Revolutionary war timeline

  • French and Indian war ends

    French and Indian war ends
    This is when the french and Indian war ended, causing great debt to Britain and making them tax their colonies.
  • Stamp act passed

    Stamp act passed
    This is important because it kicked off the series of taxation s that angered the colonies.
  • Townshend acts

    Townshend acts
    This was a series of four acts made in retaliation against the colonists refusing the stamp act.
  • British army occupies Boston

    British army occupies Boston
    This is significant because it is the main reason for the next event, the Boston Massacre.
  • Boston massacre

    Boston massacre
    This is a significant event because the unfair killing of citizens would obviously greatly anger the mobs.
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party
    This event was significant because the colonists started destroying property and having organized rebellions.
  • Intolerable Acts passed

    Intolerable Acts passed
    This was another attempt at retaliation by the British government, but just fueled the colonists anger.
  • First Continental congress.

    First Continental congress.
    This is significant because it shows that the colonies are starting to unite and form organized groups.
  • The "Give me liberty or give me death!" speech.

    The "Give me liberty or give me death!" speech.
    This was important because it generally got everyone going and wanting to reach a solution, probably through violence.
  • Paul Revere's ride and the battles of Lexington and Concord.

    Paul Revere's ride and the battles of Lexington and Concord.
    This is very significant as the first battle of the war, and the point where fighting started breaking out.
  • Battle of Bunker hill.

    Battle of Bunker hill.
    This event is important in the way that the Americans were trying to take back Boston, and did fail, however they decimated the British force, dropping them down to 60% of their original numbers.
  • Thomas Paine publishes "Common Sense"

    Thomas Paine publishes "Common Sense"
    At this time, the conflict looked more like a civil war than a war for independence, and this article clearly put independence on the agenda.
  • Declaration of Independence adopted.

    Declaration of Independence adopted.
    This is where the colonies start to form their own government and really figure out what they are going to do once the fighting ends.
  • Washington crosses the Delaware.

    Washington crosses the Delaware.
    On Christmas night, Washington's force crossed the Delaware river to sneak up on the enemy forces, successfully taking over 900 prisoners, and keeping the morale high.
  • Continental army winters at Valley Forge.

    Continental army winters at Valley Forge.
    This happened following multiple failures in battle and morale was low, but the following spring, the army was a well trained fighting force.
  • France and U.S form alliance

    France and U.S form alliance
    This was very helpful to the Americans because it really turned the tides of the war.
  • Benedict Arnold becomes a traitor.

    Benedict Arnold becomes a traitor.
    This is important because not only did the Americans lose a fort and a general, he also knew all their plans and could tell them to the British.
  • Siege of Yorktown

    Siege of Yorktown
    This is a very important event because the Americans finally manage to get the British in a tough spot, and eventually surrender their forces.
  • Articles of Confederation ratified.

    Articles of Confederation ratified.
    This is important because it shows the early next stage of how the colonies are starting to really create a government.
  • War ends with the Treaty of Paris.

    War ends with the Treaty of Paris.
    This is pretty significant because the Americans came out on top and got their freedom and liberty after this whole thing.