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French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was a nine-year war that took place between 1754 and 1763. It was fought between France and Great Britain to determine control of the vast colonial territory of North America. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was the incident where the red coats opened fire on the colonists. Colonists' opposition to the acts passed by the British Parliament. -
Boston Tea Party
340 chests of tea were destroyed in Boston Harbour, an event known as the Boston Tea Party. This was one of the key events in the lead-up to the American Revolutionary War. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord marked the start of the American War of Independence. It persuaded many Americans to take up arms and support the cause of independence. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Although the American patriots were defeated at the Battle of Bunker Hill, they proved they could hold their own against the superior British Army. -
Declaration of Independence
The colonists declare their independence from Britain in signing and ratifying the Declaration of Independence. This was an important event because once it was signed there was no turning back; the fight for independence had begun. -
Battle of Trenton
General George Washington's army defeated a garrison of Hessian mercenaries at Trenton. The victory set the stage for another success at Princeton a week later and boosted the morale of the American troops. -
Battle of Princeton
Continental Army soldiers under the command of General George Washington defeated a force of British troops near Princeton, New Jersey. The action was part of a larger campaign to regain momentum following a string of defeats in New York City. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the Revolutionary War. The American defeat of the superior British army lifted patriot morale and helped to secure the foreign support needed to win the war. -
Battle of Yorktown
The French army and navy, Washington's forces defeated Lord Charles Cornwallis' veteran army in at Yorktown, Virginia. Victory at Yorktown led directly to the peace negotiations that ended the war in 1783 and gave America its independence. -
The Treaty of Paris
On January 14, 1784, the Treaty of Paris was ratified by the Congress of the United States. The Treaty formally ended the Revolutionary War and established the United States as a free and independent nation.