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Paul Revere's Midnight Ride
Paul Revere, in addition to William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott, rode through the night to warn the militias of Lexington and Concord of the approaching British army. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The militias of Lexington and Concord were ready and waiting for the British army. They used guerrilla warfare to make up for their lack of numbers. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was won by the British, but with great casualties. The Americans held out their trenches despite fewer men and fewer supplies. This battle demonstrates the American army's use of muskets. -
Second Continental Congress
The Scond Continental Congress petitioned the king to give the colonies their freedom from Britain so that they could govern themselves without the restrictions set upon them by the king. -
Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" published
In "Common Sense", Paine poses his argument for American independence. The pamphlet helped ot bring together the American and changed their mindset from being Britons to really being Americans. -
Declaration of Independence
Rather than petitioning the king again, as the Second Continental Congress did, the Americans issued a statement saying that they were declaring themselves to be free of Britain. -
Battle of Trenton
General George Washington led his troops in an attack on the Hessians early in the morning on the day after Christmas, surprising the mercenaries and defeating them with very few casualties. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga is thought to be the turning point of the war. Up until that point, the British could still have easily won, but as a result of bad British strategy, the Americans began to gain ground. -
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Winter at Valley Forge
Valley Forge showed the Americans' resilence - despite terrible conditions, most the army stayed, and after the winter was over, American prospects began to improve. -
French Treaty of Alliance signed
The Treaty of Alliance between France and the Americans was pivotal in their victory. The Americans were short on supplies and manpower, and by providing more of both, the French helped to get the Americans through to the end of the war, and were crucial in the Battle of Yorktown. -
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Spain joined war on side of United States
In comparison to France, Spain played a much quiter role in aiding the American revolutionaries, but it did help through donations, loans, the establishment of a fake trading company to ge tsupplies and military leaders into the colonies, and the launch of an attack against British forces from another front. -
Articles of Confederation adopted
The Articles of Confederation represented the first constitution of the United States of America. It was incredibly rough, and ended up having to be rewritten as a result of its shortcomings, but nevertheless, it showed that the states would badn together as their own country. In comparison to the later constitution, the Articles of Confederation gave more freedom to the individual states, which became a problem regarding lawmaking and a common currency. -
Cornwallis's surrender
American troops, with the help of the French, were able to surround Cornwallis's army at Yorktown, leading Cornwallis to surrender. Though not the last battle of the war, it's typically regarded as the last important conflict because it signaled such a major victory over the British.