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The Battle of Quebec
On December 31, 1775, Patriot forces led by Colonel Benedict Arnold and General Richard Montgomery attempted to capture the British-occupied city of Quebec. This was the first major defeat for the Patriots. -
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The Battle of New York
During the American Revolution, British forces under General William Howe defeat Patriot forces under General George Washington at the Battle of Brooklyn in New York. 1,000 Americans died while only 400 British died. On September 15, the British captured New York City. -
Signing of the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence wasn’t signed on July 4, 1776, it was actually signed on August 2, 1776. On July 4, Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence, which is why we celebrate it as Independence Day. The actual signing of the document happened a month later. Most of the delegates finally signed on August 2. -
The Battle of the Brandywine
The British defeated the Americans in one day. More than 1,100 Americans killed or captured while the British lost approximately 600 men. -
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The Battles of Saratoga
There were two battles of Saratoga, one on Sept. 19 and one on Oct. 17, almost a month apart. On Sept. 19, British General John Burgoyne won a small victory over the Americans, and tried attacking again on Oct. 17 but lost. -
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The terrible winter at Valley Forge
Valley Forge was about 20 miles northwest of British-occupied Philadelphia. Conditions in the camp were terrible. The morale of Washington's army dropped. However, a former member of the Prussian Army named Baron von Steuben came and drilled the army until they became a fighting force. -
The Battle of Vincennes
The British surrendered Fort Sackville, which the Americans renamed Patrick Henry. The Americans suffered no losses while eleven British were killed and five wounded. -
The Battle of King’s Mountain
In South Carolina, the British had 157 killed, 163 wounded, and 698 captured, while the Americans had just 28 killed and 60 wounded. -
The Battle of Cowpens
In South Carolina, the Americans suffered less than 100 casualties. Less than 10 Americans died while more than 800 Patriots died. It showed the Americans that they could stand a chance against the British by using surprise or geography. -
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The Battle of Yorktown
The siege known as the Battle of Yorktown started on Sept. 28 and ended on Oct. 17. Washington led a force of 17,000 troops (French and Continental Army) against Cornwallis and his 9,000 British troops. Washington won and this battle is now considered the most important battle in the American Revolutionary War. -
Signing of the Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris of 1783, negotiated between the United States and Great Britain, ended the revolutionary war and recognized American independence.
