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In The Evening Paul Revere Learns Of The Plans Of The British To Go To Lexington And Concord To Capture Military Stores
And Begins His Ride To Warn The Americans. Midnight That Night The British leave Boston under cover of darkness for Lexington and Concord. -
Early That Morning Both Commanders Of Lexington And Concord Later Said They Had Given Specific Orders Not To Shoot Unless Fired Upon.
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{Three Weeks After Lexington/Concord} Americans Took Fort Ticonderoga, New York and Crown Point, Benedict
Arnold and Ethan Green were leaders. The Taking Of The Cannon From This Fort Was Instrumental In Giving The Americans Much Needed Firepower Particularly In The Later Chasing Of The British From Boston. -
{Two months after Lexington/Concord} The rebels attempt to rid Boston of the English fails at Bunker Hill, near Boston, but at a great cost to the British, in terms of men lost. The English will occupy Boston until March, 1776. This is the battle
where the command "Don't shoot till you see the whites of their eyes." became famous. June 1775 the Congress established the Continental Army as well as a continental currency. -
Congress still can't quite come to declare independence,
but they appoint a commander-in-chief of their armed forces: George Washington. The appointment of George Washington was largely the idea of John Adams, and was as much as a way of "luring" the southern colonies into the independence movement, as it was out of respect for George Washington as a military leader. -
Benjamin Franklin's son, William Franklin, governor of New Jersey, who is placed in jail for his refusal to back the rebel cause and his loyalty to the crown. And There Are Also Areas In The Unite States and also Family's That Are "broken-up" Because feelings of citizens about rebelling against the Crown.
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Benedict Arnold's attack on Quebec fails, in a battle that could have gone either way, "if only" this or "if only" that. If the
Americans had won this battle, Canada would have most likely become a part of the United States. -
The English hire 29,000 German Hessian mercenaries.
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Thomas Paine writes "Common Sense", a work that unites many Americans in the Revolutionary cause; gives it the
Revolution a cohesive meaning. -
British abandon Boston, thanks to General Knox bringing the English cannon obtained after the victory at
Ticonderoga. -
Finally, after a year of fighting the Continental Congress formally declare the independence of the colonies from Britain.
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On the morning of July 5, copies were dispatched by members of Congress to various assemblies, conventions, and committees of safety as well as to the commanders of Continental troops. Also on July 5, a copy of the printed version of the approved Declaration was inserted into the "rough journal" of the Continental Congress for July 4. The text was followed by the words "Signed by Order and in Behalf of the Congress, John Hancock, President. Attest. Charles Thomson, Secretary."
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Richard Henry Lee introduces resolution beginning: "Resolved: 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." Congress goes into recess for three weeks, turning the job of drafting the declaration to the "of drafting the declaration to the "Committee of Five".
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The Declaration of Independence is passed by 12 of the 13 colonies, New York abstaining. Congress spends much of
the next two days making refinements and making plans for its distribution to citizens and to the soldiers in the field. -
30,000 British troops arrive at New York. These troops will now lead to a series of defeats of the colonists in some of the
darkest days of the war. -
Americans defeated at Battle of Long Island.
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Americans defeated at Battle of Harlem Heights.
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Benedict Arnold was "technically" defeated at Lake Champlain in the Battle of Valcor Island, but he gives the
rebe's valuable time by delaying the English march down the Hudson. The English being delayed decide to wait till the following year to follow-up their efforts to regain Fort Ticonderoga. The English, in the following year, will meet defeat at Saratoga. -
The Americans retreat from White Plains
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The Hessians capture Fort Washington, NY
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Lord Cornwallis captures Fort Lee from Nathanael Greene
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Washington crosses the Delaware and captures Trenton from Hessians
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Benedict Arnold's troops force a British retreat at Ridgefield, Connecticut.
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Treaty of DeWitt's Corner, SC: Cherokees lose most of their land east of the mountains.
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Lafayette arrives in Philadelphia
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British General Howe lands at Head of Elk, Maryland
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The British win the Battle of Brandywine, Pennsylvania
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Rain-out at the Battle of the Clouds, Pennsylvania
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Americans was driven off at the Battle of Germantown
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Burgoyne surrenders to American General Gates at Saratoga, NY
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British capture Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania
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Washington's army retires to winter quarters at Valley Forge
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The United States and France sign the French Alliance
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Spain declares war on Great Britain
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The Tappan Massacre ("No Flint" Grey kills 30 Americans by bayonet)
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British crush Americans at Waxhaw Creek, SC
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Patriots defeat Tories at Hanging Rock, SC
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Washington names Nathanael Greene commander of the Southern Army
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The Battle of Cowan's Ford, Huntersville, NC
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British and Americans sign preliminary Articles of Peace
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British leave Charleston, SC
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Congress ratifies preliminary peace treaty
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The United States and Great Britain sign the Treaty of Paris
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British troops leave New York City
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Washington resigns as Commander
