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Stamp Act
The British implied a tax on all paper documents on the colonies in 1765. The colonists were angry and thought that the act was unconstitutional. They resorted to mobs and boycotts on newspapers to get the act repealed. Parliament repealed the act in 1766 but issued the Declaratory Act to assure their authority to make laws that seem fit. It was asymmetrical because the British wanted the colonists to pay the tax but they did not and revolted against it. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/9b.asp) -
Boston Massacre
A group of British men who came to support a sentry of a reckless crowd of colonists let loose shots killing 3 and 2 later from wounds. Capt. Thomas Preston was the British officer and was arrested for manslaughter. Eight of his men were arrested. It is asymmetrical because the British's goal was to try to calm down the wild group but do not harm anyone, but they did. It is remembered as a key event in helping galvanize the colonial public. (http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/bostonmassacre.htm) -
Tea Tax
The Tea Act of 1773 was to bail out the floundering East India Company and not to raise revenue from the colonies. The British granted a monopoly on the importation and sale of tea in the colonies. The colonists did not agree with the tax and the constitutionality of the duty on the tea. It is asymmetrical because the colonists resisted the tax and culminated in the Boston Tea Party on December 16,1773. (https://www.landofthebrave.info/tea-act.htm) -
Lexington/Concord
On April 19, 1775 British troops came across 77 militiamen at Lexington. The militiamen were called to retreat after the first shot. The British then went to Concord to find arms. They then started burning buildings and the militiamen thought they were going to burn the whole town. They called reinforcements to fight back. It is asymmetrical because the British did not think that the militiamen were going to fight back in the way they did. (http://www.historycentral.com/Revolt/Lexington.html) -
Bunker (Breed's) Hill
The British decided to attack Bunker Hill and the Americans tried to defend it. The Americans had a limited supply of ammunition and only fired at the British when they were in very close range. The British realized that their tactics of shooting up the hill was not working so they had to gather themselves, but eventually the American's ammunition ran out forcing them to retreat. It is symmetrical because the British forced the Americans to retreat.(http://www.ushistory.org/us/11d.asp) -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine published his pamphlet "Common Sense" which set forth his arguments in favor of American Independence. It is considered to be one of the most influential pamphlets in American History. It was credited by using political leaders and average citizens to back up his idea of independence. It is asymmetrical because the idea of the pamphlet was to turn against the ruling of the British and become independent states. (http://totallyhistory.com/common-sense-pamphlet/) -
Declaration of Independence
A five-man committee was tasked with drafting a formal statement of the colonies' intentions. With the war taking place the colonies were fighting for their rights as subjects of the British crown. In March 1776, North Carolina's revolutionary convention became the first to vote for independence, seven colonies followed suit by May. It is asymmetrical because the colonists fought against the British and fought to break apart from them. (http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html) -
Battle of Trenton/Princeton
Washington led troops across the Delaware on Christmas 1776 and won two crucial battles. On December 26 Washington defeated a garrison of Hessian mercenaries in Trenton. He then executed a march on January 3 to capture Princeton. The victories gave the Americans control of New Jersey and improved the moral of the army. It is asymmetrical because Washington showed that he could use soldiers from all of the colonies and not just his formal army. (http://www.britishbattles.com/battle-trenton.htm) -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga was a crucial battle for both sides. The British decided to attack the Americans who were between them and Albany. Both armies clashed and in mop up operations the Americans captured 86 of British forces in the area. The battle was very important because it gave France the confidence to enter the war as allies with the Americans. It is symmetrical because it was a fair and normal battle for both sides.(http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battle-of-saratoga) -
Continental Army wintering at Valley Forge
George Washington and his men occupied Valley Forge which was very harsh in conditions and very select few supplies. The location is located 22 miles from British occupied Philadelphia. They trained there and tried to survive through the cold winter. It is symmetrical because both the British and Americans decided to take a break on the war because it is not ideal to battle in the winter.(http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/valleyforge.htm) -
War in the south/Charleston
The Americans suffer from their greatest defeat in the south and Charleston to the British. Major General Benjamin Lincoln gave an unconditional surrender to British Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton. The British captured more than 3,000 Patriots and a great quantity of munitions and equipment. It is asymmetrical because it was unexpected for the British to go so far south. Charleston was also the commercial town of the south. (http://www.myrevolutionarywar.com/battles/800401-charleston/) -
Battle of Yorktown
George Washington leads 17,000 both French and Continental troops. They faced General Lord Charles Cornwallis with his 9,000 troops at Yorktown, Virginia. After 3 weeks of non-stop war Cornwallis surrendered to Washington on October 17, 1781. It is symmetrical because the ending of the war also basically ended the War for Independence which was what the Americans were fighting for. In result of the war peace negations began to take place. (http://www.britishbattles.com/battle-yorktown.htm)
