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Paul Revere's Ride
Paul Revere rode his horse to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that 700 British troops were marching from Boston to Concord to arrest them. This was very important to the American Revolution because had Samuel Adams and John Hancock been arrested and captured the Declaration of Indpendence may never have been written. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place in Middlesex County in Massachusetts in 1775, were the first military engagements of the Revolutionary War. Resulting in a victory for the Americans, the British retreated back to Boston. This was important to the American Revolution because the first battle of the war was a victory for the Americans, boosting morale and spirits. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill resulted in a victory for the British. While known as the Battle of Bunker Hill, the majority of the fighting occurred on nearby Breed's Hill. Despite resulting in a British victory, the battle boosted moral for the colonists because of the severity of damage they caused on British forces. In the end, there were 200 dead, and 800 wounded British soldiers, and 100 dead and 300 wounded Colonists.This put out 1,000 British troops, nearly half of the original 2,200. -
Thomas Paine's "The American Crisis"
There are 16 pamphlets of "The American Crisis" in total, published from 1776 all the way to the end of the Revolution in 1783. Paine's works were not only very important to the American Revolution, they were needed. Paine knew that the colonists would not support the American Revolution. Paine's writing style was in a way that the common person could understand, which helped to spread the idea of revolution and influence colonists to support it. -
Creation of the Declaration of Independence
While the creation of the Declaration of Independence took weeks, it was officially adopted on July 4th, 1776. The Declaration cut political ties with Great Britain and gave their reasoning for declaring their independence. The Declaration was extremely significant to the American Revolution because, in a way, it started the entire Revolution. By declaring independence from Great Britain by means of the Declaration of Independence, the colonists began the American Revolution. -
Crossing of the Delaware River
Many doubted Washington's choice to move over 2,000 soldiers across the Delaware, but Washington knew that this was the only way they stood a chance at a victory. After months of being defeated by the British, morale within the Continental Army was at an all-time low, the surprise attack and victory on British forces in New Jersey was the morale boost they needed. It was important to the revolution because it gave the Continental Army the pick-me-up they needed to reenlist for the next year. -
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton occurred the morning after Washington and his soldiers crossed the Delaware River. The Continental Army defeated the Hessians, German soldiers employed by the British. They surrounded the unprepared Hessian forces and took them easily. 22 Hessians were killed, 92 were wounded, 918 were captured and 400 managed to escape. This was an important battle for the American Revolution because it gave Continental forces the morale boost they desperately needed. -
The Winter at Valley Forge
Washington moved the Continental Army to Valley Forge in December of 1777. Moral was at an all time low due to defeats at Brandywine, Paoli, and Germantown, also, Philadelphia, once the rebel capital, had been taken by the British. Valley Forge was a dreary encampment where diseases ran rampant and clothing and food supplies ran short. This was important to the revolution because it tested their loyalty not only through the loss in battle, but the hardships they faced by nature. -
Battle of Philadelphia
George Washington positioned around 11,000 men between the opposing General Howe and the city of Philadelphia, the rebel capital. Despite their best efforts to defend the rebel stronghold, they were outflanked and driven back, losing around 1,000, the British only losing around 500. This event was important to the American Revolution because, while it was a loss it may have motivated the soldiers to work harder, to fight to regain the stronghold of the cause they were fighting for. -
Battles of Saratoga
After British forces were surrounded by Americans in upstate New York the two battles, just south of Saratoga, New York, 19 days apart, both resulted in American victory. This was vital to the American Revolution because it is well identified as the climax of the Saratga campaign. -
Battle of Yorktown
The last battle of the American Revolution, resulting in a decisive victory for American and French combined forces. The surrender and capturing of British forces prompted the British government to end the conflict. The victory was extremely important to the Revolution because it was the last battle of the Revolutionary War, resulting in a victory for the Americans, meaning they won the war. -
Treaty of Paris
Signed on September 3, 1783, in Paris by representatives of King George III and the United States of America, it officially ended the Revolutionary War. The document established American-British boundaries in North America, restoration of property, and fishing rights. This document was extremely important to the American Revolution because it ended the Revolutionary War and the American Revolution altogether, America was now an independent country.
