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First Continental Congress
First Continental Congress Link
All colonies, except Georgia, sent elected delegates to Capenter's Hall in Philadelphia to show a combined authority to Great Britain. The colonies had different objectives but most were defnesive of their colonial rights. -
Lexington and Concord
Britain sent troops to Concord to capture John Hancock and Samuel Adams. However, they had been previously warned by Paul Revere and the Americans were waiting at Lexington ready to fight. The "shot heard 'round the world" was fired and the British started shooting the Minutemen. British moved on to Concord to find Hancock and Adams. Another fight broke out at the North Bridge and the Minutemen forced the British to retreat.<a href='http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/boflandc.htm' >Map of -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Map and more infoThe British planned an attack on Bunker Hill, which was now controlled by the patriot militia. The patriots gained knowledge of the attack and set up on Breed's Hill, ready for the British. The British sent three charges of soldiers up Breed's Hill, the final one forcing the patriots to retreat. Britain captured the hill, but lost many men doing so. -
Olive Branch Petition
Olive Branch PetitionIn June 1775, a committee was formed to write up a letter to the King, The Olive Branch Petition was the outcome, offering reconciliation, while expressing that they were still loyal to him and hoped to avoid war. Some were in favour of war and independence, but it was decided that one last attmept would be made to make things right with the King. However, King George III refused to even read it, which left colonists feeling angry and betrayed. Most who had not seeken independence now did. -
Common Sense Published
Common SenseCommon Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. It expresses Paine's idea of a government in which the people have the power, with elected representatives. Paine also stated the King's abuses and justified independence and Revolutionary war, convincing many colonists that it had to be done. Common Sense greatly influenced Thomas Jefferson's writing of the Declaration of Independence. -
Second Continental Congress
65 delegates from the colonies met at the State House in Piladelphia. This Congress decided to become completely independent from Great Britain, and put the colonies in a state of defense.They also fromed the American Continental Army and named George Washington the commander-in-chief. The Declaration of Independence was signed at this meeting. Congress Videos -
Declaration of Independence
Declaration of IndependenceIn June 1776, the Declaration was drafted by Thomas Jefferson, with help from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. It was signed on July 4, 1776 at the Second Continental Congress. It expresses the colonists grievances against the King and their issues with Britain controlling them. The Declaration declares America's independence, making it its own nation. -
Trenton
Trenton MapWashington's Continental Army had been brought down to just 5000 by the British war machine. All seemd lost and morale was brutally low. But Christmas night, the Army crossed the Delaware River and at dawn, surprised the 1300 Hessians and British who held Trenton. They killed or captured more than 1000 and seriously injured the leader, Colonel Johann Gottlieb Rall. This victory greatly boosted the American morale. -
Princeton
Map of Princeton General Charles Cornwallis brought 8000 soldiers to Princeton to capture Washington and his troops. However, Washington snuck away in the middle of the night and surprised Princteon, which the British left greatly undefended. Again they won the battle boosting the morale and the American war cause. -
Saratoga
Genreal John Burgoyne planned an attack moving south from Montreal towards Albany. He captured Ticonderoga, but faced many obstacles afterwards. New York and New England militia gathered at Bemis Heights, surrounding Burgoyne's force with one nearly 2 times as large. He could not get food, retreat or move forward and surrendered in October, 1777. British ministers offered Americans rights of self-government and France signed 2 treaties, recognizing American independence and offering an alliance -
Valley Forge
Valley Forge PicturesWashington and his Continental Army arrived in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania for the winter. The first months were endured, living in tents with little to keep them warm. "Naked and starving as they are we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery" - George Washington. By February, they had built huts to keep warm. They spent the winter training and drilling with Baron Friedrich von Steuben, a Prussian officer. They emerged as a stronger, more disciplined army. -
Savannah
Capture of SavannahThe British sent 8500 troops south to capture Savannah. General Howe had only 700 men and attempted to defend the city. However, the British got behind Howe's line of defense and attacked them from the back when they tried to retreat. The American army suffered a huge blow with 83 killed, 11 wounded and 453 captured. -
Charleston
Seige of CharelstonHenry Clinton, Cornwallis and Lord Rawdon led a combined force of 13,500 and 90 ships to Charleston in April. They led a siege on the town, which was not well fortified. American Major General Benjamin Lincoln refused to surrender 2 times before finally surrendering on May 12, 1780. The Americans suffered a huge loss of men, with 92 killed, 148 wounded and 4650 captured. The loss gave the British most of the control in the south. -
Yorktown
Battle of YorktownThe Americans had suffered heavy losses and lost several key battles. However, under the command of General Nathaneal Greene in South Carolina, they damaged the British army and forced them back to Yorktown using hit-and-run tactics. A French naval fleet was sent to Chespeake Bay, defeating the British Navy and attacking Cornwallis and his troops.Cornwallis was trapped and surrendered on October 19, 1781. The British were concerned about losing the war and wanted to negotiate an end to it. -
Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris, 1783America had won its war for independence against Britain and the Treaty of Paris was signed by both parties on September 3, 1783. Among other things, it recognized America as independent, and extablished American boundaries from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, and the Great Lakes to the 31st parallel.
