American Revolutionary War - Significant Events - Timeline - Bruno, Jose, George, Frida

Proclamation of 1763

Oct 7, 1763

After the French & Indian War, the British passed a Proclamation that stated that the colonists who just fought a war for land were not allowed to live on that land which resided west of the Appalachian Mountains. This angered the colonists.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

Angered by the presence of troops and Britain's colonial policy, a crowd began harassing a group of soldiers guarding the customs house. Insults, rocks, and snowballs were thrown at the British until one of the soldier’s gun fired which spiraled down into many shots killing five colonists.

Intolerable Acts

Mar 24, 1774

Formally called the Coercive Acts, the Intolerable Acts were four laws put in place to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party and also to gain control back.

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

12 of the 13 colonies (Georgia was excluded due a Native-American uprising and had to rely off of British supplies) representatives met in Philadelphia in attempts to organize resistance against the British Coercive Acts. This was one of the more major signs that the colonists were starting to unite in order to rebel against the British. This took place between September 5, 1774 and October 26, 1774.

Battle of Lexington and Concord

Apr 19, 1775

British forces attempt to confiscate weapons from colonists in the MA colony. The minutemen in the area prevent that from happening by facing the redcoats in battle, however no one is sure who fired the first shot.

Common Sense

Jan 10, 1776

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was a pamphlet promoted independence for the colonists stating that they should govern themselves. It sold over 100,000 copies. The text expressed what the colonists feared to say.

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

Adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 2, 1776, Congress declared independence from Britain and two days after on July 4, 1776 was officially passed.

Battle of Trenton

Dec 26, 1776

The Continental Army had been suffering a series of losses in battle. The tides of the war change in their favor when Washington decided to cross the Delaware River on Christmas day, 1776. This caught the British and Hessian mercenaries off guard, giving them a tactical advantage, leading to a pattern of victories.

Siege of Yorktown

Oct 19, 1781

The last major battle of the American Revolution pitted American and French forces against Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia. Cornwallis and his troops surrendered on October 19, 1781. While this was the last battle, it would take two years before it officially ended.

Treaty of Paris

Sep 3, 1783

A treaty signed between the British representatives of King George III and American representatives of the Continental Congress that formally ended the Revolutionary War.