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The Charleston Tea Party occurred
This took place 13 days before the Boston Tea Party. The ship Britannia arrived in Charleston Harbor from London. It was a response to the Tea Act that the British passed. The people at Charleston agreed not to buy tea. They unloaded the tea and stored it in the Exchange building. The colonists now had an established system for dealing with future problems. They established the General Committee to enforce non-importation agreements and resolutions in the colony. -
Shots fired at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts began the American Revolution
The British troops arrived at Lexington where about 70 minutemen waited. Patriot Captain Parker said, "Stand you ground; don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here." Eight of the minutemen died and 10 were wounded. Only one Redcoat was wounded. After the battle at Lexington, the British went to Concord to find weapons. However, they were hidden and the British decided to burn some buildings. -
The Declaration of Independence was signed, formally severing political and economic ties between American and Great Britain
The Declaration of independence announced the colonies' break from Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson was the main writer of this document. The British did not like it, but the colonies were now not controlled by Great Britain anymore. There were two sides, the Loyalists and the Patriots. -
The terrible winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where Washington's men became a fighting machine.
Washington and his troops were going through Valley Forge in the winter. They were heading to Philadelphia. The troops did not have any protection against the extremely cold weather. They did not have many supplies and clothing. Bringing his troops through the brutal winter proved George Washington's excellent leadership. -
The Battle of Camden, which should have been a Patriot victory, was a British victory. This led to the French not sending supplies and reinforcements as early as they had intended.
The Americans had a smaller number of troops due to illness. The British had possession of bayonets and a larger amount of troops. 2,000 Patriots were killed and taken prisoner as well as losses of artillery. General Horatio Gates was removed from command and replaced by Nathaniel Greene. -
The Battle of King’s Mountain is the first major Patriot victory in the South, making it the turning point battle of the War.
Major Ferguson's Tory force and General Lord Cornwallis' troops were fighting for the British. 1,000 American frontiersmen under Colonel Campbell gathered in the back country to resist Ferguson's advance. Ferguson positioned his troops in defense of King's Mountain. The Patriots were surrounding the Loyalists. The Loyalists charged down the mountain and Ferguson was killed. They tried to surrender, but they were killed by the Patriots. -
The Battle of Cowpens- a Patriot victory that pushes the British out of South Carolina.
American troops under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan routed British forces under Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton. The Americans injured and killed many British troops and the battle was as turning point in the war's Southern campaign. -
The Battle of Eutaw Springs: Last major battle in South Carolina; British tactical victory, Patriot strategic advantage; the British were cut off from their major cities and they couldn’t stop the movement of supplies.
The Patriot soldiers had 2,200 men and the British had 2,000 men. The Patriots took over the British camp and the British attacked. The battle was about four hours and it ended in both sides retreating. Lots of troops from each side were wounded and killed. -
The Battle of Yorktown, a Patriot victory, became the last battle of the War; General Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington.
The French were allies with the Americans. In total, there were 17,00 French and Continental troops and 9,000 British troops commanded by General Lord Charles Cornwallis. Washington took charge in this battle. He ordered Marquis de Lafayette and 5,000 troops to block Cornwallis' escape from Yorktown by land while the French naval fleet blocked the British escape by sea. The British were completely surrounded and surrendered ending the war for Independence. -
The Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the American Revolution, as well as changing the boundaries of American and other British colonies.
This treaty ended the American Revolution and recognized American independence. The Continental Congress appointed John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Laurens. However, the main people who contributed were Adams, Franklin, and Jay. British leaders had to accept American rights to settle and trade west of the original thirteen colonies.
