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Philadelphia
In May of 1775, colonial leaders called the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia to debate their next move. The loyalties that divided colonists sparked endless debates at the Second Continental Congress. -
Lexington
The King's troops, known as "redcoats" because of their uniforms, reached Lexington, Massachusetts, five miles short of concord, on the cold, windy dawn of April 19 -
Concord
The British marched on to Concord, where they found an empty arsenal. After a brief skirmish with minutemen, the British soldier lined up to march back to Boston, but the march quickly became a slaughter. -
Bunker Hill
Cooped up in Boston, British general Thomas Gage decided to strike at militiamen on Breed's Hill, north of the city and near Bunker Hill. -
New York
The British sailed into New York harbor in the summer of 1776 with a force of about 32,000 soldier. They included thousands of German mercenaries, or hired soldiers, know as Hessians because many of them came from the German region of Hesse. -
Trenton
Desperate for an early victory, Washington risked everything on one bold stroke set for Christmas night, 1776. In the face of a fierce storm, he led 2,400 men in small rowboat across the ice-choked Delaware River. -
Saratoga
As Burgoyne traveled through forested wilderness, militiamen and soldier from the Continental Army gathered from all over New York and New England. While he was fighting off the colonial troops, Burgoyne didn't realize that his fellow British officers were preoccupied. -
Valley Forge
While this hopeful turn of events took place in Paris, Washington and his Continental Army, desperately low on food and supplies. -
Marquis De Lafayette
Other foreign military leaders, such as the Marquis De Lafayette, also arrived to offer their help. Lafayette lobbied France for French reinforcements in 1779, and led a command in Virginia in the last years of the war
