-
Boston Massacre
Five Bostonians were killed and six more were injured by British forces during the Boston Massacre. This event was a turning point in the relationship between the colonists and the British. The colonists realized just how little the British cared about the colonists lives. The colonists began to believe that the British were doing more harm than good. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord/Start of the American Revolution
The American Revolution officially starts at the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19th, 1775. -
George Washington Commissioned as Commander in Chief
George Washington was commissioned to be the Commander in Chief of the colonial army by the Continental Congress. It was his job to unite the colonies under one army and to push the soldiers to fight against the British. -
Declaration of Independence Signed
The Second Continental Congress approved of the Declaration of Independence, which severed the colonies from Great Britain. -
First use of the Pennsylvanian Long Rifle in Battle
During the Battle of Saratoga, the Americans used the Pennsylvanian Long Rifles for the first time. These rifles had spiral grooves within the barrel that helped make the bullet more stable, which allowed the bullets to travel farther. The British had never had to fight against people with these weapons before. This gave the colonists an advantage in the battle. -
Winter at Valley Forge
The Winter at Valley Forge was a rough winter for the colonial army. The army was beaten, cold, and ill. They were on the verge of disbanding and giving up the fight. George Washington knew that something must be done to rejuvenate spirit into these broken soldiers. -
Treaty of Alliance signed with France
The British were known at the time for their humongous navy, and their navy was surely dealing damage to the Americans. The Americans did not have a navy, however, as they always relyed on the British navy. In order to fight back against Britain's navy, they signed the Treaty of Alliance with Britain's other main enemy, the French, who the colonists had previously fought against in the Seven Years War. -
General von Steuben's arrival
Von Steuben revolutionized the way the colonial army worked. At the time, each state used different drills for their military. Von Steuben reworked these drills into one drill guide for the entire colonial military. This led to a rapid improvement in the skills of the soldiers, leading to a much better army. Much like George Washington, it was Von Steuben's job to unite the coloninal armies into one army and push them to fight the British. -
Battle of King's Mountain
Much like Von Steuben's arrival at Valley Forge, the American victory of the Battle of King's Mountain rejuvenated the spirits of the American army after prior defeats. It gave the army hope that they could win the war against the British and finally gain their independence. -
Daniel Morgan's Victory at Cowpens
Daniel Morgan, an uneducated man, led the American army to victory at Cowpens in early 1781, using what he knew about his men and what he knew about his opponents. He also used an elite class of long riflemen in order to pick off the British soldiers. Much like the battle of Saratoga, the long riflemen gave the Americans a huge advantage in this battle, as the British were unable to fire with such accuracy and such range. -
Cornwallis Surrenders at Yorktown
Cornwallis and his army of British soldiers surrender to the French and American forces after the Siege of Yorktown. This virtually guarantees independence for the Americans and virtually guarantees that they have won the war. -
Treaty of Paris Signed/End of the American Revolution
The Treaty of Paris officially ends the American Revolution, which gives the Americans full independence from Great Britain. Canada, however, remains a British province.
