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Struggle in the Colonies
The colonies were experiencing a lot of trouble due to unfair taxation, lack of representation in the British parliament, and the restriction of colonial freedoms: even so, less than one-third of the colonists really wanted independence from Britain. -
Outbreak of the Revolutionary War
British troops known as "red coats" were coming to search for weapons in Concord by secretly crossing the river to Charles town. In Lexington, Massachusetts, 70 armed citizens known as Minutemen, confronted the redcoats as they marched toward the Concord. By the time the battle of Lexington and Concord was over, 250 british soldiers and 90 americans have been killed or wounded. -
The Second Continental Congress Begins
A few weeks after the outbreak of war, representatives from the thirteen colonies formed the Second Continental Congress that would serve as an emergency government throughout the war. -
The Battle at Bunker Hill
The battle at Bunker Hill was the second and bloodiest battles of the war. American militamen constructed a crude dirt fort at night on top ofa hill in Charlestown overlooking Boston's harbor. British started shelling the fort from ships in the harbor and from land batteries in Boston. Charlestown was burning. Americans didn't start firing until they could see "the whites of the enemies eyes." British had more soldiers than the Americans. At the end the British won but lost twice as much people. -
Washington Take Command in Boston
About a month after the American defeat at Bunker Hill, General took command of the militas around Boston. He had a plan to drive the red coats from the city if Britain refused to accept America's offer of peace. When he learned the King had declared war on all the colonies, Washington went into action. As Washington gave orders to have cannons rought in from far-off Fort Ticonderoga, American troops invaded British Canada but were defeated when they tried to capture the city of Quebec. -
The Declaration of Indepence
During the beggining of summer in 1776, Thomas Jefferson and four others were busy writing the Delclaration of Independace. The document stated that all men are born born certain god-given rights and are created equal. It described all the rights that Brtitain had taken away the rights of the colonists. They also declare that America must be independant to form a new, democratic, nation. On this day, the United States of America was born, -
The Battle of Trenton
The Americans crossed the Delaware River and then attacked the Hessians. The Americans went into colonists homes and shot at them from inside. The Hessians surrendered and the Americans won the battle. -
The Battle of Princeton
The Americans decided to return to Trenton,but the British were coming to stop them half way. They tried to force the Americans back so they could claim more land for themselves. The Americans did not give in. They were smarter and they won the battle. -
The Battle of Yorktown
British troops reached Yorktown, Virginia. TheBritish set up camp on the outskirts of Yorktown, positioned their weapons, and built walls and trenches while they waited for more troops and supplies to ship over from New York. Meanwhile, Washington got 5,000 French troops and him and his army marched down to Virginia. A French fleet battled and stopped the ships from getting to the British so now they were trapped and outnumbered. After so much shelling the British surrendered. -
The End of the War
A peace treaty was approved in which Great Britain formally recognized the independence of the United States of America. It officially ended this dreadfully long war.
