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Paul Revere's Ride
Paul Revere was a Patriot who was asked by another Patriot, Dr. Joseph Warren 'to go to Lexington, and inform Mr. Samuel Adams, and the Hon. John Hancock Esq. that there was a number of soldiers...marching to the bottom of the common, where there was a number of boats to receive them; it was supposed that they were going to Lexington, by the way of Cambridge River, to to take them, or go to Concord, to destroy the colony stores.'' -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
British troops had been sent to Concord to take Patriot supplies, and to Lexington to capture Adams and Hancock, just as Paul Revere had been told. But because of Revere and the other riders, an American militia was waiting for the British in Lexington the morning after the rides. An unknown soldier fired "the shot heard round the world", marking the beginning of the Revolutionary War. The British marched towards Concord, but were met by more Americans and retreated towards Boston. -
Second Continental Congress meets
The Second Continental Congress was made up of delegates from each of the 13 colonies. They assumed the role of a national government and organized the colonial war effort against the British, which had, at that point, been very disorganized. -
George Washington is named Commander in Chief
The Second Continental Congress knew that leadership was necessary to organize the untrained colonial forces. Washington, who was widely respected and had experience from the French and Indian War, was appointed to be the army's Commander in Chief. They offered to pay him for taking the position, but he declined. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
On the night of June 16th, American forces headed to Bunker Hill, which overlooked Boston, in order to attack the British ships in the harbor. However, some troops also built artillery on nearby Breed's Hill, likely against orders. The British noticed the work being done on Breed's Hill and attacked in the morning, leading to a major battle. The British won, but lost over 1,000 soldiers. The battle convinced the king that there was officially an organized uprising in the colonies -
Battle of Quebec
In September, the Second Continental Congress gave permission to Colonel Benedict Arnold and General Richard Montgomery to lead forces to capture British-occupied Quebec City, hoping to win over the Canadians to the colonies' cause. In early December, Arnold and Montogmery demanded that the city surrender, but were refused, & they decided to attack on the 31st. Montgomery was killed and 400 Americans were now dead, captured, or injured. The Americans surrendered, marking their first major defeat -
Common Sense is published
"Common Sense" was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine which explained why he believed the colonies ought to declare independence from Britain. He said that "it is repugnant to reason, to the universal order of things, to all examples from the former ages, to suppose, that this continent can longer remain subject to any external power." It was written in language that was easy for even less educated Americans to understand, and helped gain more support for the Patriot's cause. -
The Declaration of Inependence
On July 4th, Congress completed the Declaration of Independence, effectively declaring "That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved..." With this document, the 13 colonies officially became their own nation - the United States of America. -
Hessians arrive in America
Hessians were soldiers mostly from the German state of Hesse-Cassel who were hired by the British to fight in the Revolutionary War. There were about 30,000 of these soldiers. Boys in Hesse-Cassel were required to register for the military, and the prince would hire out troops to whoever wanted to use them. The Hessians were known for looting, which sometimes caused neutral Americans to become Patriots. -
Battles of Saratoga
These battles, which would be a turning point in the war, were fought between British forces under General Burgoyne, & American forces under General Gates. Burgoyne was having problems such as a lack of backup from Native Americans & other British troops. The 2 armies met in Saratoga, New York, & had 2 battles which ended in a major American victory. One soldier said "It was a glorious sight to see the haughty Brittons ...surrender their arms to an army which...a little before they despised..." -
The French Alliance
The French had been convinced by the battles at Saratoga that the Americans were capable of taking on Britain, and the two powers signed a pact to help each other, but mainly to gain American independence: "The essential and direct End of the present defensive alliance is to maintain effectually the liberty, Sovereignty, and independance absolute and unlimited of the said united States..." -
Baron von Steuben joins the Americans
On this date, von Steuben, a former Prussian military officer, arrived at Valley Forge with George Washington's troops. He was appointed Inspector General and enforced discipline in the American army. He improved the sanitation standards and organized the camp, and also gave the troops actual military training. -
Spain joins the war
On this date Spain and France signed the Treaty of Aranjuez, in which France agreed to help Spain gain certain territories if Spain joined in the war against the British. Spain helped the colonies because they wanted to take back land the British had taken during the French and Indian War. They supported the Americans financially and by occupying the British with their own military actions. -
Guerilla warfare
Franics Marion uses strange tactics to fight against the British in South Carolina. He was the leader of a militia who used guerilla warfare. They would hide in the foliage and shoot, instead of meeting on a battlefield like the British were accustomed to. -
Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown
This was the last major land battle of the Revolutionary War. The American troops were led by George Washington, and the British by Charles Cornwallis. Cornwallis surrended, and England finally began negotiations for an end to the war and began to recognize American independence.
