Animated Battle Maps

Battle of Brandywine | September 11, 1777

On September 11, 1777, General George Washington was determined to prevent the British from capturing the American seat of government, Philadelphia. Taking up positions along Brandywine Creek, Washington mistakenly believed that his army blocked all fords across the Brandywine. 

Opposing Washington was Sir William Howe and an army of 15,500 British Regulars and Hessians. Howe's men had just finished a month long voyage from New York to Elkton, Maryland, via the sea. Hidden by heavy fog, the British moved into position.

The Saratoga Campaign | June 14 - October 17, 1777

The Patriot success at Saratoga was one of the most influential results of the Revolutionary War. Horatio Gates' commanding victory over John Burgoyne kept the British from exercising their plan of cutting New England off from the rest of the Colonies, shifting their focus to the Southern Campaign. The American victory also convinced King Louis XVI of France to join the fight for American Independence. 

This animated battle map highlights the engagements at Fort Ticonderoga, Hubbardton, Fort Stanwix, Bennington and Saratoga.

North Carolina at War | American Revolution Through Civil War

From Loyalists and Patriots to Unionists and Confederates, the State of North Carolina played a pivotal role in the foundational wars of the United States. In the American Battlefield Trust's newest animated battle map, we take a look at the military legacy of North Carolinians from early militias standing up to Royal Governor William Tryon before the American Revolution, to the countless conflicts of the Southern Campaign during the Revolutionary War, and ending with the desperate fighting for the state's many seaports during the American Civil War before Joseph E. Johnston's surrender to William T. Sherman at Bennett Place.

This video was made possible due to generous funding from the State of North Carolina.

America's Wars Animated Map: 1754-1945

For years, the American Battlefield Trust has been releasing Animated Battle Maps to help bring the battles and campaigns that defined the American Revolution and Civil War to life. Now, for the first time ever, we present to you our “America’s Wars” Animated Battle Map, detailing all major U.S. military conflicts from the French and Indian War to the conclusion of World War 2.

The Revolutionary War Animated Map | April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783

Witness the Revolutionary War unfold like you have never seen it before. Follow the struggle for American independence, from Lexington Green to the British surrender at Yorktown and beyond. (Runtime 18:44) View or download on Vimeo.

The Civil War Animated Map | April 12, 1861 – May 9, 1865

The Civil War remains the bloodiest conflict in American history. Follow the events as they unfold — from the firing on Fort Sumter, to the single bloodiest day at Antietam, to the Confederate surrenders at Appomattox Court House and Bennett Place. (Runtime 27:28)

Learn about the most famous battle in American history, with the Union and the Confederates trading blows over three hot summer days in July of 1863 – complete with troop movement animations, narratives, reenactment footage and more. (Runtime 16:51) View or download video on Vimeo.

The American Battlefield Trust’s Animated Battle Maps are a flagship component of our K-12 education outreach program and classroom curricula, which have been downloaded and utilized in classrooms around the world and viewed by students and history buffs alike millions of times. 

Developed in conjunction with leading historians, educators, and the National Park Service — and produced by Emmy award winning Wide Awake Films —the Animated Map Collection tells the story of America’s defining conflicts through compelling story telling, state of the art graphics and live action video.

The Animated Map Collection helps to bring the story of America’s past to life, while illustrating the important role that these conflicts and battlefields played from the founding of the United States during the Revolutionary War. To the freeing of 3.5 million slaves because of the Civil War. And how each conflict helped to shape the America of today. 

Credits

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 50,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War.

Wide Awake Films is a creative media group focused on innovative, efficient execution of historical, commercial and corporate video and film production. The production company excels in producing compelling and powerful corporate messages, as well as Emmy award-winning historical content for museums, documentaries and television programming.