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Stamp Act
The stamp act was a tax on non-essentials, such as paper and printed documents. It also taxed playing cards and legal documents. This made colonists upset, and it was repealed on March 18th in 1776. Link -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occurred when redcoats guarding a safehouse were provoked by a mob of colonists. The colonists threw rocks and snowballs at the redcoats, as well as taunting them. This resulted in the redcoats firing at the colonists, causing 3 immediate deaths, and 2 later.
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Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a protest against the tea tax. The Sons of Liberty, dressed as natives, dumped taxed tea into the Boston harbor. (https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-tea-party) -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
British wanted to take colonist's weapons at Lexington, colonists retreated. In Concord, colonists fought back and caused a British retreat. This was the first real conflict of the Revolutionary War. This shows asymmetry on the American side, because they used the bridge at Concord to their advantage, and didn't move as big lines. (https://www.ducksters.com/history/battle_of_lexington_and_concord.php) -
Battle of Bunker(Breed's) Hill
British forces marched to Breed's hill, first and second attacks resulted in a retreat. However, by the third attack, the colonies had run low on ammunition and the British captured the hill. (https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battle-of-bunker-hill) This shows symmetry from the British side, as they used their traditional lines and war plans to capture the hill, taking advantage of their resources and amount of men. -
Common Sense
Common Sense was a pamphlet published by Thomas Paine. It outlined why the colonies should be free from British rule. It was written in a way that many people could understand, and helped sway the public opinion on freedom. (https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thomas-paine-publishes-common-sense) -
Declaration of Independence
An official document stating intent for freedom from Britain, and outlined what our rights would be as a free, separate nation. (https://www.ushistory.org/declaration/) -
Battles of Trenton and Princeton
At the Battle of Trenton, Washington took out Hessian forces before retreating. He then drew their forces south and made a night attack to capture Princeton. This helped the colonies regain New Jersey and improved morale in the troops. This was asymmetrical because the colonies made sneak attacks and used untraditional, unpredictable battle tactics. (https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battles-of-trenton-and-princeton) -
Battle of Saratoga
The British ordered three armies to meet in Albany, but only one made it there. First, the Americans ended up retreating, but the British lost so many men they couldn't make it to Albany. Later, British troops tried to wait for more reinforcements, but their troops were running out of supplies, and on October 18th, the British troops surrendered.
This is asymmetrical, because the British plan failed to work.
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Continental Army wintering at Valley Forge
George Washington's army had been marching for a long time and was low on food, sickly, and cold. This army included about 11,000 men. During their stay at Valley Forge, the men were trained and drilled on military strategy by Prussian officer Frederick van Stueben. (https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/continental-army-enters-winter-camp-at-valley-forge) -
War in the South/Charleston
During the war in the south, the British captured many coastal cities. The continental army then made Cornwallis retreat to the coast. This shows symmetry because the British captured towns using their navy and traditional warfare. (https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/americans-suffer-worst-defeat-of-revolution-at-charleston) -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the last official battle of the revolution. American forces surrounded the British forces stationed in Yorktown and attacked them until they ran out of supplies. The British finally surrendered. This was asymmetrical because the Americans used the land to their advantage, and didn't just stand in lines and attack the British. (https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/siege-of-yorktown)
