-
Battle of Lexington/ Concord
The British soldiers marched into Lexington and Concord planning to take away the weapons of the colonists. But, their actions started the first battle of the Revolutionary War. The war was significant because it marked the start of the American War of Independence. -
Battle of Fort Ticonderoga
On May 10, 1775, Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen teamed up with each other to take on the British troops. When the attack happened soldiers were still sleeping. The battle was small but it was a big factor of the final outcome of the Revolution. It gave the Continental Army a strong and important morale boost through the development of the conflict. It supplied the army with guns to later on be used in Boston to defend the city. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
New England soldiers faced the British army for the first time in a battle that took place throughout a hilly landscape of fenced pastures that were situated across the Charles River from Boston. In the end, the British emerged victorious. -
Common Sense
Common Sense is a pamphlet that advocated for independence for the American colonies from Britain. It is considered one of the most influential pamphlets in American history. Thomas Paine is telling the people that independence is the only answer. -
Siege of Boston
The Siege of Boston lasted from April 19th, 1775 to March 17, 1776. Militiamen, who later became part of the Continental army, successfully ambushed British-held Boston, Massachusetts. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was the first formal statement by a nation’s people. It is a document that says that the people of a country have the right to choose their own government. -
Battle of Long Island
The Battle of Long Island started the British campaign to take control of New York. This helped isolate New England from the rest of the colonies.The British Army defeated the American Continental Army led by General George Washington. -
Washington Crosses the Delaware
General George Washington believed that crossing the Delaware River on Christmas Day 1776 would help the American Revolution succeed. The army suffered a lot of hardship during the war. -
Battle of Trenton
The Hessian army was defeated in a battle near Washington, D.C. American troops were excited by this victory and felt confident about their ability to fight against the British. -
Battle of Princeton
The victory at Princeton helped the Patriot cause turn things around during one of their darkest hours. The defeats in the 1776 New York Campaign and the retreat across the Delaware River had left the American independence movement in danger. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the Revolutionary War. The American advantage over the British boosted the morale of the patriots, stocked up further hopes for independence. This helped secure the support of foreign allies needed to win the war. -
Winter at Valley Forge
This lasted until June 19, 1778. The severe winter of 1777-1778 was a great test for the American army, and the 11,000 soldiers stationed at Valley Forge. Hundreds died of the disease. However, the troops were held together by loyalty to the Patriot cause and loyalty to General Washington, who stayed with his men. -
Treaty of Amity and Commerce/ Treaty of Alliance
The Treaty of Amity and Commerce recognized the United States as an independent nation and allowed for increased trade between France and the United States. The Treaty of Alliance created a military alliance against Great Britain, in order for America to gain its independence. -
Battle of Charleston
Charleston was a great success for the British in the War. This was the largest surrender of American troops in combat until the 1862 surrender of Union troops at Harper's Ferry during the Antietam Campaign. The surrender did not leave a large army in the south, and the colonies were wide open to the British advance. -
Battle of Springfield
The British were able to advance in New Jersey early in the Revolutionary War, but they were forced to withdraw when rebel forces arrived, this resulted in a Continental victory. The battle effectively ended British ambitions in New Jersey. This was one of the last major engagements in the North of the American Revolutionary War, effectively ending British ambitions in New Jersey.As the war's decisive battle moved further south, the Battle of Springfield became known as the "Forgotten Victory". -
Battle of Camden, SC
The British defeated the American forces led by Major General Horatio Gates near Camden, South Carolina. Which strengthened the British hold on the Carolinas after they captured Charleston. The Battle was a clear victory for the British. It was a devastating American defeat and left the British in control of the southern colonies. -
Battle of Cowpens
The Battle of Cowpens was fought near Thicketty Creek, South Carolina, on a 500 square yard grazing pasture. The battle happened early in the morning on a cold day. The British army lost, and this ended a brief period of success for the Crown in the southern colonies. -
Battle of Kings Mountain
The battle was a major victory for the patriots after the British invasion of Charleston, South Carolina. It pitted Loyalist militia elements under the command of British major Patrick Ferguson against 900 patriots. The British's effort to secure Loyalist support in the South was a failure. Thomas Jefferson called the battle "The turn of the tide of success.". -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was a decisive victory for the American Revolution, signaling the end of British rule in the colonies and the birth of the United States of America. The British suffered great losses during a three-week siege, eventually surrendering to the Continental Army and their French allies. This final battle of the American Revolution led to negotiations for peace with the British and the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. -
Treaty of Paris
The treaty, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolution and recognized the United States as an independent nation. The treaty between France and Britain ended the conflict by giving up all of France's land in mainland North America. This eliminated any potential military threat to the British colonies there.