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Notice: Sources and Topics
History of a Free Nation by Henry W. Bragdon, Samuel P. McCutchen, and Donald A. Ritchie was a reference for all events. Military: Dealing with a battles.
Politics: Dealing with the decisions of governments, treaties.
Important Person: Specific people involved in certain events, which may span over years.
Public: Dealing with published documents, revolts, and other topics that do not fit into the larger topic titles. -
First Continental Congress (Politics)
First Continental CongressPrior: British Parliament passed the Coercive Acts, expecting the other American colonies to support the punishment of Massachusetts. However, some warned that the action would give the colonies reason to unite. 56 delegates met in Philadelphia, petitioning for relief from the Intolerable Acts, threatening to stop trade with Britain until the king accomplished this. A Declaration of Rights and Grievances was created, denouncing every wrongful action towards the American colonies since 1763. -
Lexington and Concord (Military)
Lexington and ConcordPrior: British vs. American in Boston, occupied by the British. 700 British soldiers were sent to destroy the colonists’ military supplies collected from Concord. In response, the Boston Sons of Liberty sent Paul Revere and William Dawes to alert the surrounding area. The British reached Lexington with about 70 minutemen awaiting them. A skirmish broke out, but the British went on to burn the gun powder left. The group continued to Boston, only to be attacked again. -
Second Continental Congress (Politics)
Second Continental CongressThere was soon another meeting in Philadelphia, continuing the war that had begun in Lexington, were the it was agreed that the Congress would ask the colonies for troops and supplies, choosing George Washington as commander in chief for both experience and unity within the colonies. -
Battle of Bunker Hill (Military)
Battle of Bunker HillPrior: The British discover that the Americans occupied Breed’s Hill. The Americans could easily be attacked from behind, but instead the British commander decided to attack the front, an uphill battle. Americans defend from two British attacks, but ran out of ammunition. Moral victory for the Americans: they had bested trained troops with their own untrained militia. The British, suffering casualties of more than forty percent of their troops, made no other attempts of attack. -
Colonel Francis Marion (1732-1795) (Important Person)
Colonel Francis MarionPrior: British were having troubles with Ireland rebelling and riots in London supporting America. Marion was promoted to Captain at this date. He later led guerilla fighters to harass British troops. He was known as the Swamp Fox. As few as 30 people would participate in these attacks, but the fighters would continually defeat their British opponents. -
King George III (1738 - 1820) (Important Person)
King George IIIWhen the Continental Congress petitioned to have their own legislatures, he refused and charge them with treason. He spoke to Parliament concerning the colonies. December 1775, he declared the American colonies outside his protection, had blockades set around the ports, and hired German mercenaries (also called Hessians). He was denounced by Thomas Paine (see Common Sense), as well as Thomas Jefferson (see Declaration of Independence). He denied all blame regarding the loss of the colonies. -
Common Sense Published (Public)
Common SenseCommon Sense was written by Thomas Paine, attacking the bond between America and England, mainly the loyalty to the British king, by assaulting the monarchy and King George III. He listed advantages of a free America. This resulted in the American population dividing between the Patriots (for America) and the Loyalists (for Britain). -
General William Howe (1729 - 1814) (Important Person)
General William HowePrior: Washington took control of Continental Army, but with little artillery, which would be stolen from Fort Ticonderoga and brought to Dorchester Heights. On the 4th of March, 2000 militamen and 50 cannons stood against General Howe, who was forced to surrender. He later gained command of a large military force sent from Europe. He offered a pardon to Washington under certain conditions, but Washington refused. In response the British took New York. Also see Princeton. -
Charleston (Military)
CharlestonPrior: Attacked by the British twice, the Americans heard of another plan to invade, so Fort Sullivan was constructed. The British attacked the unfinished fort, expecting Loyalists to gather and surrounded the Americans, only for the fort to hold and no Loyalists to show. They later withdrew. In 1780, American General Benjamin Lincoln surrendered with his 5400 soldiers, one of the greatest American loses during the Revolution. It's name was changed from Charleston in 1783. -
Declaration of Independence (Politics)
Declaration of IndependencePrior: Delegates from each colony voted for independence. A “Resolution of Independence” was introduced. July 2, 1776, Continental Congress adopted this resolution, and agreed upon an official Declaration of Independence on July 4. The first draft was written by Thomas Jefferson, which was submitted to Benjamin Franklin who made few changes before the submission to Congress, where more changes were made prior to the document’s acceptance. -
Trenton (Military)
TrentonPrior: British forced followed Washington's army to Delaware River and the Continental Congress fled to Baltimore. Thomas Paine's 'The Crisis' was read to Washington's soldiers before they were ferried back across the Delaware River against 1300 German mercenaries. However, due to the celebration of Christmas the night before, the attack was a complete surprise. -
Princeton (Military)
PrincetonPrior: General Howe heard of defeat in Trenton, sent General Charles Cornwallis and 8000 soldiers to capture Washington and his militia. Washington pretended to be trapped, then slipped away to launch a surprise attack before moving out of Cornwallis' reach once more. With this victory, Washington gained more power and more militiamen. -
Saratoga (Military)
SaratogaPrior: Washington has difficulties near Philadelphia. Washington sent troops to the North while General John Burgoyne of the British forces along with his Native American allies were advancing. More American militia gathered at Bemis Heights, trapping Burgoyne in Saratoga, where he was forced to surrender. -
Valley Forge (Military)
Valley ForgeGeorge Washington and his army arrive at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, suffering harsh winters where a quarter of the troops died and others deserted. Help eventually came from people of other countries, including Prussian Baron Friedrich W.A. von Steuben, French Marquis de Lafayette, and Polish Count Casimir Pulaski. -
Benedict Arnold (1741 - 1801) (Important Person)
Benedict ArnoldPrior: American military leader who won several battles. He gained command of the American fort at West Point, but decided to change sides to the British as he despised the incapability of Congress and the army. He offered this fort to show his loyalty to Britain, sending a secret message, only for it to be intercepted and sent to George Washington. -
Yorktown (Military)
YorktownPrior: Lord Cornwallis moved from North Carolina to Yorktown, Virginia for safety. The French blocked the British trying to help Cornwallis by sea, and an army with the additional forces of Anthony Wayne and Lafayette attacked Yorktown. Cornwallis was forced to surrender. Later, British troops marched out of Yorktown after the Treaty of Paris was signed. -
Treaty of Paris (Politics)
Treaty of ParisPrior: Cornwallis surrenders in Yorktown, British march out of the city. Document acknowledging American independence and giving them more land, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. This allowed America to grow considerably. However, the terms of the treaty would later lead to dispute, such as the unfairness regarding the Native allies of Britian and the American/Spanish Florida border.
