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Battle of Lexington and Concord
First shots fired between American and British troops, on April 19, 1775. The British chose to march to Concord because it was an arms depot. British troops had occupied Boston and were marching on Concord as they passed through Lexington. No one is still sure who fired first, but it was the "Shot Heard 'Round the World." Both sides opened fire, and the Americans were forced to withdraw. The weapons depot was saved, and the British were forced to retreat, harassed by militiamen along the way. -
The Second Continental Congress Meeting
The Second Continental Congress met in 1775, when the Revolutionary war had started. Things were going badly, and the armed forces were disorganized. The Continental Congress created the Continental Army and named George Washington as commander-in-chief. The Congress continued through the summer. Out of the discussions came the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Marines Corps. -
Patriots seize Fort Ticonderoga
American forces led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold capture Fort Ticonderoga in New York. The fort contains a much needed supply of military equipment including cannons which are then hauled to Boston by ox teams. -
George Washington named Commanded in Chief
The Continental Congress offered Washington the role of commander in chief of the Continental Army. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Americans had occupied Breed's Hill in Charlestown on June 16, 1775, in order to protect the shipyard of nearby Boston. The next day, the British attacked. They took the hill but suffered heavy losses. The Americans fired until they were out of ammunition, then quickly retreated. To conserve ammunition, Prescott told his men, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" -
Olive Branch Petition
The Continental Congress adopts the Olive Branch Petition which expresses hope for a reconciliation with Britain, appealing directly to the King for help in achieving this. In August, King George III refuses even to look at the petition and instead issues a proclamation declaring the Americans to be in a state of open rebellion. -
Skirmish at Kemp's Landing
British victory. 8 Patriots captured, seven killed—five in battle and two drowned crossing a creek. Only one British soldier suffered a minor wound. -
Patriots occupy Montreal in Canada
Patriots under Montgomery occupy Montreal in Canada. Start of the Canada invasion. -
Battle of Quebec
General Arnold and General Montgomery failed an invasion attempt of Canada. The Americans were forced out of Canada and it was the last attempt by the Americans to get the Canadian population on their side. American loss to capture Quebec. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense is published
In Common Sense, Thomas Paine argues for American independence. His argument begins with more general, theoretical reflections about government and religion, then progresses onto the specifics of the colonial situation. Convinces colonists to long for independence from Britain. -
Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge
The Battle of Moore's Creek, though seemingly small and insignificant, convinced North Carolina to instruct its delegates the Second Continental Congress to vote for independence from Great Britain. That victory as well as the one at Sullivan's Island drove off Britain's attempt to subdue the rebellion in the South until around 1780. -
France allies with the Americans
France promises to covert aid to the Americans against the British. -
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British fleet arrives in New York
A massive British war fleet arrives in New York Harbor consisting of 30 battleships with 1200 cannon, 30,000 soldiers, 10,000 sailors, and 300 supply ships, under the command of General William Howe and his brother Admiral Lord Richard Howe. -
The Battle of Sullivan's Island
The Battle of Sullivan's Island is the first time during the American Revolutionary War that Patriot troops successfully defended against a British sea and land invasion.The city of Charleston in South Carolina dealt primarily in commerce, having the busiest port in the colonies. When the war broke, they joined the rest of the colonies in preparing their city for battle and building up the city's defenses. -
Continental Congress issues the Declaration of Independence
On July 4, 1776, Congress voted to approve the Declaration of Independence; a document that declared America independent from the reign of Britain. -
Battle of Long Island
\U.S. forces were forced to retreat to Manhattan, then New Jersey. However, their defensive tactics proved to be highly successful against the British. -
The Battle of White Plains
The Battle of White Plains was a battle in the British campaign to take New York and New Jersey. It was a British victory. -
The Battle of Fort Washington
Major patriot loss, Patriots started to lose hope in winning the war. -
Battle of the Trenton
The victory of the Battle of Trenton encouraged the Americans to push ahead in the fight for independence. Even though this was a great victory for them, they could not yet move on. They were forced to withdraw because of the many prisoners they held captive, to strengthen their troops for future battles, and because they did not have any provisions to with which to journey. The important thing was that they made it home with boosted spirits, now knowing that independence was not impossible. -
Battle of Princeton
The Battle of Princeton was one more gritty, brave victory for the Americans, won on sheer determination and a bit of George Washington ingenuity.
British led by cornwalis -
Battle of Saratoga
The Patriots surrounded General John Burgoyne and his men. The British tried to break out but failed. He surrendered his entire army to the Americans. This battle sucured the foreign aid Americans recieved in the American Revolution. -
Valley Forge
Military camp in Valley Forge Pensylvania, where George Washtington stayed during the winter between 1777and 1778. Starvation, disease, and cold killed over 2500 American soldiers. This lowered American moral greatly. -
Ratification of Articles of Confederation
The for mal ratification by all 13 states, provided the ability to deal with Native American realtions and diplomacy with Europe -
Battle of Yorktown
The French and American troops and the French fleet surrounded general Cornwallis at Yorktown. The British surrendered to George Washington. This battle ended the American Revolutionary War. -
Treaty of Versailles
Signed at the same time as Treaty of Paris, Britain made peace with France and Spain, Spain gained back Florida, and France recieved land in the West Indies -
Treaty of Paris
Formaly ended the war, forced British to recognize America as an independent nation, and give up all land claims south of the Great Lakes and east of the Misissippi -
Philadelphia Convention
Addressed the problems with the Articles of Confederation. Create a new government rather than fix the old one, George Washington elected as leader. -
US Constitution Is Signed
Members of the Constitutional Convention sign the ss Constitution, and after many months of debate and changes it was submitted to the states for ratification -
The Federalist Papers
A collection of 85 articles written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. They stressed the importance of a large republic ruled by majority rule -
Ratification of the Constitution
This officially makes the Constitution part of the United States government.
