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Paul Revere’s ride happened on April 18, 1775, when he rode at night to warn colonists that British troops were coming. His warning helped the militias prepare for the battles of Lexington and Concord. -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord, fought on April 19, 1775, marked the opening conflicts of the American Revolutionary War. These skirmishes between colonial militia and British troops sparked the colonies’ fight for independence. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill, fought on June 17, 1775, was an early Revolutionary War clash near Boston. Although the British won the ground, they suffered heavy losses, proving the colonial militia could fiercely resist and boosting American morale. -
The Declaration of Independence was created in 1776 by the Continental Congress, primarily drafted by Thomas Jefferson, to formally announce the American colonies’ break from British rule. It outlined the colonies’ reasons for seeking independence and asserted their right to self-governance. -
Thomas Paine wrote The American Crisis series beginning in late 1776 to inspire and encourage American colonists during the darkest days of the Revolutionary War. His famous opening line, “These are the times that try men’s souls,” rallied support for the fight for independence. -
The Crossing of the Delaware River took place on the night of December 25–26, 1776, when General George Washington led the Continental Army across the icy river in a surprise attack against Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey. This bold maneuver resulted in a crucial American victory that boosted morale during the Revolutionary War. -
The Battle of Trenton, fought on December 26, 1776, was a pivotal American victory during the Revolutionary War where George Washington’s forces launched a surprise attack against the Hessian garrison in Trenton, New Jersey. This victory revitalized the Continental Army’s morale and strengthened the American cause. -
The Battles of Saratoga, fought in September and October 1777, were a turning point in the American Revolutionary War where American forces defeated the British in upstate New York. This victory helped secure French support for the American cause, greatly boosting the chances of independence. -
The Battle of Philadelphia, fought in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War, was a significant British campaign aimed at capturing the American capital, Philadelphia. British forces successfully occupied the city, but the Continental Army’s resistance prevented a decisive victory, prolonging the conflict. -
The Winter at Valley Forge (1777-1778) was a harsh and difficult period for the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Despite freezing conditions, food shortages, and disease, the troops emerged stronger thanks to training and discipline improvements led by General Washington and Baron von Steuben. -
The Battle of Yorktown in 1781 was the last major fight of the Revolution, where American and French forces trapped the British, forcing their surrender and securing American independence. -
The Treaty of Paris, signed in 1783, officially ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain and the United States. It recognized American independence and established borders for the new nation, marking a major milestone in U.S. history.