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Paul Revere's Ride
On the night of April 18th, 1775, Paul Revere was sent by Dr. Joseph Warren to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of a British attack. Revere ordered a friend of his to hang two lanterns in the Old North Church. The two lanterns meant that the British were coming by sea. Revere was able to warn the militiamen of the attack before he was caught. This event was extremely important to the start of the war because it allowed the Americans to fight back with the knowledge of the opposing side. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
On April 19, 1775, the Battles of Lexington and Concord officially started the Revolutionary War. It all began when British soldiers marched into Lexington in search of weapons. Paul Revere informed the colonists that the British were coming. As a result, the British were met with 2000 fierce militiamen and were forced to retreat. This was one of the most significant battles because it proved to everyone that the "rag tag" American army could fight with the most powerful military in the world. -
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The American Revolution
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Battle of Bunker Hill
On June 16, 1775, 1000 American militiamen under the leadership of Colonel Prescott set up forces on Breed's Hill. The next day the American militiamen attacked the British in a close cornered fight, trying to conserve ammunition. Unfortunately, the Americans ended up running out of ammunition but not before they cut down on 1000 British troops. So, while the Americans ended up losing the battle, it actually boosted the morale because it proved that the Americans could compete with the British. -
Declaration of Independence
On July 4th, 1776, colonial delegates in Philadelphia signed a document in which they declared that the colonies were free states independent from Britain.Thomas Jefferson primarily wrote the Declaration, but members, such as Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, revised the draft accordingly. When Parliament received note of the Declaration of Independence, they disregarded it as a weak document. However, the document proved to be vital in promoting the American Revolution and unifying the country. -
Thomas Paine's writing of "The American Crisis"
Thomas Paine published a series of articles titled "The American Crisis" during the Revolution. His first volume was published on December 23rd, 1776, when George Washington was planning his surprise attack in Trenton. The first article mentioned that despite the struggles the Americans had faced, the end result of liberty would be well worth it. This document boosted the morale of the soldiers and gave them hope as George Washington read it to them the night of the Delaware crossing. -
Crossing of the Delaware River
On Christmas Day 1776, George Washington made the decision to cross the Delaware River in an attempt to execute a surprise attack. This was a very risky decision because of the icy waters and harsh conditions. Because of the several defeats prior to crossing the Delaware, Washington realized that a surprise attack was the only option at beating the British and gaining a victory. Crossing the Delaware turned out to be a success because it allowed for the Americans to follow through at Trenton. -
Battle of Trenton
Because the Americans successfully crossed the Delaware river, they were able to attack the mercenaries on December 26. The Americans were able to defeat the Hessian mercenaries due to the fact that the Battle of Trenton was a surprise attack. There have been rumors saying that the mercenaries were also hungover from Christmas night, which aided the Americans in defeating the British at Trenton. The victory proved that Washington could unite the colonies into an effective military force. -
Battle of Philadelphia
In September of 1777, the British army, led by General William Howe, attacked Philadelphia and ambushed American troops. Howe outsmarted Washington by defeating him at the Battle of Brandywine and the Battle of the Clouds.The Americans had over 1000 casualties and this capture decreased morale. Many politicians were unhappy with Washington's military decisions and wanted him replaced. At this time, the British were very optimistic and thought that the attack would end the rebellion. -
Battles of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga were fought in September and October of 1777.John Burgoyne's British army were confident that their attack against the Americans would succeed. However, because of the lack of reinforcements on the British side, General Gates took advantage of this and fought back with better numbers. Thus, on October 17, the British had to retreat.The Battles of Saratoga proved to be a turning point in the war because the Americans were on the winning side and France became an ally. -
The Winter at Valley Forge
In December 1777, the Americans settled in at Valley Forge. Unfortunately, the winter proved to be harsh, and Congress could not provide adequate supplies. As a result, the troops were cold and starving. Morale decreased and many soldiers wanted to desert the army. However, the situation turned around when Washington appointed Baron von Steuben and Marquis de Lafayette. Despite low morale in the beginning, the Americans got through the winter and this became a big turning point in the war. -
Battle of Yorktown
In October 1781, General Washington and his French allies trapped British forces under General Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia. French naval forces trapped the British at the sea and Washington's army trapped the British by land. Knowing that there would be no possible way to win, British General Cornwallis surrendered to the Americans. The affect of the Siege of Yorktown was that it ended the Revolutionary War and proved to everyone that the Americans were a force to be reckoned with. -
Treaty of Paris
After the Battle of Yorktown, support for the war in Parliament began to fade. So, on September 3rd, 1783, representatives from America and Britain met with each other in Paris to agree on a peace treaty. Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams were the American congressmen sent to Paris. Because the British agreed to give up most of its land in America, the United States doubled in size. The Treaty of Paris signified a new, powerful country, as well as the start American westward expansion.
