The Revolutionary War began in 1775 and lasted until 1783. The first shot was fired in Lexington, Massachusetts in 1775. Great Britain had begun taxing the American colonies without representation, which led the colonies to declare independence on July 4, 1776 and start fighting for freedom and independence from British rule. The war involved battles between British forces and American colonists, along with support from countries like France and Spain for the colonists and hired German and Native American forces fighting for the British.

1. HERITAGE MINUTE
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Matthew L.

2.  Americans declared themselves
independent from Great Britain on
July 4, 1775.
 The first shot of the
Revolution was on April 19, 1775.
 The American Revolution
lasted from 1775 to 1783.
WHEN?

3.  Great Britain began to tax the
documents of the colonies and some of
their products.
 The colonists could not vote in the
British Parliament, so they had to pay
taxes without any say so about it.
 This was called taxation without
representation.
 The colonies wanted their freedom
from Great Britain.
WHY?

4. The war started in
Lexington, Massachusetts
when a British soldier
was killed and six
colonists were killed. The
first shot of the
Revolution was called
“the shot that was heard
around the world.”
WHERE?

5.  This war was between Great
Britain and the 13 Colonies in North
America.
 Some other countries joined the
battle, such as France and Spain.
 British hired Indians and some
Germans (Hessians) to fight the
Colonists, who had some Spanish
and French soldiers helping them.
WHO?

6.  The British was the most powerful nation on earth at the time
of the American Revolution, but the colonists were very brave and
fought long and hard.
 The battle lines went from Florida to Canada and many
battles were fought.
 The British were better trained soldiers at first but the
colonists quickly learned.
 George Washington was the leading general of the colonists.
 The colonists soldiers knew they were sure to die at one point
when they were surrounded by the British, but a fog covered them
until they were all able to escape without the British seeing them.
They knew that God had sent the fog to help them.
 Finally the British gave up the fight and the colonists became
independent!
WHAT?