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Battle of Lexington and Concord
The governor of Massachussetts, General Thomas Cage, who was given orders by King George III, sent 700 British soilders to Lexington, Massachussetts, to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock, but the two were warned ahead of time and were able to avoid their capture. The British then went to Concord, Massachussetts, to destroy military storage of guns and amunition. Word got out, and the colonists were able to hide most of their military equipment and a battle occured. The Americans won. -
Second Continental Congress
The delegates from the 13 colonies, first met at the State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (also known as Independence Hall) to discuss concerns. Led by John Hancock, the main topics were armies, money, and the issues with Great Britain. This led to the creation of the American Continental Army, whose first commander-in-chief was George Washington. The delegates also decided to start issuing printed money. This was also where The Decleration of Independence was written and signed. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The British wanted control and power, so they planned to take over Bunker Hill, as well as Breech Hill in Massachusetts.. The Americans heard about this, and acted upon it by going to Breech Hill and preparing for battle the night before by building forts and stocking on ammunition. The next day, the British army came and attacked. The British won and gained control over the hill, but lost many lives and many soilders were injured in the battle. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a document written by Thomas Jefferson, and approved by the Continental Congress at Independence Hall in Pennsylvania, that stated that the thirteen colonies of America were now free, independent states and no longer under the rule of Britain and its King. This document was created because the Americans didn't want to be under British command anymore, as the British were treating the Americans unfairly. -
Battle of Trenton
General George Washington and his troops crossed the icy, Deleware river in a snow storm to go to Trenton, New Jersey. There was a group of British and Hessian soilders planning to attack Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, so the Americans crossed the river and killed over 100 men, and not one American was killed in this battle. -
Battle of Saratoga
British General, John Howe, and John Burgoyne had originally made a plan to meet up with their troops in Albany, New York. Instead, John Howe decided to head towards Pennsylvania, and John Burgoyne towards Bennington, Vermont because his troops were running out of food and supplies. The Americans blocked the roads and slowed Burgoyne's progress, and eventually, American General John Stark, with his troops, surrounded the British and forced the them to surrender. -
Winter at Valley Forge
The Winter at Valley Forge was between 1777 and 1778, and was where the American Continental Army camped, and was located in southeast Pennsylvania. Americans camped here with Generals George Washington, Friedrich von Steuben, and Marquis de Lafayette. They choose this location because they could easily keep an eye on the British, who were camped nearby. The environment was dreadful - they were low on food, clothes, troops lived in crammed log cabins, and it was a cold and icy winter. -
John Paul Jones Captures the Serapis
John Paul Jones, a swedish sailor, was given his ship by the French King, which he later renamed the Bonhomme Richard. On September 23rd, along the coast of England and Scotland, he battled against the British on their ship, the HMS Serapis. Jones did so to stop the British from piracy. After a night-long battle, Jones was able to defeat the British's ship, despite his own ship sinking, and returned safely to a dock in the Netherlands. -
Battle of King's Mountain
British commander Patrick Ferguson, with his army, sent a threatening message to patriots to protect Lord Cornwallis and his troops. Doing so angried the settlers, which resulted in them gathering and preparing to battle, with Colonel Campbell as their leader. They met Ferguson and his troops at King's Mountain, South Carolina, and fought. Ferguson was shot and killed in this battle, and his men tried to surrender but were instead slaughtered, and some captured. This was a patriot's victory. -
British Surrender at Yorktown
British General Charles Cornwallis and his troops retreated to Yorktown, Virginia, and simultaneously, General George Washington, his troops, and the French Navy headed to Yorktown as well. The British army was then surrounded by the French and the Americans. After 11 days of battle, Cornwallis surrendered. He had tried many times to make an agreement with Washington in order for him to do so, but Washington declined them all. Eventually, Cornwallis surrendered on George Washington's conditions. -
Treaty of Paris Ratified
On January 14th, 1784, the Treaty of Paris was ratified by the United States Congress at the Senate Chamber of the Maryland State House. The treaty stated that the 13 colonies were independent states that were not to be ruled by the British government, and ended the Revolutionary War. The treaty was signed by delegates from the United States and Great Britain. The treaty had been arranged and written in Paris, France, with the help of Americans John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay. -
Washington's Farewell
A newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania published George Washington's farewell address, stating that he was not running for a third term as President, and his message to the future of the country. Prior to writing this address, James Madison had prepared notes, Alexander Hamilton helped revise it, and John Jay gave helpful criticism. The address warned Americans of political parties, alliances, military foundations, and the benefits of the government. He lived in Virginia after his farewell.
