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Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre, called the Boston Riot by the English, was an incident on March 5, 1770, in which British redcoats killed five civilian men. It helped spark the rebellion in some of the British American colonies, which culminated in the American Revolutionary War. -
Boston Tea Party
Patriots Samuel Adams and Paul Revere led a group of colonists on board British ships located in Boston Harbor and threw the tea into the water to protest tea taxes. -
First Continental Congress
Delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies (except Georgia) met in Philadelphia to discuss the problems the colonies had with their relationship with Great Britain. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
Known as "the shot heard 'round the world", this battle was first armed conflict of the Revolutionary War. When the fighting stopped 273 British soldiers and 94 colonists were killed. -
Approval of the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain were independent states. -
Battle of Saratoga
British General Burgoyne attacked for the third time at the Battle of Saratoga. This time Burgoyne and his forces were defeated. General Burgoyne was forced to surrender. France became more confident in the American cause and joined forces with Washington's army providing much needed supplies and support. This was a major victory for the American forces and a key turning point in the war. -
Surrender at Yorktown
Lord Cornwallis and the British army was surrounded by Washington's army and the French Navy. After running out of supplies and ammunition, Cornwallis and the British army decided to surrender to George Washington. The British surrender at Yorktown ended the Revolutionary War. -
Signing of the Treaty of Paris
Signed in Paris on September 3, 1783, the agreement — also known as the Paris Peace Treaty — formally ended the United States War for Independence. Representing the United States were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, all of whom signed the treaty. In addition to giving formal recognition to the U.S.
