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Battle of Lexington & Concord
The Battle of Lexington was the first act of the Revolutionary War. A significant person in this battle is Paul Revere. Because of him, the continental army knew that the British were coming. The first shot fired, which led to the redcoats opening fire, was known as "the short heard round the world." This battle was a patriot victory. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from the colonies. The Congress made the decision to go to war, and it appointed George Washington as the commander-in-chief. -
Bunker Hill
At the Battle of Bunker Hill, patriots occupied Breed's hill and the redcoats tried to drive them away. Their first two attacks failed, but the last attack succeeded when the patriots ran out of ammunition. Although the British won the battle, they lost far more soldiers than the patriots. This battle gave the Americans hope that they could defeat the British. -
George Washington
George Washington was the commander-in-chief of the continental army. He led the army to two of the greatest American victories in the war - Princeton and Trenton. Despite all of his victories, he too -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was a final attempt at peace with Britain by the Second Continental Congress. It asked the king to stop all hostile acts until an agreement could be made. However, King George rejected the petition and instead declared the colonies to be in a state of rebellion. This showed that Britain did not want to make peace. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, officially granted the colonies freedom from Britain. It was heavily influenced by the philosophies of John Locke from the French and English Enlightenment. John Locke wrote the Social Contract, which said that the power of the government came from the people and that the people can overthrow said government if their rights are ever infringed. He also came up with the natural rights, life, liberty, and property, of every person. -
Trenton
In the Battle of Trenton, Washington led his men into Trenton and surprised the British, and they took more than 900 prisoners. This battle is one of the greatest American victories of the war and gave the Americans hope after several losses. -
Princeton
At the Battle of Princeton, Washington attacked the British at Princeton and regained most of the territory taken by the British. This battle revived the Americans' spirits and is one of America's greatest victories in the war. -
Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga occurred when General Burgoyne, a British general, fell back from a battle in Albany. In Saratoga, American forces, led by General Horatio Gates, surrounded British troops. Burgoyne eventually surrendered his troops. This was a turning point in the war, and France decided to help the colonies. -
Valley Forge
In the winter of 1777-1778, George Washington and his men were trapped in a winter camp in Valley Forge. They lacked sufficient food, clothing, and supplies, but they still persisted. This event proved Washington's tenacity and further unified the Continental Army. -
Treaty of Amity & Commerce
In the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, the French recognized America as independent and offered trade. France saw an opportunity to weaken its biggest enemy, so it signed two treaties - Treaty of Alliance and Treaty of Amity and Commerce. -
Treaty of Alliance with France
This treaty made France and America allies. It said that neither country could stop fighting until America was free and that neither could make peace with Britain without the consent of the other. This alliance brought the war to other parts of the world. France signed this treaty because they knew that it would lead to the weakening of their greatest enemy - Britain. -
Spain
Spain entered the war on the side of France because they were hoping to acquire territories that the British had taken from them in the Seven Years' War. Even though they were allying with France, who allied with America, Spain was not an ally of America. Spain's joining the war again broadened the areas the war was held. -
Cowpens
At the Battle of Cowpens, General Horatio Gates, an American general, led his men to Camden, South Carolina to confront British troops led by General Charles Cornwallis. The patriots panicked and ran when they met Cornwallis' men, but they met several more times. When they met in Cowpens, after a long chase through North Carolina, America defeated the British and Cornwallis fled to Virginia. -
Yorktown
The French king sent a force to America. Also, the fleet harassed British shipping and blocked the reinforcement and resupply of British forced in Virginia. French and American forces worked together to block Cornwallis all through the summer and the fall. Finally, Cornwallis surrendered his army after being trapped at Yorktown. -
Treaty of Paris 1783
In 1782, a new British government decided to pursue peace negotiations in Paris. America was represented by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. Congress approved the final treaty on April 15, 1783, and it was signed on September 3. The treaty acknowledged the independence, freedom, and sovereignty of the thirteen colonies, which then became states. The treaty also returned Florida to Spain.