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Lexington and Concord
In Lexington, 70 colonists awaited the Redcoats. A shot was fired. Who took the shot? Eight colonists and one British soldier died.The Brits marched on to Concord to seize any supplies they could find. The British found very little supplies. They burned what they found and marched back to Boston. They were ambushed by the colonists, who used guerrilla tactics. The British were greatly angered. Lexington and Concord signified the first open engagement between American and British forces. -
Battle of Fort Ticonderoga
Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen launched a joint attack on the British. The attack was at dawn when the soldiers were still sleeping. It was a small battle, but it was a major factor in the final result of the Revolution. This battle gave the Continental Army a strong and impactful morale boost through the conflict.This battle supplied the colonists with important weapons and ammo that would later be sent to Boston to defend the city -
Battle of Bunker Hill
400 American and 1054 British deaths. This was the first major battle and gave the Americans great confidence. "Although an American loss, Bunker Hill showed that Americans could stand up to the British in a formal battle, and it prevented the siege of Boston from being raised." -
Common Sense
Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine and it outlines the reasons why we, as a country, should declare our independence. It was a very controversial topic at the time, but he appealed to the hearts of the emotional and the minds of the enlightened. It was a very affective strategy. Common Sense plays a major role in the decision to declare independence. -
Declaration of Independence
In the first and second parts of the declaration of independence because if the king started to read it and the first line was "We are declaring our independence" he would just stop reading it. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston wrote the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson, recognized for his ability with words, wrote the first draft. Then, it was edited by the others, and then edited again by the whole Congress. -
Battle of Long Island
The British first attacked in the early morning hours of August 27 sending in a small force at the center of the American defense. While the Americans focused on this smaller attack, the main force of the British army attacked from the east nearly surrounding the Americans. Washington ordered the army to retreat to Brooklyn Heights. Several hundred men from Maryland, held off the British while the army retreated. Many of them were killed. -
Washington Crosses the Delaware
During the American Revolution, George Washington crosses the Delaware River with 5,400 troops, hoping to surprise a Hessian force celebrating Christmas at their winter houses in Trenton, New Jersey. The unconventional attack came after several months of defeats for Washington’s army that had resulted in the loss of New York City and other strategic points in the region. -
Battle of Trenton
The army that the British thought was all but defeated destroyed a major garrison and suffered very few casualties. The Americans also managed to capture critical supplies, including food and clothing, in the process. Having gained confidence, George Washington recrossed and crossed the Delaware again over the next week, fighting a delaying action and winning another stunning victory at the Battle of Princeton. -
Battle of Princeton
The British lost control of New Jersey and retreated to New York. Following the victories at the Battles of Trenton and Princeton the Americans believed that they could win the war. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga marked the high point of the Saratoga battle, giving an important victory to the Americans over the British in the American Revolutionary War. -
Winter at Valley Forge
The army camped at Valley Forge consisted of as many as 12,000 Continentals, as well as smaller numbers of African American and Native American soldiers. Despite brutal conditions, Valley Forge marked a milestone in the army's military experience. Washington eventually resorted to sending men on foraging missions to get what provisions could be found in the surrounding area. -
Treaty of Amity and Commerce/ Treaty of Alliance
The Treaty of Amity and Commerce recognized the United States as an independent nation and prompted trade with France and the United States. -
Battle of Charleston
The siege of Charleston was a major engagement and major British victory. After approximately six weeks of siege, the mayor commanding the Charleston garrison, surrendered his forces to the British. -
Battle of Springfield
Although the British were first able to advance, they were eventually forced to withdraw in the face of newly arriving Continental forces, resulting in a Continental victory. The battle effectively ended British's interest in New Jersey. -
Battle of Camden, SC
The British victory in South Carolina was one of the most devastating defeats ever inflicted on the American army. British subjugation of rebel American colonies in the south depended on control of small military camps and supply spots. -
Battle of Cowpens
The Battle of Cowpens was a strategically original American victory during the American Revolutionary War against British troops in South Carolina. It was a rare and special victory for the US military and delayed British efforts to invade North Carolina and surrounding areas. -
Battle of Kings Mountain
The Battle of Kings Mountain brought a significant victory to the patriots in the southern part of the American Revolutionary War, resulting in an important victory for the Patriots. -
Battle of Yorktown
The siege of Yorktown was a joint French-sea campaign in which large British troops were captured and forced to surrender to a peninsula near Yorktown, Virginia. The siege virtually ended military operations in the American Revolutionary War. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was signed by U.S. and British Representatives ending the War of the American Revolution. The agreement recognized U.S. independence and gave the U.S. significant western territory.