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The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to resolve the conflict with the English; the delagate voted to boycott British goods, and prepare for a fight.
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Colonists chose sides. Patriots fought for their independence. Declaration of Independence ignored many colonists, and women weren't given equal rights. Some slavery was abolished.
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British general disarmed the Boston militia (minute-men), the Sons of Liberty learned of their plans and warned the colonists the British were coming.
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Representatives from the 12 colonies met in Philadelphia for Second Continental Congress; elected George Washington to command the Continental Army.
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Colonel Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen took the British Fort Ticonderoga in New York; the colonials were low on ammunation.
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General Washington builds an army. After the British offered freedom to ensalved Africans who fought for them, the Continental Army allowed free African Americans to join.
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Aggressive Patriots launched an attack on British settlements in Canada but were defeated in Quebec.
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Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called Common Sense that argued for breaking away from Great Britian.
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Thomas Jefferson, with the help of others, drafted the Declaration of Independence.
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The British also drove the Continental Army out of New York
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The Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. The United States was born.
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Washington and 2,400 soldiers crossed the Delaware River. They suprised the British with a huge victory in the Battle of Trenton, Washington pushed on the victory in the Battle of Princeton.
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After the British suffered a defeat in Saratoga, France and Spain agreed to help the Americans; the foreign aid was critical.
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The harsh winter of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, killed more than a fifth of Washington's soldiers
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George Rogers Clark built a frontier army while weakening the British. He captured British settlements and convinced American Indians to stay out of war. British enjoyed several major victories.
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American navy sank 200 British ships even though they had less ships.
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After the southern army was defeated, Patriots continued fighting using guerrilla warfare. But the army's morale took a blow when Benedict Arnold turned traitor.
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Peace negotiations begin.
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Washington planned a combined American and French attack on Yorktown. After a weeks-long siege, the British were defeated.
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Treaty of Paris officialy ended the war, it set new boundaries and forced the British to recognize the United States of America.
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The colonists really only had one strenght at the beginning of the war, they really believed in the cause that they fought for. The British however had more money, more resources, a professional military, and the world's largest navy. However being outgunned and outmanned the colonists still won the war.
