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May 10, 1175
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was held b the delegates from the original 13 colonies. This was the first real attempt at the colonies trying to self govern and started the creation of the Declaration of Independence. -
French and English Enlightenment
The enlightenment spread ideas fo individual human liberties and inalienable rights. This was the basis of the entire reason for the colonies fighting for freedom. -
John Locke
Commonly known as the father of Liberalism Joch Locke created a basic outline of a limited government that the colonies used to create the United States. -
Olive Branch Petition
The olive branch petition was the last act that the colonies tried in order to make peace with Britain. This was shot down and proved to them that the only way to get their freedom was to go to war with Britain. -
Lexington and Concord
These battles were the first military engagement in the revolutionary war. The British won this fight and it proved to the king that the colonies were done dealing with the king's unjust acts. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The battle of Bunker Hill was a turning point in the war because although the British won it boosted the morale of the American soldiers and made them believe they could win with their dedication to freedom. -
Deceleration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson during the second Continental Congress. This document finally stated that the colonies were no longer under the oppressive rule of Great Britain. This was ultimately the ignition for the fire that was the Revolutionary War. -
Battle of Trenton
This battle was instrumental in the defeat of Britain because after a long series of losses the Continental army completely crushed the British forces boosting the morale of the soldiers. -
Princeton
This battle was very important because after the victory over the British soldiers during the following Spring many colonists would come to join the continental army bolstering their numbers drastically. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was the very first time that the British surrendered to the now incredibly powerful and seasoned Continental Army. -
Valley Forge
Valley Forge was a winter encampment for the main body of the continental army that allowed them to rest up through the winter and gain even more support from the colonies. -
Treaty of Amity
This treaty ended hostilities between the Americans and the French and promoted commercial trade between the two nations that America needed to win the Revolutionary war. -
Battle of Cowpens
This battle was possibly the important battle of the Revolutionary war, it led to losses that the British could not make up and led to General Cornwallis's surrender. -
Battle of Yorktown
This was the final battle of the Revolutionary War in which French and American soldiers trapped the British forcing General Cornwallis to surrender and lose the war. -
Treaty of Paris
This treaty was signed by representatives of the US and Britain and officially ended the Revolutionary war. The treaty recognized America as its own country and granted them a significant amount of land in the west. -
George Washington
George Washington was appointed as the commander in chief of the continental army in the revolutionary war and led the Americans to many great victories throughout that time. After the war, he served two terms as the very first president of the United States. -
Thomas Jefferson
He is most famous for writing the Declaration of Independence that the colonies used to separate themselves from Great Britain.