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This was the first battle of the Revolution. The "shot heard around the world" was a result of British General Gage ordering troops to seize Patriot armories.
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This meeting in Philadelphia appointed George Washington as head of the Continental Army, declared the colonies independent from Britain, and created the Continental currency.
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Although this was a British victory, the Battle showed that the Patriots were capable of putting up a fight, and it raised military morale among the colonists.
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The Patriots burned Norfolk, a Loyalist town in Virginia, effectively destroying British ships. The British were defeated and retreated.
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Patriot Thomas Paine challenged the authority of the British king with this pamphlet, demanding a republic and furthering the call for independence.
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This Declaration influenced the making of the U.S. Bill of Rights, as it named some basic rights, like the right to fight for independence when a government was not acting on behalf of the people.
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Congress adopted this statement of the colonies' right to separate from the oppressive government of Britain. It was principally written by Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.
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British General Howe defeated the Continental Army, forcing them to retreat. This was the first major battle after the publishing of the Declaration of Independence.
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Washington famously crossed the Delaware for a surprise attack on the Hessians (German mercenaries) at Trenton, New Jersey. Capturing Trenton was a forerunner to victory at Princeton.
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The Continental Army defeated General Cornwallis's army in this battle at New Jersey, the last major attack in Washington's New Jersey winter campaign.
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Most of the Cherokee land in South Carolina east of the Appalachians was surrendered.
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This Resolution, passed by the Second Continental Congress, stated that the new flag of America should have 13 stars and 13 stripes.
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This battle took place in New York, 10 miles outside of Benningotn, Vermont. Americans under General Stark won against the British army led by General Burgoyne, depleting the British army of supplies and allies.
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Fought in Philadelphia, the Americans under the command of George Washington lost to the British under General Howe.
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George Washington sent a force led by Brigadier General Wayne to follow the British on their way to Philadelphia. British forces led a surprise attack on the American forces under Wayne and took no prisoners.
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The British General Howe led his army into the capital and occupied the city.
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This British victory by General Howe against George Washington's army solidified the British control of Philadelphia in the winter of 1777-1778.
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British General Burgoyne's army failed at Saratoga, New York, in part because a lack of reinforcements. The British surrender on October 17 was a turning point in the war and helped America gain support from France.
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George Washington's army suffered during the winter of 1777-1778, losing 4,000 soldiers from desertion and death. However, Prussian military officer Baron von Steuben trained the men so that when spring came, the army was much more sophisticated.
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In part because of the American victory at Saratoga, the French struck an alliance with the Americans in the Treaty of Alliance in exchange for recognition of French advances in the West Indies.
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The British General Howe was replaced by General Sir Henry Clinton after Howe resigned during the occupation of Philadelphia.
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General Clinton left the occupation of Philadelphia for New York in an effort to defend the city against French and American attacks.
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Although the British were able to force the Americans and French from Rhode Island, this event marks the first time after the Treaty of Alliance that the Americans and their allies worked together in an effort to expel the British.
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The British led a force that invaded the Patriot-held town of Savannah, Georgia in this period of their southern campaign.
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George Rogers Clark, as part of the Western campaign, captured Vincennes from the British in a surprise attack.
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Americans in Georgia under General Ashe were defeated by the British under Lt. Col. Prevost.
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Spain joined France with the U.S. in an effort to weaken the British empire after it damaged Spain financially during the Seven Years' War.
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American forces under General Wayne defeated the British at New York. This battle increases the morale of the American army.
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John Paul Jones, with the famous line "Surrender be dammed, I have not begun to fight" defeats the British HMS Serapis near the English coast.
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General Cornwallis and his army took Charleston, South Carolina as a part of the southern campaign.
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The British under General Cornwallis defeated General Gates' army at South Carolina. This was a major British victory and the last of Gates' battle work in the Revolutionary War.
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The arrest of John Andre led to the reveal of Benedict Arnold's plans of disloyalty, specifically his plan to cede West Point (New York) to the British. Arnold switched from American General to British Brigadier General after his exposure.
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The Patriots defeated the Loyalists of General Cornwallis's army in this battle of the southern campaign
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George Washington named Nathanael Greene commander of the southern campaign of the Continental Army.
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This battle, a turning point in taking back South Carolina, was won by Patriot forces under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan as a part of the southern campaign.
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This was the first constitution of the 13 colonies, and provided a new form of government free from oppression experienced under British control. However, lack of a strong centralized government and way of tax collection weakened the power of the Articles.
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The British forces under General Cornwallis in North Carolina won against General Greene, but British heavy casualties led to the decrease in British control of the South.
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General Greene was defeated by British forces in this South Carolina battle.
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In the last major battle of the southern campaign, General Greene was defeated by British forces in South Carolina.
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American forces led by George Washington and French forces led by Rochambeau defeated Cornwallis's army as the British are surrounded and surrender. This is the last land battle of the War and encourages the British to accept American independence.
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Lord North resigns as British Prime Minister after Parliament deemed his conduct during the Revolutionary War made him no longer able to hold a place in government.
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The Articles of Peace was a preliminary treaty signed by the British after the surrender at Yorktown in 1781, establishing geographic boundaries and recognition of independence of America.
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George Washington resigned as Commander of the Continental Army with the War finished and the Treaty of Paris signed.
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The United States and Britain signed this treaty, ending the war, acknowledging American independence, establishing geographic boundaries, recognizing debts, and permitting fishing off the coast of Canada.
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The Convention, with George Washington leading as elected President of the meeting, was convened to address the problems under the Articles of Confederation and to create the U.S. Constitution.
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At the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, 38 of 41 delegates sign the Constitution.
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The Constitution was officially in effect after it was ratified by New Hampshire, the ninth state to do so.
