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Period: to
The American Revolution
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The French and Indian War 1756-1763
Military activity started in 1754, but it wasn't until 1756 that war was OFFICIALLY declared between Great Britain and France. http://www.philaprintshop.com/frchintx.html -
Quebec Military Campaign
As fate would have it, on September 13th , 1759 on the Plains of Abraham, Wolfe would fall mortally wounded next to the Louisbourg Grenadiers. A few days later, Quebec surrendered and the duty fell upon the Louisbourg Grenadiers to form the honour guard and first to enter the walls of Quebec. In his account, the Sergeant Major skips a day around the time of the battle of the Plains and records it incorrectly as occurring on the 14th of September. http://www.militaryheritage.com/quebec1.htm -
Treaty of Paris 1763
The Treaty of Paris, signed by France, Britain, and Spain after three years of negotiations, ended the Seven Years' War (or the French and Indian Wars) http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/treaty-of-paris-1763 -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists were in fury over tea tax that they dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston harbor. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/teaparty.htm -
First Continental Congress
The idea was first mentioned by Samuel Adams in September 1773, but Congress was held in 1774.
Congress first met up on September 5-October 26 1774. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/First_Continental_Congress -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
April 18: British slodiers began to march toward Lexington, MA from Boston. the Patriots formed the Minuemen, a militia group that had to be prepared to fight on a minute's notice. http://www.kidport.com/reflib/usahistory/AmericanRevolution/LexingtonBattle.htm -
Second Continental Congress
Second Continental Congress, First's successor, met up beginning May 10, 1775, after the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Second_Continental_Congress -
Creation of the Continental Army
On June 14, the Congress approved the creation of that army -- the Continental Army. The new force was made of those militiamen already gathered outside Boston -- some 22,000 of them -- plus those in New York, about 5,000. http://www.army.mil/article/40562/ -
Battle of Bunker Hill
This was fought on the Charlestown Peninsula north of the Boston Harbor, pitting Major Gen. Willaim Howe, Gen. Artemas Ward, and Gen. Israel Putnam.
It was 2,400 British troops vs. 1,500 Rebels. http://www.britishbattles.com/bunker-hill.htm -
Olive Branch Petition
The union between our Mother Country and these Colonies, and the energy of mild and just Government, produce benefits so remarkably important, and afforded such an assurance of their permanency and increase, that the wonder and envy of other nations were excited, while they beheld Great Britain rising to a power the most extra-ordinary the world had ever known. http://ahp.gatech.edu/olive_branch_1775.html -
"Common Sense" Published by Thomas Paine
Published in 1776, 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. http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/ -
Signing of the Declaration of Indepence
When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected the with another and to assume power on earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/ -
Battle of Trenton 1776
Meeting with his officers, General George Washington proposed a surprise attack on the Hessian garrison at Trenton for December 26. For the operation, he intended to cross the river with 2,400 men and march south against the town. This main body was to be supported by Brigadier General James Ewing and 700 Pennsylvania militia which were to cross at Trenton and seize the bridge over Assunpink Creek to prevent enemy troops from escaping. http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/americanrevolution/p/Am -
Battle of Princeton 1777
Washington did not want to put a negative spin on the so far victorious venture by ordering Cadwalader to retreat, and so crossed the river once again and joined the two commands together on the 29th of December. By this time Cornwallis had arrived at Princeton, New Jersey with 8,000 troops. http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/battledetail.aspx?battle=15 http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/battledetail.aspx?battle=15 -
Battle of Saratoga
Burgoyne was in a perilous position. He was perilously short of food. His imperative orders to march south restrained him from remaining where he was, retreating northwards or diverting to the East. It took until 13th September 1777 to assemble sufficient supplies, dragged through the forests down rudimentary roads, to continue the advance. http://www.britishbattles.com/battle-saratoga.htm -
Valley Forge
The winter of 1777-8 was the low point of America's struggle for independence. Forced to live in damp, crowded quarters, Washington's army of approximately 12,000 suffered from a lack of adequate clothing and food. However, as time progressed, a transformation occurred. Under Washington's inspired leadership, conditions improved for the continental army http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/valleyforge.htm -
Battle of Savannah
The American commander Brigadier General Robert Howe of North Carolina, with only 700 men, made a feeble attempt to defend the city. But with troops in their rear, the American defense was broken. With the loss of well over 550 men, and all the artillery, Howe was forced to retire into South Carolina. http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/battledetail.aspx?battle=22 -
Battle of Yorktown
Losing his grip on the Carolinas, Cornwallis marched his army into Virginia and seized Yorktown and Gloucester, towns on each side of the York River.
With the arrival of the French fleet of Admiral De Grasse, General Washington was able to march south from New York with the joint American and French army to attack Cornwallis. http://www.britishbattles.com/battle-yorktown.htm
