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Battle of Lexington and Concord
First battle of Revolutionary War. British were tipped off about weapons storage. Paul Revere makes famous ride while British march from Boston giving Patriots time to move the weapons. "shot heard round the world" -
Second Continental Congress
Meeting in Philidephia, the Congress created the Continental Army, naming George Washington the Commander in Chief -
Battle of Bunker Hill
On Breed's HIll in Boston, American's put up a strong fight against the British, but eventually retreated. Big blow to front line of British forces as they tried to occupy the area -
Decleration of Independence
Continental Congress declares independence from King George. The constitution hosts a list of grievances for th King. -
Battle of Long Island
Howe defeats the Americans as they surround them in New York. Washington flees across the Hudson to New Jersey; eventually retreats further into New Jersey. -
Adams publisjes Thoughts on Government
Provided framework for a government with different branches -
Battle of Trenton
Surprise attack by Patriots on Christmas Day by Washington forces British-backed Hessian soldiers to surrender. -
Battle of Saratoga
Turning point in the war for Americans because it led to French aid in the war. Burgoyne tried to isolate the Northern and Southern colonies to cut off supplies and trade. -
Articles of Confederation
Provided a union of states where states could retain their own sovereinty -
Winter at Valley Forge
Long, brutal winter led to over 4,000 of the 12,000 soldiers dying. Prussian officer Baron von Steuben is brought in to help make the army more professional. -
Treaty of Alliance of 1778
Benjamin Franklin goes to Paris to form alliance with France and succeeds. Both promise to stay in the war until America gets its independence. -
General Clinton takes over
General Clinton is given control of the British troops as Howe goes back to Britian -
Spain joins war
In pursuit of Florida which it lost in an earlier war -
Phillpsburg Proclomation
Any slave who runs away from their owner is free accroding to the British. 30,000 slaves freed. -
Nathaniel Green controls southern Army
Washington hands over control of the southern forces to Nathaniel Green. -
Guilford County Courthouse
British take heavy casualties as Nathaniel Green splits up his troops at the courthouse. No decisive winner. -
Surrender at Yorktown
General Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown ending the Reolutionary War. He claims to be ill and misses the actual surrender. -
Treaty of Paris of 1783
Great Britian recognizes American independence and loses all of its land in North America -
Treaty of Versailles
British peace with Spain and French. Spain recieves Florida from Britain; French recieves a Carribean Island -
Ratification of Constituion
Bill of Rights added in 1789 with North Carolina becoming the last state to ratify it in 1790
