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Treaty of Paris
Map of the Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris
(Social)
The Treaty of Paris was signed by France, Britain, and Spain on February 10th, 1763, ending the "Seven Years War". Great Britain got all of the land in Canada that it didn't already control and the land east of the Mississippi River. They also gained Florida. France gave Louisiana territory to Spain. The French were upset they had no land in North America. -
First Continental Congress
Declaration and ResolvesAdditional Information(Political)
The First Continental Congress was held on September 5, 1774 in Philadelphia. It was held because the colonists were upset about the Intolerable Acts and the taxes.The Congress met in secret so the British would not know. Discussions such as unfair treatment from Britain, what relationship the colonies should have with Britain, and what colonists' rights should be were held during the meetings. -
Lexington and Concord
Map of battlesAdditional Information
(Political)
The battle of Lexington and Concord were made up of two battles. British troops were to capture colonial leaders Sam Adams and John Hancock. The plan leaked and the Americans were informed of the plan. The "Minutemen" were ready to defend. These battles took many lives. The Revolutionary war had begun. -
Second Continental Congress
Declaration of IndependenceAdditional Information
(Political)
The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia after Lexington and Concord. They voted to ask colonies for supplies and troops. George Washington was elected for commander in chief for the Continental Army. Printing paper money and establishing "The Declaration of Independence" occured. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Map of the Battle of Bunker HillAdditional Information
(Social)
The Battle of Bunker Hill was one of the first major battles of the American Revolution. On June 17th, 1775,on the Charlestown Peninsula on the North side of Boston Harbour, the British troops of Boston garrison and the American Continental Army fought. This battle was considered an American defeat. -
Olive Branch Petition
Additional InformationOlive Branch Petition
(Political and Social)
On June 3rd, 1775, the Congress passed a resolution to draft a letter to the King.This letter was to extend an offer of reconciliation to the King and was a symbol of peace.Thomas Jefferson wrote the first half, but the draft seemed too harsh so John Dickinson altered it. Unfortunately the King rejected the letter and many colonists were angry. -
Common Sense published
Additional InformationCommon Sense Pamphlet
(Political and Social)
On January 10, 1776, Thomas Paine published a pamphlet called "Common Sense". It was made up of simple facts, plain arguments,and common sense on the idea of American independence from England. This pamphlet inspired many colonists for independence and also prepared for the writing of the "Declaration of Independence". -
Declaration of Independence
Declaration of IndependenceQuotations of the signers of the Declaration of Independence
(Political and Social)
Thomas Jefferson drafted the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty. Jefferson summarized the philosophy of self-evident truths and set forth wrongs against the King in order to justify before the world of the breaking betweent the colonies and Britain. -
Battle of Trenton
Map of the battle of TrentonAdditional Information
(Political and Social)
Washington and his solidiers surprised attacked the Hessians on December 26th, 1776 in Trenton. He knew that the German troops would be getting drunk celebrating Christmas, so at the crack of dawn, they attacked, killing or capturing more than 1,000 Hessians in only 45 minutes. -
Battle of Princeton
Map of the battle of PrincetonAdditional Information
(Political and Social)
General Howe sent General Charles Cornwallis from New York with 8,000 soldiers to capture Washington's forces after he had heard about the defeat in Trenton(on December 26,1776). Washington's troops pretended to be trapped, then slipped away and surprised a British force at Princeton. Then Washington's army moved into the highlands of New Jersey -out of Cornwallis' reach. -
Battle of Saratoga
Map of SaratogaAdditional Information
(Political and Social)
Washington sent some of his troops to General Horatio Gates, the commanding officer for the northern campaigns. Eventually, Burgoyne was surrounded by a force that made it unable to get food, to retreat or to advance to Albany.He was forced to surrender at Saratoga on October 17th, 1777. -
Valley Forge
Additional InformationMap of Valley Forge
(Political and Social)
Washington's army had to endure the harsh winters of 1777 and 1778 when they were encamped at Valley Forge, located in Pennsylvania. Many lacked food, shoes, and coats. By spring, nearly one-fourth of the soldiers had died. Several European nations including France lent support and encouragement at Valley Forge. This was evidence of the support the Revolution generated. -
General Charles Cornwallis
Additional Information
(Political and Social)
General Charles Cornwallis was the commander of the British army, when he was forced to surrender in Yorktown, Virginia. This was the end to the war of independence. -
General George Washington
Additional Information
(Political and Social)
Washington was the Commander in Chief for the American Continental Army, in which forced the surrender of the British army for America's independence on October 19, 1781. -
Surrender at Yorktown
Map of the Battle of YorktownAdditional Information
(Social)
On the 19th of October in 1781, a French military force as well as the Continental Army forced the surrender of a large British army commanded by General Charles Cornwallis. This defeat occured in Yorktown,VIrginia, where it was forced for the British to negotiate peace. The war for independence was finally over.
