The American Revolution Timeline

  • The Boston Massacre

    The Boston Massacre
    5 Boston colonist are shot by British troops.
  • The First Continental Congress Meets

    The First Continental Congress Meets
    Representatives from the colonies get together and unite and oppose British taxes.
  • Paul Revere's Ride

    Paul Revere's Ride
    The Revolutionary War starts and Paul Revere makes his famous ride to warn the colonists that the "British are coming".
  • Battle of Lexington and Concord

    Battle of Lexington and Concord
    The actual fighting starts the with the first "shot heard around the world". The Americans wins as the British retreat.
  • Battle of Bunker Hill

    Battle of Bunker Hill
    Major battle where William Prescott told the American troops "don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes"
  • The Declaration of Independence is Adopted

    The Declaration of Independence is Adopted
    The Continental Congress agrees to Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence.
  • George Washington crosses the Delaware

    George Washington crosses the Delaware
    George Washington and his troops cross the Delaware River on Christmas night and surprise the enemy.
  • America chooses a flag

    America chooses a flag
    The Continental Congress adopts the "Stars and Stripes" Flag sewn by Betsy Ross.
  • Battles of Saratoga

    Battles of Saratoga
    British General John Burgoyne surrenders his army to the Americans after suffering defeat at the Battles of Saratoga.
  • Valley Forge

    Valley Forge
    The Continental army under George Washington spends the winter training at Valley Forge.
  • Battle of Yorktown

    Battle of Yorktown
    The last major battle of the American Revolutionary War. British General Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown was the unofficial end to the war.
  • Treaty of Paris

    Treaty of Paris
    When the American Revolution officially ended