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Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord, also known as “The shot heard around the world,” took place on April 19th, 1775. It was the first battle of the Revolutionary War. The patriots won at Concord and the British won at Lexington. -
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Revolutionary War Timespan
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Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
On May 10, 1775, Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allen, and the Green Mountain Boys took Fort Ticonderoga. The fort is eventually recaptured by the British. -
Second Continental Congress Meets
The Second Continental Congress met on May 10, 1775. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
On June 17, 1775, the British defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts. Most of the fighting occurred on nearby Breed’s Hill. -
George Washinton named commander-in-chief
On June 15, 1775, George Washington accepts the assignment to be the commander-in-chief for the Continental Army. -
American defeat at Quebec
During the American defeat at Quebec on December 31, 1775, Colonel Benedict Arnold and General Richard Montgomery attempted to capture the city of Quebec. The attack failed, and caused Montgomery his life. -
British evacuate Boston
On March 17, 1776, British forces are forced to evacuate Boston following General George Washington. -
Declaration of Independence issued
On June 4, 1776, a group of men including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin was tasked with drafting a formal statement of the colonies' intentions. The Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence written by Jefferson in Philadelphia on July 4. -
British occupy New York City
British forces occupied New York in August 1776. -
Battle of Long Island
On August 27, 1776, the Battle of Long Island was part of a British campaign to seize control of New York. -
Battle of Trenton
On December 25, 1776, George Washington’s continental Army crossed the icy Delaware. In the Battle of Trenton, Washington defeated the Hessian mercenaries. -
Battle of Brandywine
On September 11, 1777, General Sir William Howe and General Charles Cornwallis launch a British attack on General George Washington and the Patriot outpost at Brandywine Creek. -
Battle of Saratoga
On September 19, 1777, British General John Burgoyne achieved a small victory over American forces led by Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold in the Battle of Saratoga. -
British occupy Philadelphia
On October 23, 1777, a British Navy fleet of ships tried to open up supply lines along the Delaware River and occupy the British army in Philadelphia. -
Articles of Confederation adopted
On November 15, 1777, the Continental Congress agrees to adopt the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union. -
Winter at Valley Forge
On December 19, 1777, George Washington leads his troops into winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. -
Alliance with France
On February 6, 1778, representatives from the United States and France sign the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and the Treaty of Alliance in Paris. -
Battle of Monmouth Court House
Battle of Monmouth Court House fought at Monmouth, New Jersey on June 28,1778. -
Fall of Savannah
On December 29, 1778, British Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell and his force of between 2500 and 3600 troops launch a surprise attack on American forces in Savannah, Georgia. -
Spain enters the war
On June 21, 1779, Spain enters the war by declaring war on Great Britain. -
Siege of Charleston
On May 12, 1780, Americans suffered their worst defeat of the revolution, with the unconditional surrender of Major General Benjamin Lincoln to British Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton and his army of 10,000 at Charleston, South Carolina. -
Benedict Arnold's treason discovered
Benedict Arnold was an early American hero of the Revolutionary War who later became one of the most infamous traitors in U.S. history after he switched sides and fought for the British. -
Battle of Cheasapeake Bay
The Battle of the Chesapeake was a crucial battle that took place near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay on September 5, 1781. -
Siege of Yorktown
On October 19, 1781 at Yorktown, Virginia, British General Lord Cornwallis surrendered 8,000 British soldiers and seamen to a larger Franco-American force, bringing an end to the American Revolution. -
Cornwallis surrenders
On October 19, 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis formally surrenders 8,000 British soldiers bringing the American Revolution to a close.
