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Battle of Lexington and Concord
General Thomas Gage was ordered to destroy the rebel’s military stores in concord. When the British began their march towards Concord, Paul Revere had taken notice and alerted the rebel militia. The British quickly retreated from the battle due to the unorthodox strategy employed by the American’s. Unlike the British, the Americans did not line up into an offensive line and instead chose to form small groups and flank the enemy. (More on Doc) -
Invisible Ink
While invisible ink was used by both the British and American armies it was often used by the the Rebel Army to report to George Washington. The invisible ink, a mixture of ferrous sulfate and water, could be revealed by using either fire or acid depending on which letter was placed at the top of the page. Most invisible ink letters also contained an area of visible text in case the british army discovered spies who were carrying the letters (Methods). -
Battle of Bunker Hill
A group of colonists who had discovered the British had plans to occupy the hills nearby Boston, set up fortification on breeder hill. The British were eventually successful in defeating the colonial militiamen after several attempts. The victory was largely due to the lack of ammunition of the colonial militiamen. Despite Britain's victory, the British lost more troops than the colonial militiamen (The Battle). -
Declaration of Independence
The committee of five: John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin. Robert R. Livingston and Thomas Jefferson worked together to draft the Declaration of Independence. The document was later submitted to the Congress and adopted. The Declaration of Independence explains why it is important to become independent based on the actions of the King. The Declaration of Independence served as a powerful tool for inspiring the colonist to unite against the unjust actions of the King (The Declaration). -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga is composed of two separate battles. The first battle, known as the battle of freeman’s farm, the American forces were pushed back due to a disagreement in tactics between General Gates and Arnold. However, in the second battle, the battle of Bemis Heights, the defensive tactics used by the patriots lead to the defeat of the British. Despite experience once again, the patriots were able to secure victory due to their tactical strength (Battle). -
Valley Forge
Washington and his men set up camp for the winter in Valley Forge. During this time they were trained by Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, a former member of the Prussian army (Valley). The soldiers faced a very harsh winter, which is explained by Albigence Waldo, a local surgeon, who writes "There comes a Soldier, his bare feet are seen thro' his worn out Shoes, his legs nearly naked." (More on Document) -
Treaty of Alliance with France
The Treaty of Alliance was a defencive alliance between France and America. America seeked to maintain "liberty, sovereignty, and independence absolute and unlimited." The French's aid was a major turning point for America. -
Surrender of Cornwallis
General Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown on October 19th, 1781 when he was flanked by George washington's troops. Cornwallis’s troops had been weakened earlier because of Cornwallis’s recent defeat in North Carolina. Also, the french aided the Americans by blocking the support ships which Cornwallis was expecting. Cornwallis’s surrender ended the American Revolutionary war (Ebenezer). -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the American Revolutionary war, recognized American independence, and establish borders. Richard Oswald and the American Peace Commissioners began negotiating peace shortly after Cornwallis surrender at the battle of Yorktown (Treaty).
