War for independence

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War for Independence

©2010, TESCC

Battles of Lexington &Concord

1775• 1st battles• British soldiers hoped to capture

Patriot leaders and weapons in the towns of Lexington and Concord

• Known as the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World!”

• Paul Revere rode to the towns to warn colonists of British intentions

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Battle of Saratoga1777

• Called the “turning point” battle• American victory that convinced

France to form an alliance with the colonists; French navy sent to support the American cause

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Battle of Yorktown1781

• Last battle• American victory won by combined

French and American forces• General Cornwallis surrendered to

General Washington

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Treaty of Paris of 1783• Officially ended the War• Forced Britain to recognize

American independence• Gave the United States claim to

England’s land which extended to Canada in the North, the Mississippi River in the West, and Florida in the South

©2010, TESCC

Why did America win?

• Americans fought on their own territory

• Americans got support and supplies from France and Spain

• Americans had a strong desire to be independent from England