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Battle of Bunker Hill
The British had the most casualties here than anywhere else in the entire war, but still won the battle. It was actually fought on Breed's Hill. -
Olive Branch Petition
This was the last appeal from the Second Continental Congress to British Parliament to avoid full out war for their freedom from the king. -
"Common Sense" published
Thomas Paine wrote an anonymous pamphlet titled "Common Sense" which called for an end to British rule in America. It helped spark a Patriotic feeling in the colonists as well as generate support for the revolution. -
Moore's Creek Uprising
A band of Patriots crushed an uprising of Loyalists/Tories at Moore's Creek Bridge in North Carolina and in the process discourage a British plan to invade the southern states. The Patriots took away the Loyalist support the British hoped to have as they made their sweep through the south. -
The Declaration of Independence is approved
The Second Continental Congress appointed Thomas Jefferson (with help from B. Franklin and J. Adams) to draft a formal declaration of independence to dissolve the power ties between the colonies and Britain. -
George Washington crosses Delaware River
Washington took men across the frozen river on Christmas night and scattered Hessian mercenaries at Trenton, New Jersey. -
William Howe Gains Philadelphia
William Howe first devised a plan with John Burgoyne to trap the Patriot forces in between two British groups by closing in the north and south colonies at the same time. Howe abandoned his plan very early and marched his force to Philadelphia and took it with little resistance. -
The Battle of Germantown
George Washington attempted to regain Philadelphia from British control but failed and had to retreat to Montgomery County. Part of the battle was fought trying to force 120 British infantrymen out of the Loyalist Benjamin Chew's summer home. -
Patriot Victory at Saratoga
John Burgoyne easily seized many forts in Canada and the northern colonies as a part of his plan with William Howe to trap the Patriot force. After Howe dropped out, Horatio Gates surrounded Burgoyne at Saratoga and the British surrendered. -
Articles of Confederation
These did little more than confirm the weak, decentralized system already in operation. One weakness of them was that the national government couldn't tax people because only states were allowed to tax their citizens; therefore, national debt was not able to be paid. -
Refuge at Valley Forge
The Continental Army suffered from starvation and cold due to lack of funds while the winter passed over. This was mostly a result of a lack of funding from attempting to separate from the British government. The Patriots no longer had money and supplies provided to them from the British. -
France Becomes Official Allies with the U.S.
Benjamin Franklin was an ambassador for the United States and sailed to Europe in order to find allies for America against the British. He was able to convince the French to assist the Patriots, especially after they had heard of the victory at Saratoga. The French assistance played a major part in the States' victory over the British military. To help the states, France first had to recognize the U.S. as a sovereign (how the U.S. does in fact hold power over their own land) nation. -
Cornwallis is Introduced into Revolutionary War
Lord Cornwallis moved inland to Camden, South Carolina where he won over a Patriot force under Horatio Gates. Congress then transitioned command of the force over to Nathaniel Greene. -
The Battle of Yorktown
George Washington trapped Cornwallis, the head British commander, at Yorktown between the Continental Army and the sea. After four days, the a British representative surrendered for Cornwallis. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was a formal agreement between America and the British, allowing America to be separate from British authority. It also gave the colonies more land which included territory spanning from the southern boundary of Canada to the northern boundary of Florida and from the Atlantic to the Mississippi River.