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His Famous speech that roused the American People
"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!" -
Paul Revere rides around the towns informing the people that the "British are coming"
Because of this, the townspeople were ready when the british came and they got the chance to hide their weapon stashes -
the second continental congress meets in Philedelphia
drew up olive branch petition which begged George 3 to restore peace
divided by those that wanted war and those that did not -
AKA the shot heard around the world
was the first shot fired of the revolution -
Washington is annointed leader of the continental army
this decision will lead to the success of the revolutionary war
George washington is chosen for this position because he is a well known and respected man -
American forces under benedict arnold fail to seize quebec
Mainly because they have a stuck up general -
Paines' common sense was published
this was a draft written to persuade the american people to use "common sense" throughou the revolutionary war
also was meant to give people an idea of why, what they were fighting for as well as why they were trying to gain independence from britain -
The British evacuate Boston
british moves to Halifax, Canada -
The Virginia Declaration of Rights is established
Meant to proclaim the inherent rights of men, including the right to rebel against "inadequate" government. -
Patriots decisively defeat the british navy
this happened at fort Moultrie, South carolina -
Congress debates whether or not the declaration will prove to the british of their independence is the real deal
they make finishing touches on the declaration, perfecting it -
congress adopts the Declaration of Independence
this is sent to be printed and later on to be signed by the delegates -
Delegates begin signing the declaration
this is a huge deal because it finalizes the patriots commitment to independence
if the war is lost, they will all be hung -
Redcoats defeat washington at battle of long island
in the dead of night, during a very bad storm, washington gets himself and 5000 men and weapons to safety despite being surrounded -
The british occupy new york
after washingtons escape, the british wake up, ready to fight, only to find that their enemies had vanished -
Generals George Washington, Nathaniel Greene hold their ground at the battle of Harlem Heights, surrounded on all sides
shows how much the americans kicked ass -
Benedict arnold and his men are defeated at the battle of valcour island, aka Lake Champlain
Significant because they delayed the british advancement -
The British army’s dramatic success in New York and New Jersey in 1776 was, arguably, predictable given its overwhelming size and skill. The sudden defeat at Trenton and the ten days of chaos that followed was not expected, and preserved American military will. “It is now announced in our general orders, to our inexpressible joy and satisfaction, that the scene is in some degree changed, the fortune of war is reversed, and Providence has been pleased to crown the efforts of our commander-in-chie
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Washington is victorius at the battle of princeton
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Benedict arnolds men force a british retreat at bridgefield connecticut
significant beacause this is one of the first times the british are forced to retreat -
Often disregarded as a minor action, the British failure to take this major seaport forced the war’s focus to be primarily in the north for the next several years. “Nothing, therefore, was now left for us to do but to lament that the blood of brave and gallant men had been so fruitlessly spilt.”
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British General Howe lands at Head of elk, Maryland
significant beacuse this is one of washingtons nemesis, and a general that will has no idea the war that washington will bring with inexperienced untrained non professional troops -
Burgoyne loses second battle of Freemans Farm NY
this battle is part of the battles at saratoga -
It wasn’t so much any single battle but the failure of the British campaign from the north that made this the war’s most significant military turning point. The surrender of a British army encouraged France to openly join the conflict. “Thus ended all our hopes of victory, honour, glory
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This failed American campaign, often overlooked as insignificant, not only stopped American military momentum gained from Saratoga and the recovery of Philadelphia, it showed that alliance with France would not bring a speedy end to the war. The northern theater remained in a stalemate for the rest of the war. “There never was a greater spirit seen in America for the expedition, and greater disappointment when Mr. Frenchman left us.
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The annihilation of loyalist militia on the South Carolina frontier forced the British to revise their southern strategy and demonstrated that their overextended forces could be defeated in detail. “The destruction of Ferguson and his corps marked the period and the extent of the first expedition into North Carolina… the total ruin of his militia presented a gloomy prospect at the commencement of the campaign.
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This sudden defeat of a substantial British force stopped British offensive momentum in the south and renewed the spirits of American forces, initiating the campaign that brought the war to an end. “I was desirous to have a stroke at Tarleton… & I have given him a devil of a whipping.”
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Not a pitched battle but a protracted siege that ended in the surrender of a substantial British army, this operation was the zenith of French-American cooperation and the end of major British military operations in America. “The annals of history do not exhibit a more important period than the present.”
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On this day in 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis formally surrenders 8,000 British soldiers and seamen to a French and American force at Yorktown, Virginia, bringing the American Revolution to a close.
