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The Revolutionary War
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Paul Revere's Ride
On April 18, 1775, a man named Paul Revere rode through the countryside to warn the American colonists that the British were coming. He didn't actually make his destination because he was captured by British "Redcoats," but one of his companions, Dr. Samuel Prescott, got the message through. When the British arrived, the Americans were ready. (British) -
Shot Heard Around the World- Lexington and Concord
Two lanterns hanging from Boston's North Church informed the countryside that the British were going to attack by sea. Sure enough, when the British soldiers arrived in Lexington, they found about 70 minutemen formed on the Lexington Green awaiting them. Both sides eyed each other warily, not knowing what to expect. Suddenly, a bullet buzzed through the morning air. As the British moved toward Boston, new waves of Colonial militia intercepted them and killed 125 men. (British) -
Fort Ticonderoga Battle
New York fort on the western shore of Lake Champlain that was originally a French fort, called Carillion, that was seized by the British in the French and Indian War. The fort was later captured by the Americans in their first "official" victory of the Revolutionary War. The fort wasn't garrisoned very well but still held a stock of British weapons. Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys, along with Benedict Arnold, captured the fort on May 10, 1775. -
Geroge Washington named Commander in Chief
First president of the United States, he also fought (for the British) in the French and Indian War and was the commanding officer of the victorious American forces in the Revolutionary War. He was named president of the Constitutional Convention. -
Battle at Bunker Hill
Two-day engagement between British forces under the command of General William Howe and American forces under Colonel William Prescott. The Americans had occupied Breed's Hill in Charlestown on June 16, 1775, in order to protect the shipyard of nearby Boston. The next day, the British attacked. The Americans fired until they were out of ammunition, then quickly retreated. (Americans) -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was the last effort of the Continental Congress to avoid war with Great Britain in 1775. Some delegates to the Continental Congress wanted to break with England at this time, but they yielded to the majority who weren't ready yet. Those who were more moderate wanted to explain their position clearly to King George, in hopes that he had been misinformed about their intentions. -
Commen Sense is published
Thomas Paine, was a Patriot and an American soldier whose main contribution was in writing. His pamphlets, including Common Sense and The Crisis, inflamed the American population and furthered the Revolutionary cause. Commen Sense was part of the reason that the war was going on. It brought to the American's attentiont that they were having their BORN rights taken away from them. -
Shipping Ports Open to All Traffic Except British
Continental Congress orders all colonial shipping ports to open to all traffic but the British, and they authorized raids on British ships and advised disarming all americans who were loyal to England. -
Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell rang out to call the people of Philadelphia together for the reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776. -
"American Independence"
"American Independence" is a famous speech delivered by Samuel Adams from the steps of the State House in Philadelphia, the meeting place of the Continental Congress. In the speech, Adams' declares that by voting for the Declaration of Independence, Americans have restored "the Sovereign to Whom alone all men ought to be obedient" (meaning God) to the "throne" of America. -
Decleration of Independance
Document declaring the 13 American Colonies independent from Great Britain. Written by Thomas Jefferson and declared in effect by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. Many prominent Americans signed it, including John Hancock, John Adams, and Samuel Adams. -
Long Island Battle
First real battle between British and American forces, in August 1776. Also called the Battle of Long Island. Redcoats under Generals William Howe and Charles Cornwallis advanced on New York and tried to trap the Americans in Brooklyn. General George Washington responded by holding his ground until nightfall and then retreating under cover of darkness. The troop movements for this battle actually occurred over a number of days. It was the first British victory and the first of many legendary Was -
Trenton
Famous American victory that began with "Washington Crossing the Delaware." Actually, the whole army crossed the Delaware River, which was frozen in places, on Christmas night, 1776, from Pennsylvania to the outskirts of Trenton, New Jersey. There, the Americans surprised a drunken Hessian force that celebrated the holiday a little too much. The battle lasted about 45 minutes and resulted in 900 Hessian prisoners. -
Battle of Princeton
American victory on January 3, 1777, following hard on the heels of General George Washington's great success at Trenton. The victory at Princeton drove the British out of New Jersey, almost for good. -
U.S. Flag
On June 14, 1777, Congress resolved that the flag of the U. S. should be "thirteen stripes alternate red and white, that the Union be thirteen stars white in a blue field. . ." -
Saratoga
Turning point of the Revolutionary War in that it convinced France to enter the war on the side of the Americans. British General John Burgoyne came up with a brilliant plan to take all of New York away from the Americans. His three-pronged attack called for a meeting of three forces at Saratoga. Trouble was, it didn't work. The American victory convinced France that America really did have a chance of winning. -
Valley Forge
The winter was particularly harsh, and the army was short on food, clothing, and supplies. But they hung on. The leadership of Commander-in-Chief George Washington and Baron von Steuben, the Prussian drill sergeant, kept the soldiers occupied and made them better, tougher soldiers in the end. -
Monmouth
Indecisive battle near Monmouth Courthouse, New Jersey, on June 28, 1778. American troops under General George Washington fought British troops under General Henry Clinton. The British had left Philadelphia en route to New York. The Americans were pursuing from Valley Forge, their goal to stop the British advance. It was a very hot day, and the heat took its toll on both sides. -
Battle of Baton Rouge
The Battle of Baton Rouge was a brief siege during the American Revolutionary War that was decided on September 21, 1779. Baton Rouge was the second British outpost to fall to Spanish arms during Bernardo de Gálvez's march into British West Florida. -
Help from the French Arrives
French troops arrive at Newport, RI, to aid the American cause. Many other countrys disliked the British, so it was not difficult for the Americans to find other countrys that would offer up their troops to fight them. -
Battle of Charlotte
The Battle of Charlotte was an American Revolutionary War battle fought in Charlotte, North Carolina on September 26, 1780. The battle took place at the Mecklenburg County Court House -
Greene made commader of Southern Army
American general who had a large hand in bringing about the final surrender of British General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown. Greene was first an aide to General George Washington, serving at Trenton, Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. After the Battle of Charleston, Greene replaced General Horatio Gates as commander of the Southern Army. He won a smashing victory at Cowpens. -
Articles of Confederation
Document detailing form of government taken after the Revolutionary War. The focus was on state governments, which had tremendous power. This form of government proved unequal to the task of governing the 13 Colonies, mainly because 9 of the 13 states had to agree to get anything done. The result was the Constitutional Convention. -
Battle of Fort Royal
The Battle of Fort Royal was a naval battle fought off Fort Royal, Martinique in the West Indies during the American War of Independence on 29 April 1781 between fleets of the British Royal Navy and the French Navy. After an engagement lasting four hours, the British squadron under Sir Samuel Hood broke off and retreated. -
Yorktown
American victory that ended the Revolutionary War on October 20, 1781. The Americans won the battle and the war. At the surrender ceremony, Cornwallis's sword was accepted by General Benjamin Lincoln while a British band played "The World Turned Upside Down." -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris is ther treaty that officially ended the Revolutionary War on September 3, 1783. It was signed in Paris by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. Under the terms of the treaty, Britain recognized the independent nation of the United States of America.
