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The Rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes
Two Sons of Liberty raced on horseback from Boston to warn residents that the British regulars were on the march toward Lexington and Concord. -
Battles at Lexington and Concord
Minutemen and redcouts clash at Lexington and Concord when British come to arrest rebel leaders. Started the war, known as "The shot heard 'round the world." -
The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
A small force of Green Mountain Boys led by Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold overcame a British garrison at the fort. This impeded communication between northern and southern units of the British army. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies were present, all except Georgia. -
George Washington named Commander in Chief
Washington was voted to lead the Continental Army at the Second Continental Congress, and he accepts. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Biritish fired cannons from ships at the dirt fort on the hill. The British troops climbed the hill, but were easy targets to shoot. The British won, but at great costs, and the battle gave confidence to the patriots. William Howe takes command of all British forces in America from Thomas Gage in September this year because of this victory. -
George Washington assumes command of the Continental Army
George Washington assumes command of the Continental Army at Cambridge. He uses guerilla warfare to fight the British. -
Invasion of Canada
Patriots under Richard Montgomery occupy Montreal in Canada. This was the first major military initiative by the newly formed Continental Army. -
Battle of Quebec
American forces under Benedict Arnold fail to sieze Quebec. The Americans suffered heavy losses, and Montgomery was killed. Benedict Arnold was wounded, and Daniel Morgan was taken prisoner along with 400 men. -
"Common Sense"
Thomas Paine published "Common Sense" and swayed many to the patriot side. -
The Virginia Decleration of Rights
George Mason wrote this document to proclaim the inherent rights of men, including the right to rebel against inadequate government. It influenced the Declaration of Independence and the United States Bill of Rights. -
The First Virginia Constitution
A document that declared the dissolution of the rule of Great Britain over Virginia and accused England's Kinge George III of establishing a detestable and insupportable tyranny. It also established a separation of governmental powers, with the creation of the bicameral Virginia General Assembly as the legislative body of the state and the Governor of Virginia as the chief magistrate or executive. -
Declaration of Independence
Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence, which announced that the American colonies regarded themselves as thirteen newly independent sovereign states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. -
Battle of Long Island
Redcoats defeat George Washington's army, but Washington's army escapes at night across the Hudson river, across the Deleware River, then into Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. -
British occupy New York City
The British General William Howe implements his strategy to isolate New England by occupying New York City. -
Battle of Trenton
Washington crossed the Deleware River on Christmas night with 2,400 men, then surprises the British in the morning. He captures a force of 1,000 Hessians. -
Battle of Princeton
Washington's revolutionary forces defeated the British near Princeton, New Jersey. The night before, Washington repulsed a British attack, then evacuated his position, circled around General Lord Cornwallis's army, and went to attack the British garrison at Princeton. -
The Flag Resolution
The Second Contintental Congress passed the Flag Resolution, which stated: “Resolved, That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.” -
Lafayette arrives in Philadelphia
Lafayette came to America from France and is made a general of the American forces. He was a close friend of George Washington. -
Battle of Brandywine
Part of Howe's campaign to take Philadelphia; British defeated Americans andforced them to withdraw toward the American capital of Philadelphia. -
The Battle of Freeman's Farm
Part of the Battles of Saratoga; British General John Burgoyne lost to the Americans commanded by General Horatio Gates at Freeman's Farm, New York. -
British occupy Philadelphia
General Howe finishes his campaign, and occupies Philadelphia -
Battle of Bemis Heights
Burgoyne loses the second battle of Freeman's Farm at Bemis Heights. This is part of the Battles of Saratoga. -
Burgoyne surrenders at Saratoga
General John Burgoyne surrenders to Horatio Gates at Saratoga, NY. This is considered the turning point of the war. Because of this, the Treaty of Alliance between the Americans and the French is created. -
Winter at Valley Forge
Washington's army retires to Valley Forge for the winter. 200 officers resigned, 1,000 soldiers deserted, and almost 2,500 soldiers died by the end. Baron von Steuben trained the troops into a more disciplined army during this time. -
Treaty of Alliance
The United States and France signed the Treaty of Alliance, which promised military support from the French as long as French conquests in the West Indies were recognized. -
Howe is replaced
British General Howe is replaced by General Henry Clinton. Howe's strategies were too reserved because he wished for peace, so the war dragged on longer than expected. Howe resigned, and Henry Clinton took his place. -
British abandon Philadelphia
Under the new command of Sir Henry Clinton, the British withdraw from Philadelphia and return to New York. -
British occupy Savannah
The British occupy Savannah, Georgia under Clinton. It was part of his new strategy to attack the South, so the British set up their base of operations in Savannah. -
Spain declares war on Great Britain
Spain also declares war on Great Britain in hopes of getting back their lost territory in Florida. -
Siege of Savannah
Second Battle of Savannah; Americans fail to take back Savannah from the British in a joint Franco-American attack. -
Siege of Charleston
British beign to shift their strategiv focus towards the American Souther Colonies. After six weeks of siege, Continental Army General Benjamin Lincoln surrendered. British capture Charleston, South Carolina. -
Nathaneal Greene named commander of Southern Army
After serving as quartermaster because of his effective strategy for gathering supplies, Nathaneal Greene was named commander of the Southern Army by George Washington. -
Articles of Confederation adopted
A document signed amongst the 13 original colonies that established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution. -
Battle of Guilford Court House
A 2,100-man British force under the command of Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis defeated Major General Nathanael Greene's 4,500 Americans. The British sustained heacy casualties, and the battle was a strategic victory for the Americans. -
Battle of the Chesapeake
French fleet drives British naval force from Chesapeake Bay, allowing for the setup of the Battle of Yorktown. -
Cornwallis surrenders at the Battle of Yorktown
Cornwallis was surrounded on land and sea by American and French. After being sieged for several days, he surrenders to the Americans. -
Lord North resigns as British prime minister
After the loss of the war, Lord North resigns from his position. -
Preliminary Articles of Peace
British accept American Independence and boundaries. -
Congress ratifies reliminary peace treaty
Congress ratifies the Preliminary Articles of Peace. -
Treaty of Paris
U.S. and Great Britain sign Treaty of Paris, which acknowledged the United States to be free, established boundaries, granted fishing rights to U.S. fishermen off the coast of Newfoundland and in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, allowed old debts to be pursued, and established that both Great Britain and the United States are to be given perpetual access to the Mississippi River. -
Washington resigns
Washington resigns as Commander after the war is over, the treaty is signed, and all the British troops withdraw. -
U.S. Constitution
The U.S. Constitution is signed. entrenches the doctrine of the seperation of powers (three branches of federal government) and describes the rights and responsiblities of state governments. -
Constitution adopted
The U.S. Constitution is finlly adopted after New Hampshire ratifies it.
