The Revolutionary War

Lexington and Concord

Apr 19, 1775

-The first battles of the Revolutionary War
- "the shot heard around the world"
-U.S. minutemen were defeated at Lexington, but won later at Concord

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

• the Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia -representatives from 12 of the 13 colonies were there to manage the colonial war effort

George Washington

Jun 15, 1775

George Washington was named Commander in Cheif of the American forces

Battle of Bunker Hill

Jun 17, 1775

-the American forces were driven from Bunker Hill after running out of ammunition

George Washington

Jul 3, 1775

• George Washington becomes commander of the Continental Army

failure to take Quebec

Dec 30, 1775

-Benedict Arnold and his colonial forces fail to take Quebec

Common Sense

Jan 15, 1776

"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine is published

The Virginia Decleration of Rights

Jun 12, 1776

• a document that proclaims the inherent rights of all men
• it later influenced documents such as the Decleration of Independence

The First Virginia Constitution

Jun 29, 1776

-this document defines the power of state government and the basic rights of the citizens of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

• The Declaration of Independence is adopted by congress and is sent to be printed

The Declaration of Independence

Aug 2, 1776

• The Declaration of Independence is starting to be signed

Battle of Long Island

Aug 27, 1776

• Washington's forces were beat by the British while trying to protect the port of New York
• The Americans escaped during the night using the cover of bad weather

Washington crosses the Delaware

Dec 26, 1776

• George Washington crosses the Delaware and treks for 9 miles through the snow to capture Trenton from the Hessions

Flag Resolution

Jun 14, 1777

• created and explained the significance of the new American Flag

Battle of Brandywine

Sep 11, 1777

• British defeated the Americans who retreated to Philadelphia

Battle of Saratoga

Sep 19, 1777

• the British were trapped by the superior American forces and lost

Second Battle of Saratoga

Oct 7, 1777

• 18 days after the first battle, the Americans won once again
• this became a turning point in the war because it won the Americans the foreign help that was needed to win the war

Valley Forge

Dec 19, 1777

• Washington's army camped here in the winter
• around 2,000 died, many of the cold

French Alliance

Feb 6, 1778

• The French agreed to aide the Americans as long as they got a piece of the West indies

British capture Savannah

Dec 29, 1778

• British forces take over Savannah, Gerorgia

Spain declares war

Jun 21, 1779

• the Spanish declare war on Britain
• at this point, the war becomes a world war

British capture Charleston

May 12, 1780

• the British capture Carleston, South Carolina
• Charleston was then used as a base for future operations

Nathanael Greene

Oct 14, 1780

• Washington appointes Greene as commander of the Southern Army

Articles of Confederation

Mar 2, 1781

• Articles of Confederation are adopted

French drive away British navy

Sep 15, 1781

• the French fleet drives the British navy away from the Chesapeake Bay

Cornwallis surrenders

Oct 19, 1781

• Cornwallis is surrounded on all sides by the American and French forces when he surrenders in Yorktown, Virginia

Lord North

Mar 20, 1782

• Lord North resigns his position as prime minister of Britain

Articles of Peace

Nov 30, 1782

• the British and Americans sign preliminary Articles of Peace

Peace treaty

Apr 19, 1783

• Congress ratified the preliminary peace treaty

Treaty of Paris 1783

Sep 3, 1783

• The U.S. and Britain sign the Treaty of Paris 1783

George Washington

Dec 23, 1783

• Washington resigns as Commander of the U.S. forces

Constitution

Sep 17, 1787

• The United States Constitution is signed

Constitution

Jun 21, 1789

• The United States Constitution is ratified and adopted