-
Philadelphia
Colonial leaders called for the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. They decided to recognize the colonial militia as the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as its commander. -
Battle of Lexington
Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott notified the colonists that 700 British troops were on their way to Concord. As the Redcoats made it to Lexington, Massachusetts, they noticed 70 minutemen lined up. As they started to fire, 8 minutemen were killed while the battle only lasted 15 minutes. -
Battle of Concord
When the British were getting ready to leave Concord, it turned deadly as 3,000 and 4,000 minutemen fired on them. The remaining soldiers then made their way to Boston. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
British general Thomas Gage sent 2,400 British soldiers to Beeper Hill. The colonists held fire until last minute but the British had over 1,000 casualties and 450 colonists died. -
New York
To try and stop rebellion, the British attempted to seize New York City. They sailed into the harbor with around 32,000 soldiers. It included German mercenaries or Hessians. The Continental Army tried to defend NY but soon retreated because of their poor equipment. -
Trenton
George Washington led 2,400 men in boats across the Delaware River. They then made their way to Trenton, New Jersey and defeated a troop of Hessians. -
Saratoga
General John Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga on Oct. 17th. It was one of the most important events of the war, it resulted in France signing an alliance with the Americans to join them in their fight. -
Valley Forge
Washington and his Army fought to survive at a winter camp in Valley Forge, Philadelphia. They were low on food and supplies, more than 2,000 soldiers died. -
Marquis de Lafayette
Foreign military leader, Marquis de Lafayette offered help the Continental Army. Lafayette tried to persuade France for French reinforcements and led a command in Virginia. -
Yorktown
The armies of Lafayette and Washington moved to Yorktown where they surrendered. About 17,000 French and American troops surrounded the British on Yorktown peninsula and began to bombard them. The Americans defeated the British. -
Treaty of Paris
Began talking about peace in Paris 1782, included John Adams, John Jay of New York, and Benjamin Franklin. Signed the Treaty of Paris which made US independent and set boundaries of the new nation.
