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First Continental Congress
During the First Continental Congress 56 delegates from all the colonies except Georgia and drafted a declaration of rights. They also elected Virginian Peyton Randolph as the first president of Congress. The British had responded to the Boston Tea Party and other acts against taxation and oppression by passing the Intolerable Acts. They set martial law in Massachusetts, closed Boston Harbor, and forced colonists to quarter British troops. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
Hundreds of British troops marched from Boston to Concord. Paul Revere and others sounded the alarm, and the untrained colonial militia began to move in on the British. They all stood still then someone, and nobody really knows who fired, and it is now known today as the "shot heard round the world". Immediatly after the British were quickly withdrawing under intense fire.For the Colonist 49 were killed, 39 were wounded. For the British, 73 were killed, 174 were wounded. -
The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga served as an important place of access to both Canada and the Hudson River Valley, it also provided key artillery for the Continental Army. Benedict Arnold joined Ethan Allen and his men(The Green Mountain Boys) defeated the sleeping British in a dawn attack on the fort, surprising and capturing them. This was the first rebel victory of the Revolutionary War and no men were killed and all of the British were captured. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress president was John Hancock, who replaced Peyton Randolph. They sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III of Britain, an appeal to peacefully resolve differences between the colonists and the crown. In addition, they discussed how they would finance the war. After independence was declared, the congress talked alliances with France to secure support and loans. Lastly they printed money and in July 1776, formally approved the Declaration of Independence. -
Bunker Hill Battle
The British won Battle of Bunker Hill, and Breed’s Hill and the Charlestown Peninsula was under British control. They lost strategic positions, but the battle built their moral proving to the inexperienced Americans that patriotic dedication could top British military might. The high price of victory at Bunker Hill made the British realize that the war with the colonies would be long, tough and costly. 268 British were killed 828 were wounded, 115 Americans were killed and 305 wounded. -
The Second Continential Congress
The Second Continental Congress was presided over by John Hancock, who replaced the ailing Peyton Randolph -
Battle of Quebec
The American forces advanced on Quebec in the early morning. The British defenders were ready, however, when Montgomery’s forces approached the city, the British opened fire with lots of artillery and musket fire. Montgomery was killed in the first assault, and after several more attempts at weakening Quebec’s defenses, his men were forced to retreat. 1,200 Americans participated in the battle, 400 plus were captured, wounded or killed, while British casualties were minor. -
The Battle of Brooklyn or The Battle of Long Island
General William Howe's large army landed on Long Island, hoping to capture New York City and gain control of the Hudson River. Howe failed to listen to the advice given to him at Brooklyn Heights, and on August 29 General Washington ordered a retreat to Manhattan by boat, saving the Continental Army from capture. At the Battle of Brooklyn, the Americans suffered 1,000 casualties to the British loss of only 400 men. The Continential Amry won this victory dividing colonies in half. -
Fort Washington
In the morning, General Wilhelm von Knyphausen had resistance from the Patriot riflemen inside the fort, but the Patriots became overwhelmed, and the garrison commander, Colonel Robert Magaw, surrendered. About 3,000 Patriots were taken prisoner, and valuable ammunition and supplies were lost to the Hessians. The many prisoners would later face death from deprivation and disease aboard British prison ships anchored in New York Harbor.
There were 53 dead and 96 wounded Patriots. -
The Battle of Trenton
General George Washington part of his army to the highlands of the Hudson. With the other part of the army he made the dangerous treck across New Jersey to the Delaware River. The soldiers marched on to their spots which was at Hessian garrison at Trenton.The Hessians attempted to form in the town but were under fire and attack from front and rear. The Americans shot them down. Hessians troops rushed to an orchard where they surrendered. The British forces, 105 killed/wounded and 906 captured. -
Battle of Brandywine
British troops of 18,000 split into two separate divisions, with Howe attacking from the front and Cornwallis attacking from the right. The Americans slowed the British, but they would soon be surrounded. Surprised along with outnumbered Washington ordered his men to leave and retreat. With a loss, the Continental Army marched north and camped at Germantown, Pennsylvania. Brandywine cost the Americans 1,100 men killed or captured while the British lost 600 men killed or injured. -
Battle of Saratoga(330 Americans killed or wounded, 7,363 British were killed, wounded or catured.)
The two Battles of Saratoga were battles that turned around the American Revolution. On September 19th, British General John Burgoyne achieved a small, victory over American forces. The strength of his troops weakened, but he attacked the Americans again at Bemis Heights, ignoring orders which could've cost him the battle. This time they were defeated and forced to surrender ten days later. The victoy convinced the French to finally realize that the colonist knew what they were doing somewhat. -
Battle of Cowpens: end of the paragraph-(The estimated casualties for the British were 110 dead, more than 200 wounded, and 500 taken prisoner; compared to only 12 killed and approximately 60 American soldiers wounded.)
After the British won in Charleston and Camden, General Nathanael Greene, commander of the Continental Army’s Southern section, decided to divide Patriot troops in the Carolinas in order to force the large sized British led by Cornwallis to fight them on multiple fronts. This was because smaller groups of men were easier for the Patriots to surround. Brigadier General Daniel Morgan took 1,000 riflemen and militiamen with the intention of attacking the British backcountry fort. -
Yorktown
Cornwallis chose Yorktown for his base. Washington realized that it was his chance to make a move. He ordered American army of 5,000 troops to block Cornwallis and escape from Yorktown by land. The French fleet would block the British and escape by sea. Washington had surrounded Cornwallis and Yorktown with the Continental and French troops by By September 28. The Patriot victory at Yorktown ended fighting in the American colonies. 252 Americans, 635 British were killed or wounded.
