Revolutionary War and Declaration of Independence

  • George Washington

    George Washington was the commander of the colonial army, and later became the first U.S. president.
  • The Battles of Lexington and Concord

    The Battles of Lexington and Concord marked the start of the Revolutionary War.
  • Second Continental Congress

    The second continental congress was the second government body of the US, which was made after the first one failed. Its role in the Revolutionary War was organizing the colonial army.
  • The Battle of Bunker Hill

    The Battle of Bunker Hill was one of the earlier battles of the Revolutionary War. The British won, but it gave the colonial army a confidence boost because of the amount of damage they inflicted on the enemy.
  • Olive Branch Petition

    The Olive Branch Petition was colonist's last try at making peace with England. They said they were loyal to the crown, but demanded that their rights as British citizens should be respected.
  • Thomas Jefferson

    Thomas Jefferson was one of the founding fathers, and was responsible for writing the Declaration of Independence.
  • Declaration of Independence

    The Declaration of Independence was the official document that said the colonists wanted independence.
  • Trenton

    At the The Battle of Trenton, the Americans easily defeated the English troops. This is significant because the easy win gave confidence to the American soldiers.
  • Valley Forge

    Valley Forge was a turning point in the Revolutionary War. While there, George Washington managed to turn the American soldiers--who at the time were battered and exhausted--into a unified army that became strong enough to defeat the English.
  • Princeton

    The Battle of Princeton was another battle that the Americans won.
  • Saratoga

    At the first Battle of Saratoga, the Americans lost. At the second Battle of Saratoga, which happened 18 days later, the British troops were forced to retreat, and then later surrender. After this battle, the French finally recognized the colonist's caused and became their ally in the war.
  • France

    France was an ally of the Americans under the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. The treaties were an agreement between the French and the American colonists which said that if England broke the peace with France, the French would support the Americans in the war against Britain.
  • Spain

    As an ally of France (and indirectly, an ally of the Americans), Spain declared war on England, gave supplies to American troops, and paid for the final siege of Yorktown.
  • Cowpens

    The Battle of Cowpens was a turning point in the Revolution because of the amount of casualties inflicted on British troops.
  • The Battle of Yorktown

    The Battle of Yorktown was the final battle in the Revolutionary War where the English surrendered.
  • Treaty of Paris 1783

    The Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War.