-
First Continental Congress meeting
Meet in Philedelphia -
Coercive Acts
Congress opposes the Coercive Acts and says they are “not to be obeyed” -
Declaration and Resolves
Create the Declaration and Resolves to oppose the Coercive Acts and other attempts to undermine the British control, while also defining the rights of the colonists -
Continental Association
Continental Association is adopted by Congress where they agree to boycott imports from the British, put an embargo on exports to Britain, and stop use of slave trade -
State of War
Parliament declares Massachusetts to be in a state of war -
"Give me liberty or give me death!"
Patrick Henry gives speech against British rule, saying the famous line, "Give me liberty or give me death!" -
New England Restraining Act
New England Restraining Act is made by King George III, attempting to force the colonies to only trade with England -
The Midnight Ride
Paul Revere makes his famous ride with William Dawes after 700 British soldiers are ordered by General Gage to destroy the colonist’s weapons in Concord. Revere and Dawes ride from Boston until midnight, when they reach Lexington and warn Sam Adams and John Hancock -
"Shot Heard 'Round the World"
The “shot heard round the world” is let loose in Lexington to set off the American Revolution. Roughly 70 Americans faced off the 700 British and the unordered shot from the British started the war. 8 Americans die and 10 are wounded. The British then continue on to destroy the weapons in Concord -
Washington for Commander-in-Chief
Washington is elected unanimously to become general and commander-in-chief of the new Continental Army -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill where 2000 British troops attack the Americans. The Americans are told not to fire until they can “see the whites of their eyes”. This technique works until the Americans run out of ammo and are forced to defend themselves with rocks and bayonets. The British take the hill, but lose half of their forces, the colonists losing about 400, including General Joseph Warren -
France and Spain support colonies
King Louis XVI of France gives one million dollars worth of weapons and ammunition. Spain then also promises support for the colonies -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is signed, giving colonists a better feeling about the war and more hope -
Siege of New York
Two British warships open fire on NY City, starting the siege of the city. In August, over 400 British ships mass off the shore of the city, with 32,000 soldiers -
Battle of Long Island
General William Howe leads 15,000 soldiers against General Washington for the Battle of Long Island. Washington suffers a severe defeat as his army is overpowered. His army then retreats across the river to Manhattan and avoids large battles after that -
General John Burgoyne's March from Canada
Under General John Burgoyne, a British force of 7700 men come from Canada, hoping to join General Howe and cut off New England from the rest of the colonies.
Colonists begin to take out officers, a new style of warfare which was unheard of before this time. It is seen as offensive to the British, but helps the colonists because it leaves the footsoldiers without a commander, causing chaos on the other side. -
General Burgoyne's Surrender
General Burgoyne surrenders and he and his troops are taken to Boston after swearing to never fight against the Americans again. The troops are then sent from Boston back to England. News of the American victory spreads through Europe and gains the support of many European countries, giving the colonies much needed assistance in the war, with France also recognizing America as independent -
Articles of Confederation
Congress creates the Articles of Confederation, giving the colonies a new government that they can agree on for themselves -
Treaty of Alliance and Treaty of Amity and Commerce
Treaty of Alliance and Treaty of Amity and Commerce were signed with France (in Paris). These stated that France now officially saw the United States as their own being and France would help the States until they had complete independence from Britain. Neither France nor the United States would make peace with England until the independence of the United States was recognized universally. -
Baron Von Steuben of Prussia
Washington sets up quarters for a hard winter at Valley Forge.
Baron Von Steuben of Prussia arrives and helps the soldiers at Valley Forge gain sanitization, war tactics, and outlooks on the war
Von Steuben created a draft of one hundred and twenty men, deciding that he would try a new method of training them in his own military school. He would drill them twice a day, and would often take the musket himself to show the troops the maneuvers, which was mainly unheard of at that time. -
Baron Von Steuben
“In our European armies a man who has been drilled for three months is called a recruit ; here, in two months I must have a soldier.”
He took away maneuvers that were considered “nice to look at” and made every maneuver taught something that could be used in battle.
Von Steuben forced the officers to use his method and the numbers of men increased dramatically -
Smallpox Outbreak
To fight the outburst of smallpox in the soldiers, Washington had his surgeons take the pus from a sickly patient and put it in cuts on a healthy patient, giving the immune system time to combat it, which the airborne part of the disease didn't give the patient, allowing roughly 49 of 50 soldiers to survive the infection process -
Quote from Lieutenant Colonel L. Fleury on Von Steuben
"At 6 am, the division is ordered to parade in squads of 8, & drilled in marching. A non-commissioned officer marches at their right, giving time & step, & drills them in marching w/ and w/o music or drums. Drill lasts 2 hours. At 9 am they are taught movements for after the use of arms. At 12, instruction is given to non-commissioned officers. At 3 pm, drilling like the morning ; at 6 pm, meeting of the adjutants for instruction in maneuvering & emphasis in giving the word of command." -
Quote from A. Scammel on Von Steuben
“To see a gentleman, dignified with a lieutenant general's commission from the great Prussian monarch, condescend, with a grace peculiar to himself, to take under his direction a squad of 10 or 12 men in the capacity of drill-sergeant, commands the admiration of both officers & men, & causes them to improve exceedingly fast under his instructions." -
France declares war against Britain
France declares war against Britain, which is a huge help for the colonies because it gains them a large navy to assist against the British navy -
Spain declares war against Britain
Spain declares war against Britain, but does not make an alliance with the colonies -
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold is appointed commander of West Point. He has been a spy for the British since May 1779, giving General Clinton word of Washington’s plans, while the Americans had no idea -
Count de Grasse to Chesapeake Bay
A letter from French Admiral Count de Grasse tells General Washington that they are sailing towards Chesapeake Bay towards General Cornwallis, causing Washington to leave his attack on New York and rush to Yorktown, Virginia -
Count de Grasse arrives at Yorktown
Count de Grasse arrives at Yorktown and works with Lafayette and his troops to cut off any escape by land for General Cornwallis -
Blockade via sea of Yorktown
Count de Grasse’s fleet defeats the British fleet in the Chesapeake and form a blockade to stop escape from Yorktown via sea -
Siege of Yorktown begins
Siege of Yorktown begins, with over 17,000 men on the United States side and only 9,000 on the British side. Supplies for the British are running low at this point -
White Flag of Truce
British send up a white flag of truce and Cornwallis and Washington work out terms of surrender -
House of Commons votes against further war
House of Commons votes against further war in America since it was so costly and they have lost so much already. -
England ends hostilities
England officially ends hostilities between themselves and America
