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The Bttle of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were actually the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. The first shots were fired just as the sun was rising at Lexington. The militia were outnumbered and fell back. Other British colonists, hours later at the North Bridge in Concord, fought and defeated three companies of British troops.The outnumbered Birtish force retreated to Boston. This became known as "The shot heard 'round the world" -
The Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia
Between representatives from all colonies excluding Georgia, it was agreed that a continental army would be created. The Congress commissioned George Washington of Virginia to be the supreme commander.The Congress also authorized the printing of money. -
George Washington named Commander in Chief
Appointed by the Second Continental Congress, Washington is appointed commander and without pay. He is inexperienced but fit for the challenge of leading the continental army -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Americans ontop a hill, they waited until the British forces were 15 paces away, or until they could see the whites of their eyes. At first, the patriots were winning and caused Howe and his army to retreat. Te British rushed the hill in a second wave. And again they retreated, suffering a great number of casualties. By the third wave of British charged the hill, the Americans were running low on ammunition. The British capture the hill, but with great loss. -
Olive Branch Petition
Congress endorses a proposal asking for recognition of American rights, the ending of the Intolerable Acts in exchange for a cease fire. George III rejected the proposal. -
General Howe
After being sent to North America and leading the British to a costly victory in the Battle of Bunker Hill, Howe took command of all British forces in America from Thomas Gage. -
Paine's "Common Sense" published
Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. The plain language that Paine used spoke to the common people of America and was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain. -
Virginia Declaration of Rights
Written by George Mason, this document proclaimed the inherent rights of men, including the right to rebel against "inadequate" government. -
Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence
It is sent to the printers as well. It was written by Thomas Jefferson and passed by the second continental congress. -
Battle of Long Island
32,000 British soldiers forced Washington' s Continentals off of Long Island and onto Manhattan islands. The British gain control of the strategically important city of New York.This was the hardest loss for Washington, resulting in 1,200 american casualties. It was the largest battle in the entier war. -
Virginia and NC patriots rout Loyalist troops and burn Norfolk
After three days, most of the town had been destroyed, principally by the action of the Whig forces. The destruction was completed by Whig forces in early February to deny use of even the remnants to the British. -
Washington crosses the Delaware and captures Trenton from Hessians
On Christmas night, Washington planned to cross the Delaware and attack Hessian forces in the dead of night. They arived at 3am and his troops traveled 9 miles in snow, with poor clothing, and some without boots. America was victorious and nearly the entire Hessian force was captured. -
Battle of Princeton, New Jersey.
General Washington broke camp at Trenton to avoid a British advance, attacking the British rearguard and train near Princeton and then withdrawing to Morristown. Americans were victorious. -
The United States and France sign the French Alliance
The treaty provided for a defensive alliance to aid France should England attack, and that neither France nor the United States would make peace with England until the independence of the United States was recognized. -
British surrender at Saratoga.
Lacking supplies, 5,700 British, German and loyalist forces under Major General John Burgoyne surrender to Major General Horatio Gates in a turning point in the Revolutionary War. -
Washington's army retires to winter quarters at Valley Forge
This was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778. Many americans suffered from disease, starvation, and exposure killing nearly 2,500 American soldiers. -
British General William Howe replaced by Henry Clinton
He became the General for the British -
Spain declares war on Great Britain
In an effort to regain land such as florida, Spain declares war -
Charles Cornwallis
British General who in 1780 he inflicted a defeat on the American army at the Battle of Camden, though he surrendered his army at Yorktown. -
Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette
He was a young French nobleman who served as major general. He served with Washington in the Philadelphia campaign, fought in the Battle of Rhode Island. Washington despratly needed someone with intelligence of the British to train his armies and was very skilled at this. -
Articles of Confederation adopted
This was a document signed amongst the 13 original colonies that established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution. -
Battle of Yorktown
Yorktown, Virginia, was a decisive victory by a combined force of American Continental Army troops led by General George Washington and French Army. The siege proved to be the last major land battle of the American Revolutionary War, as the surrender by Cornwallis, and the capture of both him and his army, prompted the British government to negotiate an end to the conflict. -
Lord North resigns as British prime minister
The American Revolution became too much for Lord North, resulting in him resigning. He forever became to be remembered as the minister who lost America -
The United States and Great Britain sign the Treaty of Paris
This document ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain and the United States of America. Great Britian and the United States signed this treaty which also involved France, Spain, and the Netherlands and officially marked the end of the War of American Independence. This is also known as the Treaty of Versailles -
Washington resigns as Commander
Following the signing of The Treaty of Paris, Washington returns to his home. -
U.S. Constitution signed
It united people by not including race or gender, but humanity as a whole, begining with we the people. -
Ratification of the Constitution
When a bill of rights was proposed in Congress in 1789, North Carolina ratified the Constitution. -
Washington names Nathanael Greene commander of the Southern Army
He known for his successful command in the Southern Campaign, forcing British general Charles Cornwallis to abandon the Carolinas and head for Virginia.
