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Period: to
Revolutionary Era
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Battle at Lexington and Concord
The British Redcoats marched into Lexington and Concord in order to round up the arms and amunition that the rebel forces had stashed and to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock However, Paul Revere and William Dawes rode through the night to warm the minutemen of the impending British arrival. The rebel forces moved their weaponry and rounded up a force of 130 men to fight the British army. The British were led by General Thomas Gage. The Americans were led by Captain Jonas Parker. -
Meeting of the Second Continental Congress
Met in Philedelphia. They formed the Continental Army with George Washington as the commander. They drafted the Olive Branch Petition. The rough draft of the Declaration of Independence was comissioned. -
Washington Assumes Control of the Continental Army
George Washington was appointed as general of the Continental Army during the Second Continental Congress. He was promised a force of trained militia men, but never recieved any. Despite the seemingly impossible situation he was placed in, Washington perservered and was victorious in the American Revolution. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense was Published
Asserted that it was "Common Sense" to stand up and fight against the British oppression. Widespread result of colonial Patriotism. -
Virginia Declaration of Rights Issued
This document was issued in Virginia to guarantee people natural rights as a human. Historians agree that the US constitution was based off of this document. -
Declaration of Independence
Congress adopted and signed the Declaration of Independece. It was officially sent to be printed on July 4, 1776. The first time it was read aloud in public was on July 8, 1776. -
Battle of Long Island (Battle of Brooklyn)
General Howe was commanded to capture New York and the Hudson. The British troops marched behind the lines of Continental Soldiers, surrounding them and forcing their surrender. Washington then evacuated his troops at night, under the nose of the British. -
British Occupation of New York
Britain took control of New York City and reinforced it. They ferosciously defending this holding. The holding of NY became the downfall of the British army, due to their fervor in defense of New York. -
Battle of Trenton
This was an act of pure desperation on behalf of the Continental Army. The winter was typically regarded as a time of rest. The Continental Army launched a surprise attack on British forces which were encamped for the winter at Trenton. The Continental Army was victorious and captured 1 thousand Hessian troops, which were hired German Militia men fighting for the British Army in the American Revolution. -
British Occupation of Philadelphia
The British occupied Philadelphia, which is were the Continental Congresses were held. Occupation lasted unil June 18, 1778. -
Battle of Saratoga
Burgoyne commaned the British forces, who were forced to surrender due to being surrounded by Patriot forces from Massacheusetts, New Hampshire, and New York. This was the turning point of the war, and convinced the French that the war was a good cause to join withthe American. -
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Continental Army in Valley Forge
Many deaths due to freezing and starvation (3,000 died) while 1 thousand others abandoned. Baron von Steuben came and instituted a strict drill system, which resulted in a tougher and more organized army. -
Valley Forge
Image depicting the winter at Valley Forge. -
Signing of French Alliance
This was a treaty between the French and Americans. Said that the French would help the Continental Army win the war with the one stipulation that the Americans would recognize all French claims in the sugar islands. -
General Howe Replaced
General Howe was replaced by Henry Clinton, who then started a Southern Campaign. He also issued the Philipsburg Proclamation, which declared all slaves who abandoned Patriot masters to be free and protected by the British army, -
British Occupation of Savannah
This is where the British campaign for the south under General Henry Clinton began. Continentals attempted multiple times to retake Savannah, but the British troops held the town until July 11, 1782. -
Spain joins the war on the American side
Spain joined on the American side of the war in order to regain Florida from Britain. With the end of the war, they were awarded most of Florida, but did not gain back the strategic fort that they really wanted. -
French Troops Arrive at Newport, RI, to aid the American Cause
Having signed the Treaty of Alliance, the French sided with the Americans in the American Revolution. Marquis de Lafayette convinced King Louis XVI of France to send troops to help the cause in light of the previously sent arms and ammunition. -
Nathanael Greene named commander of the Southern Army
Because of Washington’s value of loyalty and Greene’s willingness to work a mundane task during the winter of Valley Forge, and his previous success as a military leader, Washington named Greene the commander of the Southern Continental Army -
Morgan overwhelmingly defeated British forces at Cowpens, SC
Morgan and his band of men were trained as sharp shooters. Utilizing guerilla warfare, Morgan’s men shot at British troops under Colonel Tarleton. -
Adoption of the Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first federal Constitution that established rights for all citizens. Women were not enfranchised by this document. -
French Fleet Arrives in Chesapeake Bay
The arrival of the French Fleet forced the British fleet up North. This allowed the French and Continental armies to surround the British at Yorktown. The arrival of the French Navy was crucial for the success of the American forces in this deciding battle of the American Revolution. -
Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown
British and French troops bombarded the British fort at Yorktown for 1 week straight, day and night. Then after the bombing, they advanced and took another week to capture the entire fort. Cornwallis was so embarrassed by his loss that he sent his second in command to surrender his sword. The surrender at Yorktown signified the end of the American Revolution. American came out victorious. -
Lord North resigns his position as British Prime Minister
Thoroughly embarrassed by losing the American Revolution, Lord North resigned his recently appointed position of British Prime Minister. -
Washington Resigned as Commander of the Continental Army
Humble and older, George Washington retired his military rank in favor of retiring onto his Mount Vernon Estate and living a quiet life with his wife, Martha Washington. -
US Constitution Signed
The survivng founding Fathers met and created the Constitution of the United States of America, which guarenteed rights to all and limited the powers of the government. Representatives from all of the 13 original states were present. -
Ratification of the Constitution
All states finally ratified the Constitiution when, in Congress in 1789, a Bill of Rights was proposed. Rhode Island was the last colony to ratify the Constituion, and it did so in 1790.
