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Battle of Lexington and Concord
Lexington marked the beginning of the American Revolution.
Although Lexington and Concord were considered British military victories, they gave a moral boost to the American colonists. -
The Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia
Delegates of the thirteen colonies met to discuss their next steps.
They elected George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. -
Washington assumes command of the Continental Army
After being elected by the Second Continental Congress, he rode in front of American troops and drew his sword, formally taking command of the Continental Army. -
Thomas Paine published "Common Sense"
A book that challenged the authority of British government and the Royal Monarchy.
First work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain. -
Declaration of Independence
Beginning on the 1st, Congress debated and then finally adopted the Declaration of Independence, and finalized it on the 4th. Declaring independence from British. -
Battle of Long Island
British Army and Hessians fought against the Americans.
This was the first battle to take place following the signing of the Declaration of Independence. -
British occupy New York
General Howe and his men crossed the East River and took the city of New York from the Continentals.
The Patriots fled to the northern part of Manhattan called Harlem Heights. -
The loss of Fort Lee
Lord Cornwallis crossed the Hudson and captured Fort Lee from Nathaniel Green. -
Battle of Trenton
Washington crossed the Delaware and captured Trenton from the Hessians. -
The Battle of Princeton
Washington was victorious in the Battle of Princeton in New Jersey where they defeated British forces. -
Clinton replaces Howe
British General William Howe was replaced by Henry Clinton. Howe gave Clinton command of Charlestown -
Battle of Ridgefield
Benedict Arnold's troops forced a British retreat in Ridgefield, Conneticut. A series of small "skirmishes" -
Battle of Germantown, Pennsylvania
Americans were driven off after a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War .The British victory in this battle ensured that Philadelphia was the capital of the self-proclaimed United States of America. -
Washington's army enter's Valley Forge
Washington's army retired to winter quarters at Valley Forge. when Washington's poorly fed, ill-equipped army, Only about one in three of them had shoes, and many of their feet had left bloody footprints from the marching. -
Treaty of Alliance
The United States and France sign the French Alliance, which was a defensive alliance which promised military support in case of attack by British forces indefinitely into the future. -
Battle of Monmouth
Also known as the Battle of Monnouth Courthouse in New Jersey ended in a draw between The Continental Army under Washington's rule and British army under Clinton's rule. -
Battle of Rhode Island
French and American forces besiege Newport, Rhode Island. The battle took place in the aftermath of the first attempt at cooperation between French and American forces following France's entry into the war as an American ally. -
Spain declares war on Great Britain
Spain declared war on Great Britain, creating a de facto alliance with the Americans. -
Siege of Charleston
The Battle of Charleston was one of the major battles which took place towards the end of the American Revolutionary War, after the British began to shift their strategic focus towards the American Southern Colonies. -
Nathanael Greene becomes commander of the Southern Army
Washington named Nathanael Greene the commander of the Southern Army, forcing British general Charles Cornwallis to abandon the Carolinas and head for Virginia -
Articles of Confederation
Articles were adopted by the representatives of the thirteen states agree to create a confederacy called the United States of America, where each state maintains its own sovereignty and all rights to govern. -
Cornwallis Surrenders
British General Charles Cornwallis formally surrendered to a French and American force in Yorktown, Virginia, bringing the American Revolution to a close. -
Lord North resigns as British Prime Minister
After British defeat at Yorktown the year before, he was the first British Prime Minister to be forced out of office by a motion of no confidence. -
Treaty of Paris
The United States and Great Britain sign the Treay of Paris, ending the American Revolutionary War and recognized America's independence. -
Washington resigns as Commander
After 8 years serving as Commander in the Continental Army, George Washington resigned following the Treaty of Paris and retired in Mount Vernon, Virginia. -
U.S. Constitution signed
The United States Constitution is a system of basic laws and principles that defines the rights of American citizens and sets limits on what the government can and cannot do. -
Ratification of the Constitution
the Constitution came into effect in 1789 and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
