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Paul Revere’s Ride took place on the night of April 18, 1775, and was a key event leading up to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. Paul Revere, a Boston silversmith and member of the Sons of Liberty, made a midnight ride from Boston to the countryside to warn colonial leaders and militias that British troops were marching toward Lexington and Concord. -
These battles marked the outbreak of open armed conflict between the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain. British troops were sent from Boston to seize colonial weapons and arrest revolutionaries like Samuel Adams and John Hancock, but colonial militias confronted them, leading to a series of skirmishes. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill, fought mainly on Breeds Hill on June 17, 1775, was an early and significant battle in the american revolutionary war. Colonial forces inflicted heavy casualties on the British, repelling two assaults before running out ammunition and being overtaken on the third assault. Though a loss for the colonists, it proved their determination and the high cost the British would pay in war. -
In 1776, the American colonies decided to declare independence from Britain. A committee—including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin—was tasked with writing the declaration. Jefferson wrote the first draft, explaining the colonies’ right to freedom and listing grievances against King George III. -
During the darkest days of the American Revolutionary War, in late 1776, Thomas Paine wrote a series of pamphlets called The American Crisis to inspire and rally the colonists. The first pamphlet famously began with the words, “These are the times that try men’s souls,” capturing the struggle and uncertainty the revolutionaries faced. -
On the night of December 25–26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington led his Continental Army across the icy Delaware River in a surprise attack against Hessian forces stationed in Trenton, New Jersey. The crossing was dangerous due to harsh winter weather and strong currents, but Washington’s bold plan succeeded. -
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. After crossing the icy Delaware River the night before, General George Washington led his Continental Army in a surprise attack against Hessian mercenaries stationed in Trenton, New Jersey. -
The Battles of Saratoga, fought on September 19 and October 7, 1777, near Saratoga, New York, were a crucial turning point in the American Revolutionary War. These two engagements—the Battle of Freeman’s Farm and the Battle of Bemis Heights—were part of a British campaign led by General John Burgoyne, who aimed to divide the American colonies by advancing south from Canada to isolate New England. -
The Battle of Philadelphia was a frontier conflict during the American Revolutionary War, fought near present-day Ohio. American militia fought against Native American tribes allied with the British. The battle was part of efforts to control the Ohio territory and weaken British influence on the western frontier. It ended with the American militia pushing back the Native forces. -
The winter at Valley Forge was harsh, marked severe shortages, diseases, and exposure for the continental army. Despite immense suffering, it was also a period of transformation, with rigorous training and reorganization led by figures like General Washington and Baron Von Steuben. The army emerged more disciplined and ready to fight, making Valley Forge a symbol of American resilience. -
The Battle of Yorktown, fought from September 28 to October 19, 1781, in Yorktown, Virginia, was the final major military engagement of the American Revolutionary War. It resulted in the decisive defeat of British forces under General Charles Cornwallis by a combined force of American and French troops, effectively ending the war in favor of the American colonies. -
The Treaty of Paris, signed in 1783, officially ended the American Revolutionary War. Representatives from the United States and Great Britain met to negotiate peace terms. Britain recognized the independence of the United States and agreed to withdraw its troops. The treaty also set boundaries for the new nation, granting the U.S. territory stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River.