy Charlestown. To frustrate them the Americans decided to act first.

On the evening of June 16, Colonel William Prescott, leading 1,200 Massachusetts and Connecticut soldiers, left Cambridge to fortify Bunker's Hill, the dominant hill in Charlestown. Prescott, however, bypassed this position and instead dug in on a lower hill closer to Boston called Breed's Hill. The next morning, the British awoke to find Breed's Hill fortified with an earthen redoubt measuring 160 feet by 30 feet. Gage ordered the position captured.

The advance of the Redcoats must have been a terrible sight to the Americans. But nervous as they were, they had to wait. It was critical that the first rounds of fire be coordinated, with men alternately firing and loading to keep up a barrage capable of breaking the enemy's charge. Whether or not they were told to hold fire until they saw the "whites of their eyes," the colonials were told to wait for the order to fire, to aim low, and to pick off British officers. On the meadow above, as Howe's men approached their enemy, they were met by premature but increasingly steady musketry. In the struggle to negotiate fences while under fire, momentum and discipline were lost. No sooner was the first assault turned back than Howe regrouped and marched forward again in a hasty, uncoordinated attack all along the American front. Once again the assault was a costly failure. The British are looking to make a third assault…. Causalities Read & Watch: http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battle-of-bunker-hill ______British Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwFsJYot62M ______Continental

If you are William Prescott what do you do when the British make a third assault…

A. Hold your ground and put up a third fight to finally break the British. B. Order a retreat towards Cambridge C. Order your troops to leave the high ground and lead an assault against the bloodied British

Why: ______

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http://www.britishbattles.com/bunker-hill.htm

July 3, 1775 Washington takes command of Continental Army (Political Points)

On this day in 1775, George Washington rides out in front of the American troops gathered at Cambridge common in Massachusetts and draws his sword, formally taking command of the Continental Army. Washington, a prominent Virginia planter and veteran of the French and Indian War, had been appointed commander in chief by the Continental Congress two weeks before. In agreeing to serve the American colonies in their war for independence, he declined to accept payment for his services beyond reimbursement of future expenses. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/washington-takes-command-of-continental-army

Question: How might the appointment of Washington help the Continental Army? Think about a sports team with no head coach…

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January 15, 1776 Common Sense Published (Political Points)

On this day in 1776, writer Thomas Paine publishes his pamphlet "Common Sense," setting forth his arguments in favor of American independence. Although little used today, pamphlets were an important medium for the spread of ideas in the 16th through 19th centuries.

Originally published anonymously, "Common Sense" advocated independence for the American colonies from Britain and is considered one of the most influential pamphlets in American history. Credited with uniting average citizens and political leaders behind the idea of independence, "Common Sense" played a remarkable role in transforming a colonial squabble into the American Revolution. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thomas-paine-publishes-common-sense

Read the following excerpt from “Common Sense” and explain Paine’s argument.

“Until an independence is declared the continent will feel itself like a man who continues putting off some unpleasant business from day to day, yet knows it must be done, hates to set about it, wishes it over, and is continually haunted with the thoughts of its necessity.”

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March 17, 1776 The British in Boston

Washington arrived outside Boston on July 3. Establishing his headquarters in Cambridge, he began molding the masses of colonial troops into an army. Creating badges of rank and uniform codes, Washington also began creating a logistical network to support his men. In an attempt to bring structure to the army, he divided it into three wings each led by a major general.

Washington proposed an attack on Boston. However, his officers were against it. They argued that the British were still receiving supplies by sea. They urged Washington to wait until the waters around Boston were frozen. He ordered Henry Know to march to Fort Ticonderoga and bring back artillery. Knox returned in January 1776 with 59 cannons.

Even with the waters around Boston frozen, Washington's officers refused to attack the city. A frustrated Washington looked for another way to dislodge the British…. http://www.mountvernon.org/educational-resources/encyclopedia/siege-of-boston

If you were Washington how would you dislodge the British?

A. Ignore the advice of your officers and trust your gut instincts and make a direct attack on the British. Plus many of your troops enlistments are up at the end of the year so this might be your best chance to score a victory. B. Listen to the advice of your officers and wait out the British until they surrender. C. Look to take the high ground and force the British to make the tough choice to leave.

Why: ______

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Causalities

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July 4, 1776 Congress signs the Declaration of Independence (Political Points)

When armed conflict between bands of American colonists and British soldiers began in April 1775, the Americans were ostensibly fighting only for their rights as subjects of the British crown. By the following summer, with the Revolutionary War in full swing, the movement for independence from Britain had grown, and delegates of the Continental Congress were faced with a vote on the issue. In mid-June 1776, a five-man committee including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin was tasked with drafting a formal statement of the colonies' intentions. The Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence--written largely by Jefferson--in Philadelphia on July 4, a date now celebrated as the birth of American independence.

Read the following excerpt from the Declaration of Independence and write it in your own words.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”

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August 27, 1776 Battle of Long Island

The battle initiated the British campaign of 1776 to seize control of New York and thereby isolate New England from the rest of the colonies. After the British evacuation from Boston in March, the British general Lord Howe moved to occupy New York City under the protection of a British fleet that commanded the surrounding waters. To protect his left flank, the defending American general, George Washington, stationed one-third of his troops (numbering no more than 20,000 trained soldiers) on the Long Island side of the East River, where they erected fortifications.

If you were Washington what would you order your army to do? A. Momentum is on your side so order your troops to remain in their fortifications and put up a fight knowing another victory could end the war. B. Realize that the situation is bad and there is no way you can hold on to Long Island with British Navy being so powerful. Order a complete retreat!

Causalities

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Watch: http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battle-of-long-island

December 26, 1776- Trenton & Princeton

Having been defeated in the battles for New York City, General George Washington and the remnants of the Continental Army retreated across New Jersey in the late fall of 1776. Vigorously pursued by the British forces under Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis, the American commander sought to gain the protection of the Delaware River. As they retreated, Washington faced a crisis as his battered army began to disintegrate through desertions and expiring enlistments. Crossing the Delaware River into Pennsylvania in early December, he made camp and attempted to reinvigorate his shrinking command.

Badly reduced, the Continental Army was poorly supplied and ill-equipped for winter with many of the men still in summer uniforms or lacking shoes. In a stroke of luck for Washington, General Sir William Howe, the overall British commander, ordered a halt to the pursuit on December 14 and directed his army to enter winter quarters. In doing so, they established a series of outposts across northern New Jersey.

With the morale of the army and public ebbing, Washington believed that an audacious act was required to restore confidence and help boost enlistments. Meeting with his officers, he proposed a surprise attack on the Hessian garrison at Trenton for December 26. For the operation, he intended to cross the river with 2,400 men and march south against the town. Combating rain, sleet, and snow, Washington's army reached the river at McKonkey's Ferry on the evening of December 25. Behind schedule, they were ferried across by Colonel John Glover's Marblehead regiment using Durham boats for the men and larger barges for the horses and artillery. Having completed the crossing around 3:00 AM, they began their march south towards Trenton. Unknown to Washington, Ewing was unable to make the crossing due to the weather and heavy ice in the river. In addition, Cadwalader had succeeded in crossing his men, but returned to Pennsylvania when he was unable to cross his artillery. http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battles-of-trenton-and-princeton/videos http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/americanrevolution/p/American-Revolution-Battle-Of-Trenton.htm

As Washington your plans are collapsing around you…..what do you do?

A. Realize that you need this victory and you must continue with your plans and assault the Hessians at Trenton. B. Realize that your plans were risky to begin with, and with many of your men unable to make the crossing success might be out of reach. You decide to reform and plan another assault. C. Continue to with your plan but continue to delay until all troops have crossed.

Causalities

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September 26, 1777 British under Howe occupy Philadelphia (Political Points)

In the spring of 1777, Burgoyne proposed a plan for defeating the Americans which called for him to lead an army south through Lake Champlain to Albany while a second column advanced east from Lake Ontario. These advances were to be supported by an advance north from New York by Howe. While this plan was approved by Colonial Secretary Lord George Germain, Howe's role was never clearly defined nor was he issued orders from London to aid Burgoyne. As a result, though Burgoyne moved forward, Howe launched his own campaign to capture the American capital at Philadelphia. http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/americanrevolutio1/p/whowe.htm

Why might have Philadelphia been an important target for Howe?

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Oct. 17, 1777 Battle of Saratoga

In the spring of 1777, Major General John Burgoyne proposed a plan for defeating the Americans. Believing that New England was the seat of the rebellion, he proposed cutting the region off from the other colonies by moving down the Hudson River corridor while a second force, led by Colonel Barry St. Leger, advanced east from Lake Ontario. Meeting at Albany, they would press down the Hudson, while General William Howe's army advanced north from New York. Though approved by London, Howe's role in the plan was never clearly defined and issues of his seniority precluded Burgoyne from issuing him orders. The plan began to unravel in quick succession as Burgoyne became plagued by supply issues. Burgoyne's situation was worsened by news that St. Leger had turned back and that Howe had left New York to begin a campaign against Philadelphia.

Alone and with his supply situation worsening, he elected to move south in an effort to take Albany before winter. Opposing his advance was an American army under the command of General Horatio Gates. The British and American forces battled at Freeman’s Farm & Bemis Heights. At Bemis Heights Burgoyne suffered the loss of 600 men, while American losses were only around 150. Total the British had suffered roughly 1,000 causalities to the American’s 500.

That night Burgoyne lit fires at his remaining forward positions and withdrew under the cover of darkness. On the morning of October 8, he was back in the fortified positions he had held on September 16. Halting at Saratoga and with his supplies exhausted, he called a council of war. His officers favored fighting their way north…. http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battle-of-saratoga http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/americanrevolution/p/saratoga.htm

You are General Horatio Gates and the odds are now in your favor when it comes to the number of men you have….what’s your next move?

A. Attempt an all out assault with your superior forces! B. Use your superior numbers to surround Burgoyne and hope for a surrender C. Send for more troops and reinforcements and look to strengthen your already superior numbers, so that you can make an assault in the near future

Causalities

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