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War Breaks Out/Lexington and Concord
The first shots of the Revolutionary War go off in the battle of Lexington and Concord. The battles at Concord and Lexington showed a sudden increase in the struggle between the English and the colonists. As the news spreads, thousands of volunteers converge to create the beginning of the Continental Army("Experience"). This event also persuaded the Second Continental Congress to meet in response to the imperial army attempting to arrest patriot leaders and killing minutemen. -
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Mapping out the Revolutionary War
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George Washington
Washington takes up the role of Commander-in-Chief. He must begin training his troops of undisciplined famers and artisans. Washington brought a number of strengths to his position. For example, he had seen first hand how vulnerable British troops could be in the American terrain and had learned command principles from the British he had marched with in the Seven Years War. His command instincts helped hold together a poorly equipped force that outlasted his opponents("Ten Facts"). -
Battle of Bunker Hill
In the first major fights of the war, the untrained colonial soldiers delay the British veterans for over two hours. Sir William Howe, the British commander in chief of the British forces, dislodged William Prescott's, colonel of the rebels, forces at a cost of more than 1000 dead or wounded British soldiers("Experience"). This inspires the colonists to to begin to believe they have a chance of winning the War. -
Olive-Branch Petition
Congress creates a proposal asking the British for recognition of American rights and the repeal of the Intolerable Acts in exchange for a suspension of hostilities. It was also an endeavor to assert their rights while preserving loyalty to the King. King George III rejected the proposal and declared the colonists to be in "proceeded to open and avowed rebellion"("The Olive"). -
Autonomy- Similarities & Differences(Olive Branch Petition)
The Olive Branch Petition was written by John Dickinson to the King in a final attempt to avoid a break from England and expresses a hope for reconciliation. The petition is also an attempt to assert colonial rights while still maintaining loyalty to the crown("The Olive"). This is similar to before the Revolutionary War as the petition also protested the new taxes, similar to the protests of the Stamp Act, and hoped for British moderation, similar to the previous age of salutary neglect. -
Declaration on the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms
Congress drafts the Declaration which describes a history in which the King was the only connection between the colonies and England. It also further describes the reasons colonists have for fighting the British. The Declaration states that Americans are, "resolved to die free men rather than live as slaves" ("Congress Issues"). -
Rejection of Olive-Branch Proposal
King George III rejects the Olive Branch Proposal and formally declares the colonists to be in open rebellion. This rejection further polarizes the fights in terms of all colonists. You can either be a patriot or a loyalist, but not in between. -
Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine was known as a journalist for Pennsylvania Magazine. On January 9th, 1776 he published a short pamphlet called Common Sense and from thereon became known as a revolutionary propogandist. In his pamphlet he attacked the monarchial British government and its constitution and strongly opposed forgiving England. He ferociously encouraged immediate independence and establishing a republican constitution. He inspired faith in the Continental Army and encouraged resistance ("Common"). -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense is Published
Thomas Paine's pamphlet is critical of King George III and presents reasons why America would work best as an independent entity. The pamphlets were written in a time when the colonists needed motivation to continue the war. In it he states, “ Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered. Yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph"("American Revolution"). They boosted American morale, lessen resistance among patriots and shame loyalists. -
Autonomy- Similarities & Differences (Common Sense)
In Common Sense, Paine made the argument for political independence from England and believed the people themselves were the legitimate authority. This was different from the period before the Revolutionary War. Back then, the colonists were willing to live under the crown if the British "protected them from attacks by European enemies and Native Americans"("A More"). Now, the colonists felt further intensified to be rid of the British Government after the publication of Common Sense. -
Loyalists Defeated at Moores Creek
A group of American loyalists, or those who want to remain under British power, are defeated by an army of patriots at the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge. This defeat discourages activity from the loyalists in the Carolinas for the next three years or so("Experience"). -
America Declares Independence
The Second Continental Congress adopts the Declaration which is presented by Thomas Jefferson after a year of taxation and war. This declaration creates an idealogical expansion of the conflict and nationalism begins to slowly grow. However, the King is not willing to let the colonies go without a fight("Congress"). -
Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams was an American Patriot, represented Massachusetts in the Continental Congress from 1774-81 and founded the Committee of Correspondence. The Commitee of Correspondence became a powerful toll for coordination during the Revolution. Adams was most well known for passionately urging the public to break off fom England and signing the Declaration of Independence("Samuel"). -
Washington Crosses Delaware
Washington moves the army into New Jersey to surprise a group of German troops fighting on behalf of Great Britain. A similar victory is achieved in Princeton on January 3rd. These wins helped revive hope among the troops that they may be able to win the war("Experience"). -
British Surrender at Saratoga
Lacking supplies, 5700 loyalists, British and German troops under General John Burgoyne surrender to American troops. This surrender will shock those in England and help encourage France to enter the war with the colonists("Experience"), -
Inoculation
During the Revolutionary War, disease had been the great killer of all soldiers. Disease could rob one of an army by killing off soldiers and scaring away recruits with the threat of infection. In winter of 1777, Washington moved to have his soldiers inoculated against smallpox using a technique called variolation, a risky move as those who were inoculated were incapacitated for a short amount of time. By the use of inoculation, death by smallpox dropped from 17% to 1% of all deaths ("Ten"). -
Winter at Valley Forge
George Washington sets up camp at Valley Forge . Disease and low temperatures ruin the camp. However, when Von Steuben is assigned to drill the troops the will emerge as a more united fighting force, "I, nevertheless, taught my company to carry arms, stand at ease, present arms, to load, take aim, fire by platoons, and to charge bayonets"("Von Steuben"). -
France Formally Recognizes US Independence
French foreign minister, also known as the count of Vergennes, officially recognizes the United States as a nation independent from Great Britain. News of the overwhelming victory at Saratoga gave Benjamin Franklin leverage to rally support from France and coninced King Louis XVI that the rebels had hope of defeating the British("France Formally"). -
The Treaty of Alliance with France
The Treaty between the United States and France created a military alliance against England. The treaty required that neither France or America "agree to a seperate peace with Great Britain" and that "American independence be a condition of any future peace agreement"("Franco"). This treaty provided a major boost to the colonists resistance against Great Britain. It also contained a clause allowing Spain or any other European power to enter the alliance. -
Baron Von Steuben
Baron Von Steuben worked with George Washington to train the American troops. His experience as a General Staff member of the Prussian Army gave him knowledge to teach the American soldiers the techniques necessary to turn into an army. "We should drill the men, one by one... and afterward by platoons; teach them how to carry themselves, and so on until they had learned every thing"("Von"). In war, the winners were the ones who could volley and reload the fastest and the most accurately. -
Sanitation Standards
During Valley Forge, Von Steuben created sanitation standards and camp layouts for all to follow. Before these standards were created, there was no set arrangement of the camp. Men relieved themselves wherever they wanted and animals were left to rot. ".When a soldier dies, or is dismissed from the hos pital, the straw he laid on is to be burn', and the b d- ding well washed and aired" ("Von Steuben"). These standards helped treat the sick, stopped the spread of disease and organized the camp. -
Spain Declares War Against England
Span declares war on England and creates an alliance with the colonists. King Charles III of Spain was originaly unwilling to join an alliance, yet French Foreign Minister Charles Gravier was able to negotiate a treaty. As an ally of America's ally. Spain was able to endorse the rebellion at a diplomatic distance and ensured that England would have to spread their resources even further("Spain"). -
Charleston Falls to British
The American suffered one of their worst defeats in Charleston, South Carolina with the surrender of Mojor General Lincoln to British Lieutenant General Clinton and his army of 10000 soldiers. With this victory, the British captured over 3000 Patriots and large amounts of equipment. This move to capture Charleston was a part of the British strategy to hang on to the southern colonies and caused a standoff in Pennsylvania and New York("Experience"). -
The Siege of Yorktown
Joint French and American forces trap a large British army. The French navy drove off a British fleet and they are therefore unable to get supplies or reinforcements. After a 3 week siege, the British under Cornwallis are forced to surrender. This surrender ended the American Revolutionary War("A Timeline"). -
The Treaty of Paris-Autonomy-Similarities & Differences
The Treaty of Independence officially ratifies the independence of the 13 states and formally ends the Revolutionary War and the British withdraw from America ("Experience"). This is the final and official seperation from England, the colonies were finally recognized by Great Britain to be the 13 independent states. Great Britain no longer had claim to the land or government. Before the Revolutionary War, the colonies were willing to live under the crown and they are now finally free.
