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Lexington and Concord
Known as the "shot heard around the world" and was the start of the revolution. British General Gage planned to seize American gunpowder and soldiers, but luckily becasue of men like Paul Revere who warned the people, minutemen were able to meet the British and hide the weapons and gunpowder. -
Period: to
Revolutionary Period
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Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia. John Hancock is elected president and appoint George Washington as the commander of the Continental Army. The congress placess the US in a state of defense against the British.Declaration of Independence is drafted by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Americans dug into the high ground of Breed's Hill and are against over 2000 British soldiers who storm up the hill.At first they halt the British advance, but during the third attack the Americans run out of ammunition. British suceed at taking the hill but lose half of their force. -
Montreal Occupied by Patriots
General Montgomery's forces enter Montreal with ease. They won with ease because the British and civilians did not want to fight suring the winter. -
Battle of Quebec
Patriot forces under the command of Benedict Arnold fail to capture Quebec. General montgomery is killed. 60 Americans died and 426 were captured. The British, casualties were 6 killed and 19 wounded. Daniel Morgan is captured. -
Common sense
Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. He openly asks for independence from Britain and adresses the common people that they needed to split from Britain. -
French Give Some Support
King Louis XVI of France commits one million dollars in arms and munitions to the revolutionary effort. Doesn't send troops, but supports them economically. -
Declaration of Independence
The Decclaration of Independence is signed by 56 members, declaring that all thirteen colonies were independent from Britain. Named the rights of the people, gave grievances to the king and declared war with Britain. -
Battle of Long Island
Gen. Howe leads 15,000 soldiers against Washington's army in the Battle. Washington was outnumbered two to one suffered a severe defeat as his army was outflanked. The Americans retreat to Brooklyn Heights, facing possible capture by the British. Washington suceeds in escaping. -
Battle of Valcour
Benedict Arnold is defeated but delays British advances.Defeated by British General Guy Carleton. -
Battle of Trenton
George Washington and his troops cross the Delaware river on Christmas and defeat the Hessian soldiers. The Hessians surrendered after an hour with about 1000 of their men taken prisoner by Washington who suffered only six wounded. This gave the Patriots more confidence in their effort. -
Battle of Princeton
Washington and his troops defeat the British at Princeton and drive them back toward New Brunswick. Washington established winter quarters at Morristown, New Jersey and loses many men during the harsh winter from malnutrition and diesease. -
British Tactic to cut off Supplies
A British force of 7700 men under General John Burgoyne invades from Canada, sailing down Lake Champlain toward Albany, planning to link up with Gen. Howe who came north from New York City. This cutt off New England from the rest of the colonies and depleted supplies, -
British Occupation of Philadelphia
British General Howe leaves from New York for Chesapeake Bay to capture Philadelphia instead of sailing north to meet up with General Burgoyne. -
Lafayette
Lafayette arrives in Philadelphia in order to aid the cause and help train some soldiers. He is appointed as a major general in the Continental Army. -
The Battle of Saratoga
Is the first major American victory of the Revolutionary War. General Horatio Gates and General Benedict Arnold defeat British General Burgoyne. Inflicted 600 British casualties. while only losing 150 Americans. Helped French decide to finally send troops and recogize the US's independence. -
Valley Forge
Washington sets up camp here for the winter. Many soldiers and men deserted or died of starvation and disease. -
The Treaty of Alliance
The US and France sign the French Alliance. One of the most important alliances that led to the US's victory. French economically support the cause and send soldiers to fight. -
Baron von Steben
Baron von Steuben from Prussia arrives at Valley Forge to join the Continental Army. He gives much needed training and drilling to American troops that suffered from cold, hunger, disease, low supplies and desertions over the long, harsh winter. -
British Change in Command
British General Howe is replaced by Henry Clinton. He initially had served under General Howe, but Howe's previous lossses proved that the British needed a new command. -
Battle of Barren Hill
Lafayette with about 500 men and 50 indians evade British onslaught.The troops prevented disaster and allowed the Continental Army to emerge from Valley Forge as a disciplined military in June. -
Spain
Spanish declare war on Britain, because they want to gain conrol of Florida, and Gibraltor in Europe. -
Savannah Georgia
British occupy Savannah Georgia. Was fought between local American Patriot militia, the Continental Army units holding the city and a British invasion force. A month later the British forces also sieze Agusta Georgia. -
Tappan Massacre
General enry Clinton sent General Cornwalis to draw ashington into battle and to create a diversion for a raid against a Patriot privateering base in southern New Jersey. 69 of the Americans there were either killed injured, or taken prisoner. -
Attempt to retake Savannah
The patioits fail to retake Savannah Georgia from the British under General John Ashe. Unfortunately the British General Cambell sent a counter attack which in return crushed the rebels. -
British Capture Charleston
The British attack begins against Charleston as warships sail past the cannons of Fort Moultrie and enter Charleston harbor. The patriots suffer a major loss.The Port was essential because it was where most of the goods came and were sent out. British win under General Cornwalis and General Henry Clinton. -
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold is appointed commander of West Point. Unknown to the Americans, he had been secretly collaborating with British Gen. Clinton since May of 1779 by supplying information on General Washington's tactics. -
Battle of Camden
Forces under General Heratio Gates are defeated by General Lord Cornwalis's British troops. 900 Americans were killed and 1000 captured in Camden South Carolina. After this heavy loss General Gates is replaced by Nathanael Greene. -
Battle of King's Mountain
American troops led by Isaac Shelby and John Sevier defeat British Major Patrick Ferguson and one third of General Cornwalis's Army. Ferguson refused to surender so he led a charge down the mountain and was killed in a hail of bullets. -
Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene known for forcing British general Charles Cornwallis to abandon the Carolinas and head for Virginia, was appointed Commander of the Southern American Army. Nathanael had risen from the lowest rank possible to commander. -
Battle of Cowpens
Patriot General Daniel Morgan overwhelmingly defeated British colonel Tarleton at Cowpens. It was a turning point in the reconquest of South Carolina from the British. General Morgan defied convention by placing his army between the Broad and Pacolet River, which made escape impossible if the army was routed. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles served as the written document that established the national government of the United States after it declared independence from Great Britain. It established a weak central government that mostly prevented the individual states from creating their own foreign diplomacy. -
Battle of Guilford Courthouse
Gen. Cornwallis suffers heavy losses in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina. Cornwallis then abandons plans to conquer the Carolinas and retreats to Yorktown and begins a campaign to conquer Virginia with an army of 7500 men. -
Siege of Augusta
General Nathanael Greene sent Andrew Pickens and Leitenaunt Colonel "Light Horse Harry" Lee to assist the Georgia Patriots in recapturing Augusta. The Loyalists finally surrendered after a two-week siege .This was a critical victory for the patriots. -
Treaty of Versailles
Britain made peace with France and Spain. Spain reclaimed Florida and France recieved a sugar island in the Carribean. The US benefits the most from the war. -
Siege of Yorktown
Cornwalis surrenders at Yorktown. The French cut off the British's escape by sea while patriot and french soldiers blocked escape by land. Washington feigned an assualt on New York city while he secretly marched his troops to Virginia. -
Lord North
Lord North resigns as British Prime Minister. The American war was lost, he argued that the colonies would have to be given their independence. George III stubbornly refused to accept North's resignation or relinquish his colonies. -
Preliminary Articles of Peace
Franklin insisted on British recognition of American independence and refused to consider a peace separate from France, America’s staunch ally. Franklin did agree to negotiations with the British for an end to the war. Joined by peace commissioners John Adams and John Jay, Franklin engaged the British in formal negotiations beginning on September 27, 1782. -
Treaty of Paris
Britain formally recognizes American independence and reliquishes it's claims to lands south of the Great Lakes regionand East of the Mississippi River. No seperate territory was given to the Indians. -
George Washington resigns
George Washington resigns as the Commander of the Continental army. George Washington exclaimed, "Having now finished the work assigned to me, I retire from the great theatre of action; and bidding an affectionate farewell to this august body, under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my commission, and take any leave of all the employments of public life." Later George Wahington is elected to be the firtst president of the US for two terms. -
Ordinance of Religious freedom
The Virginia legislature passes Jefferson's Ordinance of Religious Freedom guaranteeing that no man may be forced to attend or support any church or be discriminated against because of his religious preference. This later serves as the model for the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. -
Shay's Rebellion
The rebellers were the many farmer's that suffered from large debt as they tried to make new farms. Resembled patriot resistance to the Stamp Act. The riot Act was passed in order to stop the rebellions. -
Viginia Plan
The Virginia Plan was a scheme for powerful national governement devised by James Madison.Differed from the Articles of Confederation in that it rejected stat soveriegnty in facor of the "superemacy of national authority" and called for the national government to be created by tthe people not the states. Lastly, the plan proposed a different election method. -
The New Jersey Plan
Was a response to the Virginia Plan. Under the New Jersey Plan, Congress had the powers of setting and collecting taxes. Federal laws were supreme over state laws. It called for Congress to select an executive council, which would serve one four-year term, and which would be subject to recall by state governors. The judiciary would be appointed by the executive and would serve for life. Was presented at the at the Constitutional Convention. -
The Northwest Ordinance
The Second Continental Congress, chartered a government for the Northwest Territory, provided a method for admitting new states to the Union from the territory, and listed a bill of rights guaranteed in the territory. Provided an orderly way to settle America. -
US Constitution
US constitution provided a loose confederation of U.S. states, which were sovereign in most of their affairs. Congress had the power to govern foreign affairs, conduct war, and regulate currency, but in practice these powers were limited because Congress was given no authority to enforce its requests to the states for money or troops.
