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Battle of Lexington and Concord
The first real revolutionary battle was at Lexington and Concord where British soldiers were sent to take the Colonists weapons to try to stop there rebellion. Instead they ran into an untrained and angry militia. Colonial militiamen were ordered to fire on British soldiers, meaning they would be committing treason. This thrown together army defeated the British soldiers which sparked the start of our travels to freedom. -
Meeting of the second continental congress
The Second Continental Congress. There was mixed feelings about what should be done about the continued hostile acts of the British Parliament. Some delegates wanted immediate independence no matter what the cost. Others were still loyal to King George III, they wanted to avoid an all-out war with England. The Patriots realized there was no way to solve the problems peacefully. They made decisions when and where to attack the British and how to protect themselves. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Early in the Revolutionary War the British defeated the Colonists at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts. Despite their loss, the inexperienced colonial forces inflicted significant casualties against the enemy, and the battle provided them with a much needed confidence boost. -
Failed Seizure of Quebec under Benedict Arnold
The first major military initiative of the Revolutionary War was the invasion of Quebec. The purpose of the campaign was to capture Quebec and convince the French speaking colonists to join the thirteen colonies in revolt against the British Empire, which would strengthen the position of the rebels in the western seaboard of the continent. Instead it ended in a major defeat for American forces. -
Common Sense Published
Common Sense was so important because instead of targeting everyone Thomas Paine went after the people that were undecided about the Americas independence. He wrote in a way he knew everyone would understand and even used quotes from the bible because nearly everyone back then were Christians. He caused a revolution that inspired people in the Thirteen Colonies to declare and fight for independence from Great Britain. -
Adoption of the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was important for several reasons, including that it helped the original thirteen colonies break free from British rule and established good cause for seeking independence. The Declaration granted important rights to colonists. By signing the Declaration, members of Congress granted key rights to American citizens and helped the United States establish independence and recognition as a new nation capable of functioning independently from Britain. -
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton was an important event in the American Revolutionary War because it inspired American soldiers to reenlist and encouraged more men to join the fledgling American military. Although many of the American soldiers were nearly frozen and malnourished and lacked adequate winter footwear, they crushed the German soldiers. The Hessian's were defeated and roughly 900 surrendered. The Battle of Trenton was a landslide victory for the Continental Army. -
Paoli Massacre (Battle of Paoli)
Nearly 5,000 British soldiers launched a surprise attack on a small regiment of Colonists troops. Not wanting to lose the element of surprise, British troops emptied their muskets and used only bayonets or swords to attack the sleeping Americans under the cover of darkness. With the help of a Loyalist spy who led them to the camp, the British launched the successful attack on the unsuspecting men, stabbing them to death as they slept. Nearly 200 Americans were killed or wounded. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was important because it was a crucial turning point in the American Revolutionary War. America finally started to receive international recognition, which led to aid in the war against the British government. As a result of the battlefield win, the French entered the war on America's side. When the battle was over, the death toll for the Americans was 800, and the British had lost 1,500. -
Washington’s Encampment at Valley Forge
There were about 12,000 men who arrived with General Washington. Baron Von Steuben, arrived at Valley Forge and volunteered his military skills to train the Continental Army to be more professional and disciplined. He spent the rest of the winter and spring training, disciplining, and reorganizing the army. Von Steuben taught Washington's troops how to maneuver in the field and how to use bayonets properly.