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The Shot heard 'round the world
The official beginning of the revolutionary war the shot heard 'round world took place in Lexington, Massachusetts. A fleet of about 700 British soldiers were trying to mess up the Patriots supplies they ended up moving them to a safer location. Since the Patriots were outnumbered they were forced to retreat, but they soon returned regrouped and were able to push the British back. Thus commencing the War for independence. -
Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys seize Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga was a strategic high ground and Allen knew that so he lead a malitia to the fort. The Commander of the garrison was so surprised by this he gave up and no battle broke out. The Capturing of the fort made it so the British couldn't divide the southern and England colonies and not having that seperation made it harder for the British to defeat the colonies. Thus giving the colonies a fighting chance. -
George Washington named commander in Chief
Even though Washington was in the French and Indian War when given the job he said, "I am truly sensible of the high Honor done me in this Appointment… I do not think myself equal to the Command I am honored with." Which is him saying he doesn't think he can lead because he doesn't know how to lead. In reality he was great at leading and gave the Patriots stronger will to win. Washington also knew how weak the British military could be so he trained his military to hit them where they were weak. -
Battle at Bunker Hill
There were three atmepts by the British to take the hill from the Americans. The first 2 tries were brutal and the British suffered many cassulties, but on the 3rd try the Americans were running low on ammo and they hand fought instead. The british lost/injured about 1,054/2,300 soldiers during that fight, but they ended up siezing the hill and claiming it for themselves. Lieutentant J. Waller reported on the battle and said, "We gained a complete victory, and entrenched ourselves that night." -
British Incite Slaves
The Congress wanted to exclude blacks from further enlistment, but the British offered them freedom if they fought for them. So the Americans didn't enforce the enlistment rule and in doing so many Africans gained their freedom by fighting on either side. Slaves/Africans played a huge role in the revolutionary war, there were over 5,000 free slaves that fought in the continental army alone. -
Olive Branch Petition
This was adopted by the second Continental Congress and it was sent to King Goerge III to prevent full on war. The petition said this, "experienced, by an enlargement of the dominions of the Crown, and the removal of ancient and warlike enemies to a greater distance." Meaning they didn't want war, but they also didn't to be opressed by the crown. -
Thomas paine publishes Common sense
It was the first work to ask for independence from Great Britian. It used language that all Americans could understand and it challenged the monarchy and British Government. -
Draft of the Articles of Confederation by John Dickinson,
In the document he called the new country the United States of America. The document also said that there should be a Congress with representation based on population, and gave to the national government all powers not designated to the states. The creation of this document brought forth a weak central governemnt and prevented the other colonies from making their own policies. -
Lord Cornwallis captures Fort Lee from Nathanael Greene
Cornwallis gained Fort Lee for the British. He and his troops forced Washington's men out of New York. This helped The British gain more land ultimatley hurting the Patriots. -
Washington Crosses the Delaware River
This was an unconventional way of fighting, Washington had his troops sneak up on the unsuspecting Hessian troops. It wasn't the most strategic of wins they'd ever had, but after a long losing streak it raised the spirits of the American colonists ad they all believed they could still win. -
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Washington winters in Morristown, NJ
Staying in one place during the winter helped Washington get supplies easier, it had better protection and it also helped keep his men healthy. Since there weren's so many deaths due to the harsh winters there were more troops to continue fighting. -
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Americans repulse British at Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania
The British tried to do sneak attacks on the Americans, but the Americans had spies and they knew about it before it happened. Spies gave the Americnans a strategic upperhand. After 3 days the BRitish kind of gave up and both Militaries went their seperate ways to find shelter for winter -
The United States and France sign the French Alliance
Created a Military alliance between the United States and France. France gained British deafeat while Americans gained protection from the French. It was strange that France and America were allies considering they used not like eachother because of the French and Indian war and now they were working togehter to bring down Great Britain. -
The red coats occupy Savannah
About 3600 troops surprise attacked American forces that were trying to protect Savannah, Savannah remained under British control after the attack. -
Patriots Andrew Pickens and Elijah Clarke beat Loyalists at Kettle Creek, GA
The Patriots killed the loyalist's leader, the the rest of the loyalists were in diseray after that and it made it a lot easier to take them down. -
Newtown, NY, after two massacres, American forces burn Indian villages
The Iroquis sided with Great Britian so the American army went in there and took them out so that they could reach the British army more efficiecntly. This is different from other battles like the that took place a Bunker hill, because they actually planned it out and told the Iroquis they were coming for them. It's similar to the Bunker hill battle in that there was a tremendous amount of bloodshed. -
British rout Americans at Camden, SC
The Battle was a major victory for the British just like the battle at Bunker hill. They didn't lose as many troops as they did at bunker hill, but just like bunker hill they gained more territory for themselves. The more they gained the more strategic they could be with their land. -
Mutiny of unpaid Pennsylvania soldiers
Soldiers rebelled because they weren't being treated the way they should've been treated. The big problem with them beginning a rebelion is that the president in Pennsylvania at that time thought that it would spread and there would be no troops left to fight. This Domestic event only took place outside a small pub in Pennslvania -
Articles of Confederation adopted
The articles of confederation were finall ratified in all 13 colonies after 16 months Maryland finall agreed to adopt it. The confederation begins with, “To all to whom these Present shall come, we the undersigned Delegates of the States” Meaning they were all coming together as one. -
British and Americans sign preliminary Articles of Peace
The article was a draft of the Treaty of Paris, which formally ended the American Revolutionary War. The Articles of Peace provided American independence from the British and established geographical boundaries for the new nation. Though this was signed it still had yet to be ratified. -
Congress ratifies preliminary peace treaty
The ratification of this brought them one step closer to finally ending the revolutionary war. 5 Months later on September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed by representatives of the United States, Great Britain, Spain and France, officially bringing an end to the Revolutionary War. It also formalized Great Britain’s recognition of America’s independence. -
U.S. Constitution signed
The constitution set out rules a regulations for the new nation. It also stated all the rights and liberites of the people. It also helped set up government in the colonies. -
U.S. Constitution adopted, when New Hampshire ratifies it
New Hampshire was the 9th state to ratify the constitution making the vote 9/13 so they could now officailly adopt it. They suggested changes like, "Congress shall never disarm any citizen, unless such as are or have been in actual rebellion." Thats pretty much saying citizens have just a s much rights and don't need to be treated any different unless they do something to deserve so.