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Battle of Lexington and Concord
Brittish soldiers were ordered by General Gage to capture Samual Adams and John Hancock in Lexingron, and then move onto seize the gunpowder in Concord. However, American spies leaked the Brittish's plan to the colonial leaders, giving the Americans time to hide their gunpowder and warn their minutemen. Paul Revere and other colnials rode horseback to inform the countryside that the "Brittish are coming". -
Second Continiental Congress
The Patriot leaders met in Philidelphia to discuss how they would meet the threat of the Brittish. John Adams suggested that they create the Continental Army which George Washington will lead. At this meeting the congress started to turn into a government-- authorizing the printing of money, and conducting relations with foriegn governments. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Despite their loss, the colonial forces inflicted a significant amount of casualties against the Brittish. This boosted the confidence of the patriots becuase they were inexperienced and they heavely damaged the Brittish army. This battle resulted in the Brittish of the Charelston Peninsula. -
Olive Branch Petition
This was the colonies last plea for representation. It was instituted by John Dickenson at the first Continental Congress for George III. -
Burning of Norfolk
Lord John Murray Dunmore orders a British naval fleet of six ships to sail up the James River and into Hampton Creek to attack Patriot troops and destroy the town of Norfolk, Virginia. the Patriots and militia pushed the British back to their ships. Facing an embarresing defeat at the hands of an outnumbered local militia, Captain Squire ordered a full British retreat. -
Common Sense
"Common Sense" advocated independence for the American colonies from Britain and is considered one of the most influential pamphlets in American history. This pamphlet is credited by being the ideas that turned a public squable into the American Revolution. -
Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge
American forces defeated the British. The victory ended British authority in North Carolina and provided an important boost to Patriot confidence. Within two months of the American victory North Carolina became the first colony to vote in favor of independence from Britain. -
Virginia Decleration of Rights
This bill proclaims the inherent rights of men, including the right to rebel against "inadequate" government. This document was written by George Mason. All people are born with an equality of natural rights and that government power is derived from the people. -
Decleration of Independence is Written
Mostly written by Thomas Jefferson, the Decleration of Independence was the official document that declared the American's fight for independence. It sparked the French Revolution and was one of the 3 essential founding documents of America. -
Battle of Long Island
The battle was part of a British attempts to gain control of New York and thereby isolate New England from the rest of the colonies. It was led by General Howe who was ordered by Lord North. Brittish won and only lost 400 soldiers while America lost 2,000. Washington’s defeat could have led to the surrender of his entire force, but his ingenuity allowed him to escape and continue the fight. -
Pennsylvania Constituition
This constitution created a one house legislature with complete power. It also created provisons like education and citizen protection. it was alarming to some because it was very democratic. -
Hessians Capture Fort Washington
A force of 3,000 Hessian soldiers sieged Fort Washinton on Long Island. By the afternoon the Patritots surrendered. Three thousand Americans were taken prisoner, and valuable ammunition and supplies were lost to the Hessians. -
Battle of Trenton
Washington’s men and cannons crossed the icy river in boats and began the 19-mile march towards Trenton in a freezing storm. After fighting for only one hour, the Patriots defeated the Hessians. -
Lafayette arrives in Philadephia
The 19-year old French aristocrat, Lafayette, sails into South Carolina. He later travels to Philidephia where he will serve as Washington's second in command, free of charge. -
Battle of Saratoga
British General John Burgoyne achieved a small, but costly victory over American forces led by Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold. Though his troop strength had been weakened, Burgoyne again attacked the Americans at Bemis Heights on October 7th, but this time was defeated and forced to retreat. He surrendered ten days later, and the American victory convinced the French government to formally recognize the colonist’s cause and enter the war as their ally. -
Howe's Philidelphia Campaign
General Howe wanted to stop the rebellion by capturing the home of the Continental Congress. While he succeded in taking Philidelphia--a long mission where he sailed up the Chesapeake instead of traveling by land-- the Continental Congress escaped to the country side. -
Valley Forge
Washington along with 11,000 men and 500 woment and children, camped at Valley Forge for the winter. The lay of the land made Valley Forge a natural fortress. The army's camp sat high on a plateau at the top of a series of hills that protected it. Valley Forge was close enough to the capital of Philadelphia for the Continental Army to keep an eye on the British and prevent any surprise attacks on settlements in the countryside. -
Treaty of Alliance
The Treaty of Alliance was the defensive alliance between France and the United States of America, formed in the midst of the American Revolutionary War, which promised military support in case of attack by British forces indefinitely into the future. France made their decision to agree on the alliance after the Patriot win at Saratoga. It also gave the French the West Indies. -
Brittish Abandon Philidephia
After almost nine months of occupation, 15,000 British troops under General Sir Henry Clinton evacuate Philadelphia, the former U.S. capital.The British position in Philadelphia became untenable after France's entrance into the war on the side of the Americans. To avoid the French fleet, General Clinton was forced to lead his British-Hessian force to New York City by land. -
Patriots leave Valley Forge
After the French join the war and the British leave Philidelphia, Washington abandoned Valley Forge on June 19 by crossing the Schuylkill River and setting up camp a mile away. -
Spain Declares War on Great Britian
The American Revolution had already spawned a world war between the two international powers of Britain and France. Spain's entry into the war ensured that the British would have to spread their resources even thinner. -
French Troops Arrive in Newport Rhode Island
6000 French soldiers under Count de Rochambeau arrive at Newport, Rhode Island. They will remain there for nearly a year, blockaded by the British fleet. -
Articles of Confederation Adopted
The Articles of Confederation was the first written constitution of the United States. Under these articles, the states remained sovereign and independent, with Congress serving as the last resort on appeal of disputes. Congress was also given the authority to make treaties and alliances, maintain armed forces and coin money. However, the government lacked the ability to levy taxes and regulate commerce. -
French fleet drives British Naval Forces from Chesapeake Bay
The British and French Naval Fleet fired canons at eachother at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. it was dire that the French beat the British so that the royal navy could not help its ground forces at Yorktown, Virginia. -
Battle at Yorktown
General George Washington, commanding a force of 17,000 French and Continental troops, begins the siege known as the Battle of Yorktown against British General Lord Charles Cornwallis and a contingent of 9,000 British troops at Yorktown. After three weeks of non-stop bombardment, both day and night, from cannon and artillery, Cornwallis surrendered to Washington in the field at Yorktown on October 17, 1781, ending the War for Independence. -
Preliminary Peace Treaty
The preliminary articles of peace were signed by Adams, Franklin, Jay, and Henry Laurens for the United States and Richard Oswald for Great Britain, that Britian accepted American independence. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris, negotiated between the United States and Great Britain, ended the revolutionary war and recognized American independence. The Continental Congress named a five-member commission to negotiate a treaty–John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Laurens. -
U.S. Constitution is signed
The U.S. Constitution established America’s national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens. At the 1787 convention, delegates devised a plan for a stronger federal government with three branches along with a system of checks and balances to ensure no single branch would have too much power. The Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution in 1791. -
U.S. Constitution is adopted
A compromise was reached under which Massachusetts and other states would agree to ratify the document with the assurance that amendments would be immediately proposed. The Constitution was thus narrowly ratified in Massachusetts, followed by Maryland and South Carolina. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the document, and it was subsequently agreed that government under the U.S. Constitution would begin on March 4, 1789.
