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War breaks out
The first shots of the revolutionary war are fired at Lexington and concord in Massachusetts. The news of the bloodshed rockets along the eastern seaboard, and thousands of volunteers converge on Cambridge, mass. These are the beginnings of the continental army. -
Americans hold their own at the battle of bunker hill
In the first major action of the war, inexperienced colonial soldiers hold off hardened British veterans for more than two hours at breeds hill. Although eventually forced to abandon their position.