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The first Continental Congress
The first Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to resolve the conflict with Great Britain. -
Loyalists vs. Patriots
Colonist were left to choose sides, weather it was on the Patriots side who fought for independence or the Loyalists who remained loyal to the crown. -
British General planned to disarm Boston militia
A British General decided to disarm the Boston militia known as the minute men. -
Second Continental Congress meeting
Representatives from 12 of the colonies met in Philadelphia for the second Continental Congress. -
The fall of Fort Ticonderoga
Colonel Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen took the Brithish Fort Ticonderoga in New York. -
America vs. Great Britain
At the beginning the British had the advantage with more money, more resources, a professional military, and the worlds largest navy. The colonists had poorly trained local militias and no navy. But the British were fighting citizens who believed in a cause. -
Lord Dunmore's Proclomation
The British offered freedom to any enslaved Africans who fought for them. -
Patriot Defeat in Quebec
Agressive Patriots launched an attack on British settlements in Canada but were defeated in Quebec. -
Thomas Paine's Pamphlet
Thoma Paine wrote a pamphlet called Common Sense that argued for breaking away from Great Britain. -
Creation of the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson, with the help of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman, drafted the Declaration of Independence. -
British Defeated Continental Army
The British drove the Continental army out of New York. -
United States Was Born
The Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. -
Crossing the Delaware River
Washington and 2,400 soldiers crossed the Delaware River. -
French and Spanish Support
After the British suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Saratoga, France and Spain agreed to help the Americans. -
Harsh Winter
The harsh winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, killed more that a fifth of Washingtons soldiers. -
Battle of Vincennes
George Rodgers Clark, an explorer and mapper, built a frontier army while weakening the British. He captured British settlements and convinced American Indians to stay out of the war. -
Bonhomme Richard defeats Serapis
The British had a large navy, so Americans attacked individual ships rather than fighting large battles. With fewer than 100 ships, the American navy sank 200 British ships. -
Benedict Arnold Turned Traitor
The American army took a blow when Benedict Arnold turned traitor. -
Peace Negotiations Begin
Peace negotiations began in 1781 and ended in 1783. -
Battle of Yorktown
Washington planned a combined American and French attack on Yorktown. After a week-long seige, the British were defeated. -
Treaty of Paris
This treaty officialy ended the war. It set the new boundaries and forced the British to recognize the United States of America.
