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Ignoring the obstructionist messages coming from the colonies, the British government in 1763 threw caution to the winds and issued the Proclamation of 1763, followed the Proclamation of 1763 with two equally contentious acts of Parliament: the Sugar Act and the Currency Act. -
The House of Representatives of the Governorate of the Province of Massachusetts Bay issued a circular urging all colonies to send representatives to a congress that would consider the nature and implications of the Stamp Act. -
Congress meets in New York, with 27 representatives from nine colonies. -
Congress issued a Declaration of the Rights and Grievances of the Colonies, a petition to the king for financial aid, and a petition to Parliament for the repeal of the Stamp Act. -
The Boston Massacre began when a group of boys threw rocks and snowballs at British veterans riding in front of the Boston Custom House. Soldiers fired into the crowd. Five people died and eight were wounded during this act. -
Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The colonies elected representatives to consider a response to the parliament. These representatives included Samuel and John Adams of Massachusetts; Ibrahimovic Jay of New York; Patrick Henry Lee; Thomas Jefferson; and George Washington of Virginia, among others -
Parliament declared that Massachusetts was in rebellion and specified that England could not trade with any country outside the British Empire. -
Lord North, the Prime Minister, presented a Compromise Proposal, which was the furthest Parliament could go to satisfy the Americans' demands. -
Thomas Cage (commander of the British garrison in Boston) sent 1,000 troops to attack Lexington and then Concord. -
It was the first battle of the American Revolution. The Massachusetts colonists defied British unity. The battle involved 3,960 Americans, commanded by John Parker, and 1,500 British, commanded by John Pitcairn. There were 393 dead: 93 Americans and 300 British. This resulted in an American victory. -
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Siege of Fort Ticonderoga. The capture of Fort Ticonderoga was the first offensive victory for American forces in the Revolutionary War. It secured the strategic route north, and Canada provided the Americans with a significant arsenal of artillery. The 83 American troops, commanded by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold, lost only one man; the 48 British forces, led by William Delaplace, resulted in 48 casualties. -
The 3,000 British troops under Thomas Cage suffered 1,054 casualties and still defeated the 2,200 American troops under Israel Putnam, who suffered 450 casualties. The Battle of Bunker Hill confirmed that reconciliation between England and the American colonies was no longer possible. -
The Continental Navy was founded -
Battle of Quebec. Colonel Benedict Arnold planned to capture Quebec to form an alliance with the French Canadians against the British. This resulted in a British victory with a force of 1,800 men and five casualties for the British army, while the American force numbered 1,200 men and 48 casualties. -
The Continental Navy captured New Providence Island in the Bahamas. American ships and privateers plundered British ships and merchant vessels throughout the Atlantic. -
Thomas Jefferson begins writing the Declaration of Independence -
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Thomas Jefferson finishes drafting the Declaration of Independence. Along with Roger Sherman, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Robert Livingston, who helped draft the final version of the document. -
Congress meets, with representatives from each colony participating, to declare independence from Great Britain. -
Richard Henry Lee presented a motion for independence on behalf of Virginia, which was accepted on July 2, constituting the first written declaration on behalf of the people proclaiming freedom. -
The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson in 17 days, was signed by representatives of 56 of the 13 colonies. -
"The Battle of Brooklyn." Washington's efforts to fortify New York City against a British attack resulted in the defeat of American troops, allowing Great Britain to retain New York until the end of the war. The 10,000 American forces were commanded by George Washington, and the 20,000 British forces were commanded by William Hewe. -
The Battle of Treton. After crossing the Dalware River in a storm, George Washington's army, with 2,400 soldiers and five casualties, defeated a garrison of Hessian mercenaries at Treton, commanded by Johann Rall, with 1,500 soldiers and 905 casualties. This led to success at Princeton. -
The Battle of Princeton. After crossing the Dalware River on December 25, Washington embarked on a 10-day campaign that culminated in this battle. Washington emerged with 4,500 men and 75 dead, outnumbering Charles Cornwallis with 1,200 men and 270 dead. -
The Battle of the Brandywine. Washington was determined to prevent the British from taking Philadelphia by taking positions on the Brandywine. Washington mistakenly believed that his army of 14,600 men dominated all flanks of the Brandywine. The crushing defeat allowed British commander William Hove and his 15,000 men to occupy Philadelphia. -
The Battle of Germantown. After capturing the American capital, British General William Howe deployed two brigades and a contingent of Hessian troops to Germantown. The British had 9,000 men, the Americans 11,000, and the battle ended in a British victory. -
The Battle of Saratoga marked a turning point in the Revolutionary War. The British defeat boosted patriot morale, revived hopes for independence, and helped secure the foreign forces needed to win the war. The 15,000 American soldiers were commanded by Horatio Gates; the 6,000 British soldiers were commanded by John Burgoyne. -
The Capture of Savannah. British politicians and strategists decided to focus their efforts on the southern colonies. As part of this effort, the British captured the city of Savannah on December 29, 1778. The 5,050 American troops were commanded by Benjamin Lincoln; the 3,200 British troops were commanded by Augustine Prevost. -
The Siege of Charleston. General Henry Clinton departed New York with 90 troop transports, 14 battleships, and more than 13,500 soldiers and sailors. Clinton planned to join a force under Lieutenant Mark Prevost and march overland to Charleston, South Carolina. The defense of the city was in the hands of the U.S. Army commanded by Benjamin Lincoln. -
The Siege of Charleston. On this date, Clinton demanded Lincoln's unconditional surrender from a few yards away. When he refused, Clinton ordered the bombardment of Charleston. -
The Siege of Charleston. With Lincoln's surrender, an army of approximately 5,000 men was killed to mark the end of this event -
The Battle of Camden was a defeat for the Americans. After the capture of Charleston, British forces under Charles Cornwallis established a supply depot and garrison in Camden as part of their effort to secure control of rural South Carolina. When the British advanced and presented their bayonets, the Virginians turned tail and fled. -
The Battle of Cowpens was crucial for the United States in the Revolutionary War. This battle further weakened British hopes of seizing the southern colonies. The 1,065 American soldiers were commanded by Daniel Morgan; the 1,150 British soldiers were commanded by Banastre Tarleton. -
The Battle of Guilford Courthouse" The 2,385-man army of British General Charles Cornwallis faced the force of Major General Nathanael Greene, commanding 4,400 men, at Guilford Court House in North Carolina. This resulted in a British victory. -
The Battle of Yorktown. This proved to be the decisive battle of the American Revolution. The British surrender heralded the end of British rule in the colonies and the beginning of a new revolution. The 19,900 American troops were commanded by George Washington and Rochambeau; the 9,000 British troops were commanded by Charles Cornwallis. -
Washington offered terms of surrender and Cornwallis accepted, officially surrendering his army. -
The Treaty of Paris, specifically addressing the American Revolution, is signed. The United States representatives were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, who led the negotiations and signed the treaty. David Harley, representing the British and King George III, outlined the terms of peace between the United States and Great Britain in ten articles. -
The Constitution of the United States was signed by George Washington and William Jackson, as president and secretary, of the Philadelphia convention, together with the delegates to the convention. -
The first presidential elections under the new constitution begin -
The first presidential elections under the new constitution conclude. -
George Washington was elected President of the United States in the 1788–1799 elections by unanimous vote. -
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George Washington arrived triumphantly in New York. -
George Washington walked to Federal Hall and through crowded streets took his oath of office. -
The first United States Congress proposed to the legislatures the 12 amendments to the Constitution that would protect civil rights from infringement and prevent the tyranny of central power. -
Alexander Hamilton, with Washington's support, sent the public report on the Credit to Congress, presenting a proposal to pay off the debt and provide a capital base for industrial projects. -
George Washington announced to the American people his decision not to seek presidential reelection. -
George Washington died at his home on Mount Vernon, Virginia