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Boston Massacre
An incident between British soldiers and colonists in Boston killing 5 and wounding 6 men. -
Boston Tea Party
70 men boarded Boston ships and threw their tea cargo in the sea. It was a protest. -
Sugar Act
The Act established a Vice, Admiralty Court in Halifax, Nova Scotia to hear smuggling cases without jury and with the presumption of guilt. -
Convocation of the First Continental Congress
Delegates from 12 colonies met at the First Continental Congress to discuss how to react to the Intolerable Acts. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The British governor of Massachusetts sent several hundred British troops to seize the colonists’ military stores at Concord. -
Adoption of the Declaration of Independence
The Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence which formally proclaimed the 13 colonies as independent. -
Battle of Trenton, New Jersey
The battle was a resounding physical and moral victory for Washington and his American troops. -
The Battle of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga that were fought on the same grounds on September 19 and October 7 marked the turning point of the American Revolution and encouraged France to openly support the Americans against Britain. -
Surrender at Yorktown
The British commander Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis realized that he did not have a slightest chance against the Franco-American army and tried to escape. But his attempt failed. On October 19, 1781, Lord Cornwallis accepted the terms of surrender. Armed hostilities continued but with the Surrender of Yorktown, the American War of Independence was practically over. -
SIgnature of the Treaty of Paris
The British Empire accepted defeat against its former colonies and recognized independence of the United States of America. The Treaty of Paris also set the boundaries of the United States.