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Lexinton and Concord
The colonist's minutmen battling the Redcoats against all odds with lower end weapons, ordinary men, and few supplies. It was known for being the "shot heard 'round the world" as the world's super power is challenged by average colonist workers. -
Washington in command of the Continental Army
During the Second Continental Congress meeting it was established that George Washington was to be in charge of the amry against the British. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Colonists join together and build a six foot wall, blocking the British. As British wake shocked, many are shot down trying to climb over the wall. Although this puts the colonists with the upper hand in the battle field, they know they're short on supplies and claim "don't fire until you see the whites of thier eyes." The colonist's luck turns for the worst as they run out of ammunition and can no longer hold off the British troops. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
As America began to split between Loyalists and Patriots, Nationalism was needed to promote a stronger action against the Bristish forces. Paine took this to heart and produced the pamphlet, Common Sense, in order to spark a deeper pride in colonists in having them take a greater stand in taking action against the British to aquire freedom. -
The Virginia Declaration of Rights
Largely being the work of George Mason, and proposing that the colonies be free and independent states, the Virginia Declaration of Rights eventually lead to America's Bill of Rights in stating exact laws and rights garunteed to it's citizens and the fundamental purpose of having a government. -
The First Virginia Constitution
In accusing the King George the third for his tryanny and creating a bicameral assembly in Virginia and seperation of powers with the legislative body and having the govener of Virginia be the executive in power, the Declaration of Independence became the eventual outcome of the Virginia Constitution. -
Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Continental Congress, the Declaration of Independence emerged in resultant with Virginia's First Constitution. Broken into the three parts of enforcing American beliefs, accusing the King's wrong in tyranny, and pledging for the causes of family, fortune, and dignity, the Declarartion of Independence proved to be effective in demanding freedom and uniting the colonies. -
Battle of Long Island
Demonstrating his superiority, Lord North ordered William Howe to capture the colonist's beloved New York City by seizing the Hudson river. Washington became surrounded and moved his troops across the Hudson river to New Jersey and then led a final retreat across the Delaware river to Pennslyvannia. -
Battle of Trenton
Knowing that the British follow the Gentleman's war strategy and that they halt their military advance through the winter months, Washington bravely decides to change tatcics and be on the offense by attcking the British. Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware river in the harsh cold winter season, and became the victor in New Jersey, Trenton. -
Battle of Saratoga
Burgoyne's British army had full confidence that they were going to beat the American rebels that he stopped his army's advance early each day to set up tents and eat dinners as he was accostumed to in his leisure fights in Europe. However, the American rebels under the command of General Gates proved to be a challenge as they raided British's supply line to Canada and pinned thrm in a corner aquiring an American victory. -
Washington's Army at Valley Forge
At the peak of winter, Washington had to come up with a plan to keep the morale of his troops in the harsh conditions with limited supplies and nearby farmers refusing to help in order to keep neutral in the war. Washington calls Baron Von Stueben to train and discipline the American army to emerege winter as a professional one that was ready for battle. Stueben was able to harness the passion the rebels had for freedom and utilize that to promote greater strength and unity to become a full army -
United States and France Alliance
After the battle of Saratoga, the world saw the Americans not as rebels against their mother country but as real fighters. British began to see Americanc as a real fight and threat. French saw the potential that Americans held and deemed it approriate to ally with them and therefore make the revolution a World War. French and Americans signed the Treaty of alliance in 1778, and agreed that neither would sign a seperate peace agreement without the liberty of the U.S. -
General Howe is replaced by Sir Henry Clinton
Serving mainly as a Commander in cheif in North America, Clinton became the full British commander after the battle of Saratoga when Howe and Burgoyne left to sail back to England. -
Spain joined the war
Wanting to regain Florida and the fortress of Gibraltar at the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea , Spain joins the war against Britain. -
Philipsburg Proclamation
Expanding on the ideas of freeing slaves from that of Lord Dunmore's, Sir Henry Clinton stated that any slaves who could escape that of their owners could be protected behind the British fighting lines. -
Cornwallis assuming control over British forces
After Clinton was forced to surrender Charleston, Cornwallis took over and lead to a British victory in Camden against American general Gates, taking control over South Carolina. -
Marquis de Lafayette
A Frenchman serving as an American general, Marquis de Lafayette acted as the border man between the two allies. Appealing to the French King, he made the shipment of troops possible which helped ensure an American victory. -
Washington names Nathanael Greene commander of Southern Army
Starting Nathanael Greene out as the head Quartering master, an almost insulting job to a wel bodied man, was Washington's way of testing Greene's true loyalty. Proving to be of great loyalty to the American forces, Washington promotes Greene to reaquire the southern states from Britain using guerilla tactics. -
Articles of Confederation adopted
An idea that was started by the vision of a central government with limited powers. It was claimed to be structured to be a loose union, in where states seperately could hold their own freedoms and independence as equals. Through the Articles of Confederation, America's constitution was founded off of. -
British won at Guliford Courthouse
British soldiers being led by Cornwallis initially had confidence in their numbers, but were soon greatly matched by Greene's American troops consisting of both Continental soldiers and militiamen using their guerilla tactics. Although the books record this battle as a British victory, the Americans prove to be of great challenge and to of rapidly improved. -
Battle of Yorktown
Washington surrounds general Cornwallis and his troop in Yroktown as he fakes an attack back on New York City, but is actually sending all his troops to corner in the British. The timing set and planned works out to where the incoming French troops land on the water side and American troops emerge from the land side fully isolating the British. -
United States and Britian sign Treaty of Paris
Great Britian signing this document fully accepts America's indepedence. In signing the treaty they also give away their claims for all the land south of the Great Lakes and east of the Mississippi river. -
Shay's Rebellion
Formed by angered farmers who belived that states governmetns such as Massachusetts should not be oppressing the people for taxes. Acting on radical whims and mimicing the strategies of the radical patriots in the Boston Tea Party the shayists made an impact as the Riot Act was passed in order to have troops disemble the rebellion. -
Negotiations over Slavery
Later to be known as the Three Fifth's Compromise, many discussions were held as to whether slaves would count towards a state's population for their representation number. Through many heated arguments, they agreed on slaves counting as three fifth's of a person. -
The Great Compromise
The Great Compromise serves as an agreement that was eventually established with calculating the amount of representation is established in the law making process. The outcome was two members in each state serving in the upper house (the Senate) and represenation based on population in the lower house (the House of Representatives). -
Signing of the Constitution
Benjamin Franklin urged the 39 delegates to sign the nations constitution as he admitted it's imperfection, but assured it's ability to be amended as the times changed. -
Federalists vs. Anti-federalists
Tensions rose as sides were being taken as the constitution was being written. The Anti-federalists feared that state governments would lose power, people would lose thier individual rights, and the central government wold be run by only the wealthy. However, through these fears the federalists created a "check and balance" system to ensure no branch would aquire too much power and they promised to include a Bill of Rights.
