KGreensword By bailey.lyle5 1775 Battle of Lexington and Concord 1775 Second Continental Congress meets 1775 George Washington named commander of Contental Army 1776 Thomas Paine publishes “Common Sense” 1777 Contentals defeat British at battle of Saratoga 1777 Continental Army camps at Valley Forge for the winter 1781 Articles of Confederation adopted 1783 Treaty of Paris signed