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Struggles of the Colonies
The colonies were experiencing a lot of trouble due to unfair taxation, lack of representation in the British parliament, and the restriction of colonial freedoms: even so, less than one-third of the colonists really wanted independence from Britain. -
British Seize the Concord
The King declared the colony of Massachussetts to be in open rebellion and commanded that Boston's main leaders, Sam Adams and John Hancock be arrested for treason. Later, soldiers were ordered to seize American weapons and gunpowder being stored in Concord, Massachussetts. -
Lexington and Concord
British troops known as "red coats" were coming to search for weapons in Concord by secretly crossing the river to Charlestown. In Lexington,Massachusetts 70 armed citizens known as Minutemen, confronted the redcoats as they marched toward the Concord. By the time the battle of Lexington and Concord was over, 250 british soldiers and 90 americans have been killed or wounded. -
The Second Continental Congress Begins
After the outbreak of war representatives from the thiteen colonies formed the second continental congress. It would serve as an emergency goverment throughout the war. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was the second, and bloodiest, battle of the revolutionary war. It started after American militianmen constructed a crude dirt fort at night atop a hill in Charles Town overlooking Bostons harbor. The battle continued until the militianmen ran out of gunpowder. In the end the redcoats suffered twice as many casualties as the Americans but the British still managed to win the bloody Battle of Bunker Hill -
Washington Takes Command In Boston
A month after the American defeat at Bunker Hill, General Washington took command of the militias around Boston. His plan was to drive the redcoats from the city if Britan refused to accept Americas offer of peace. When he learned that the king has declined the war on all the colonies, Washington went into action. Realizing their position was hopeless, the British dumped their cannons into the harbor and sailed off to the safety of Canada. After that, the American forces took control of the city -
Declaration of Independence
This is when the declaation of independence was presented to Congres. In the State House the room was unusually quiet that day as men stepped foward to sign their names to the document; for all of them realized the great importance, and danger of what they were doing -
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Encampment At Valley Forge
George Washington set up a camp at Valley Forge, Pennslyvania, about a days ride from Philadelphia. Soldiers built rows of log cabins and soon Valley Forge became the second largest city in the United States with 12,000 men. During the winter 2,000 soldiers died because of the harsh winters, lack of food, clothes, and shoes. -
Campain in the south
The summer after Valley Forge the British took a major military campaign in the southern states where a lot of people were against Independence. Soon the British controlled all of Georgia. -
The Battle of Yorktown
British troops reached Yorktown, Virginia, an old tobacco port. British set up camp on the outskirts of Yorktown, positioned their weapons, and built walls and trenches while they waited for more troops and supplies to ship over from New York. Meanwhile, Washington got 5,000 French troops and him and his army marched down to Virginia. A French fleet battled and stopped the ships from getting to the British so now they were trapped and outnumbered. After so much shelling the British surrendered. -
The End of the War
A peace treaty was approved in which Great Britain formally recognized the independence of the United States of America. It officially ended this dreadfully long war.
