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Lexington and Concord
The first battles within the Revolutionary War where open armed conflict occured between the Kingdom of Great Britain and it's thirteen colonies. The first shots were fired at Lexington as the sun was rising. Around 500 militiamen fought at the North Bridge in Concord and defeated three companies of the king's troops. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress came together on this day and was a reconvening of the First Continental Congress. This Second Continental Congress fought for independence and adopted the United States Declaration of Independence on July 6, 1776. Many of the 56 delegates who attended the first meeting attended the second and the same president, Peyton Randolf, was appointed to lead them again. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Leaders of the colonial forces learned that British generals were planning to send troops to occupy Breed's Hill and Bunker Hill. Colonial troops were lead by William Prescott and arrived at the hills before the British. When the British learned of the colonial forces new position, the next day, they attacked. The battle took place mostly on and around Breed's Hill. -
Declaration of Independence
This statement was adopted by the Continental Congress and it stated that the thirteen colonies regarded themselves as independent states. John Adams was one leader in the push for independence. Adams was able to persuade the committee to select Thomas Jefferson to compose the original draft of the document. -
Battle of Trenton
This battle took place during the American Revolutionary War after General George Washington crossed the Delaware. The Continental army had previously suffered several defeats in New York so the armies moral was low. Washington had devised a plan to cross the Delaware River and surround the Hessian garrison. 2,400 of Washington's men marched South to Trenton and caught the Hessian army off guard. Most of the Hessians surrendered and the Americans won the battle. -
Battle of Saratoga
This battle is generally regarded as the turning point in the war for American independence. This is the date of the second of two battles fought nineteen days apart on the same land. The first battle was a british victory but in the second battle the British surrendered in a decisive American victory. News of the surrendered ended in France and Spain joining the war on the American side. -
Winter at Valley Forge
Washinton's 12,000 men marched into Valley Forge ill-equipped, poorly fed, and weary from long marches. Only one in three of the men had shoes and winter's fury was on the way. The first proper hut was constructed in three days and another was built in a week. These huts stopped the moderate cold but the army still suffered with the shortages of food and supplies. -
John Paul Jones captures the Serapis
John Paul Jones was a Scottish sailor and became a naval fighter in the American revolution. Jones wanted to circle the British Isles while preying off of the British merchant ships. Jones intercepted the HMS Serapis and after a four hour battle he succeeded in capturing the ship. This was a signature victory for the Continental Navy. -
Battle of Kings Mountain
This was a battle between the Patriot and Loyalist parties in the southern campaign of the American War for freedom. The Patriot militia defeated the Loyalist militia which was being led by British Major Patrick Ferguson. This victory over the Loyalist militia greatly raised the morale of the Patriot militia. -
British Surrender at Yorktown
America declared its independence in 1776 but it took another five years to win freedom from the British, it was this day. This is the day where General Charles Cornwallis surrendered in Yorktown, Virginia. Cornwallis expected ships from the British army to bring more troops but they never arrived. This was lucky for Washington and the Continental army. -
Treaty of Paris Ratified
The signing of this treaty ended the American Revolutionary War. The war was ended between Great Britain on one side and the United States of America and its allies on the other. The United States was given its freedom from Great Britain and France, Spain, and the Dutch Republic had seperate agreements for assisting America in the war. -
Washington's Farewell Address
This was a letter written by the first president of the United States George Washington. His letter was written to "The people of the United States." Washington wrote the letter toward the end of his second term as the president. The letter warns Americans of the political dangers they must avoid to stay true to their values as Americans.
