Revolutionary War Timeline

King George III Begins Ruling

Oct 25, 1760

Young, mentally ill, and bad King who took over the British Monarchy. He only sought to surround himself with "yes men".

Treaty of Paris, 1763

Feb 10, 1763

Treaty that ended French and Indian War. France gives up its North American colonies. Spain gives Florida to England.

Prime Minister Grenville

Apr 16, 1763

Grenville wanted the government to gain control, and have more say over colonists and country happenings. He brought on the the many taxes which led to the Revolutionary War.

Proclamation of 1763

Oct 7, 1763

England forbids colonization west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Sugar Act of 1764

Apr 5, 1764

Act passed by British Parliament taxing foreign sugars and molasses in the colonies.

Stamp Act of 1765

Mar 22, 1765

Colonists were forced to pay taxes on paper products such as legal documents, playing cards, newspapers, etc.

Quartering Act of 1765

May 3, 1765

Colonists were forced to provide food and shelter for British troops.

Stamp Act Congress

Oct 7, 1765

Nine colonies came together as one to discuss the rights and grievances of colonists. Communicated concerns with British Parliament.

Declaratory Act

Mar 18, 1766

After Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, and the colonists reveled, the government reminded them, via the Declaratory Act, that as Parliament, they could put forth any laws, taxes, and rulings they pleased.

Townshend Acts of 1767

Jun 15, 1767

Act that taxed glass, white lead, paper, paint, and tea. People rebelled as a result of this and smuggled in tea.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

In Boston a fight broke out between a group of colonist protestors and British soldiers. It was portrayed differently by the two sides in publications, both rendering them the 'good guy.'

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

Sons of Liberty dressed as Indians and threw British shipment of tea overboard to the Boston Harbor.

Intolerable Acts

Mar 24, 1774

Britain closed off ports and brought in the military to further push colonists into doing what Parliament wanted.

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

Delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies came together in attempt to unify and basically initiated the Revolution.

Lexington and Concord

Apr 19, 1775

First battle of Revolutionary War. British goal was to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock in Concord and seize colonists' battle supplies. They ended up meeting in Concord.

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

All 13 colonies came together in Philadelphia to continue fighting for colonist rights. They drafted a set of appeals they hoped the King would respond to. They also selected George Washington to lead the Continental Army.

Battle of Bunker Hill

Jun 17, 1775

The colonists seized the hill where they had an advantage against the British and defeated them.

Olive Branch Petition

Jul 5, 1775

Petition that professed American loyalty to the King in hopes that the hostilities would end. King rejected the document, which forced colonies to chose to fight against the British.

Common Sense (Book)

Jan 10, 1776

Thomas Paine published Common Sense encouraging the colonists of their need of independence from Great Britain.

Lee Moved for Independence

Jun 7, 1776

Richard Henry Lee moved for independent states; was debated for a month.

The Adoption of Independence

Jul 2, 1776

The Second Continental Congress met this day and wroteThe Declaration of Independence.

Declaration of Independence Approval by Congress

Jul 4, 1776

The iconic Declaration of Independence was formally approved by Congress.

Battle of Long Island

Aug 27, 1776

British forces stormed raw Continental Army recruits, crossing the Hudson River. They journeyed from Manhattan Island to New Jersey.

Model Treaty

Sep 17, 1776

This was America's first diplomatic statement since their independence. The treaty talked about free trade.

Battle of Trenton

Dec 26, 1776

This was the day after Christmas where George Washington and his men crossed the Delaware and a surprise attack on the German Hessians.

Brandywine Creek and German Town

Sep 11, 1777

Two small battles fought by George Washington, ending in defeat.

Saratoga

Oct 17, 1777

British commander, Burgoyne, surrendered his entire force to American general Horatio Gates. French come work after this.

Valley Forge

Dec 19, 1777

Winter of 1777-1778. Soldiers went without bread for three days. Clothing, shoes, and manufactured goods were scarce.

Monmouth, NJ

Jun 28, 1778

Washington attacks Red Coats that were withdrawing; men were dying from heatstroke and the end result was indecisive.

Yorktown

Oct 19, 1781

Americans surrounded Cornwallis at Yorktown by land and sea via a French support fleet and the lack of British naval presence. Cornwallis surrendered and the Americans won a defining battle

Treaty of Paris

Sep 3, 1783

British recognized America's independence; they gained Mississippi to the Great Lakes, Florida, and Newfoundland.