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Headed for Concord
Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott rode out to spread the word that 700 British troops were headed for Concord. -
Battle of Lexington
Kings troops "red coats" reach Lexington, Massachusetts that's five miles away from Concord.
As American troops were departing, someone fired from their musket which led British soldiers to send multiple shots into the opposite militia. This was the first battle of the Revolutionary war, and it lasted only 15 minutes.
Soon after, the British tried going back to Boston but instantly became a slaughter. Many British soldiers fell, while remaining soldiers went to Boston that same night. -
What's next?
The leaders of the colonies called the second Continental Congress in Philadelphia to decide what their next move was. Some wanted independence while others simply wanted to reconcile with Britain. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The battle of Bunker hill was the deadliest battle in all of the Revolutionary war. Thomas Gage, a British general, sent 2400 British soldiers up hill Breeds Hill, near Bunker Hill.
Colonists held their fire until the last minute, but eventually lost 450 of their own men. Over 1000 British soldiers were either injured or killed in this battle. -
King George III rejects petition
The Congress presented an Olive Branch petition stating that they wanted a "former harmony" (peace) between Britain and the colonies in which the King rejected.
Instead, he made a proclamation stating that the colonies were in rebellion and wanted Parliament to block and isolate the line of ships from the US Coast. -
Review on Common Sense
Common Sense is a book written by Thomas Paine that said America would be able to trade more freely with Indepence.
Washington wrote "I find Common Sense is working a powerful change in the mind of many men," as a review. -
Urge for governments in colonies
In the early summer of 1776, the Continental Congress urge the colonies to for their own government. -
Colonies have a right to be free?
Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia claimed that "these united colonies are, and of a right ought to be, free and independent states."
He then held a committee to prepare the Declaration of Independence. -
The unanimous vote
Delegates from the committee voted unianimously that the colonies should be free. -
Declaration of Independence adopted
The Declaration of Independence was adopted; the colonists now had to fight for their freedom from Britain. -
The garrison of hessians defeated
Washington led 2,400 men in rowboats and went across the Delaware River. Then, they marched to Trenton, New Jersey where they defeated the German troops in a surprise attack. -
British captures capital
The British capture the capital of Philadelphia. -
Burgoyne surrenders
Americans surrounded John Burgoyne, a man who planned to lead an army and meet British troops to isolate New England from the colonies.
After finding out that the troops weren't coming to help fight the colonists because they were holding Philadelphia, he surrendered at Saratoga. -
Alliance between France and America
France and America both signed an alliance (Paris Treaty) and the French openly joined Americans in their fight against the British. -
Treaty of Paris
Delegates signed the treaty of Paris which confired the United States independence.
The US stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River and from Canada to Florida Border. -
Months pay for troops
Since Robert Morrison became superintendant of finance, the US troops were able to get their first full one month's pay in Specie (coins). -
French and US surround British
17,000 French and American troops begin to surround the British in Yorktown and started to bombard Corwallis and his people. -
Cornwallis surrenders
America shocks the world after Cornwallis surrenders, and when they finally defeat the British.
