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The Battle of Lexington and Concord
General Gage of the British army had a secret plan to attack the town of Lexington and then move on to Concord to seize the colonists gunpowder and weapons. However, word got out to the Americans of the event to come. Paul Revere was able to ride his horse from town to town and warn the colonists that the British were coming. Because of this, the Minutemen were able to assemble and defend the two towns in the battle known as "The Shot Heard Around the World". -
The Second Continental Congress
At the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, almost everyone had come to the conclusion that it was time to declare independence from Great Britain. The two main purposes of the Second Continental Congress were to write the Declaration of Independence and to raise an army. John Hancock lead the congress, and other important figures such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were in attendace. -
George Washington Takes Command
On this date, George Washington is named Commander in Chief and a little less than a month later, he assumes full command of the Continental Army. His army is composed of an inexperienced group of men who volunteer their lives to fight for their freedom. Throughout his role of Commander in Chief he will experience many losses and victories, and ultimatley lead his country to victory. -
Battle Of Bunker Hill
Early in the Revolutionary War, the British were able to defeat the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts. Although they suffered a loss, the colonists caused significant casualties against the British. This battle provided them with an important confidence boost that gave them hope for the many more battles ahead. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
Thomas Paine's, Common Sense is published on this date. The signifigance of this being published is that it was a rousing call for independence and a republican form of government. Within six months of Common Sense being publsihed, it had gone through twenty-five editions and reached hundreds of thousands of people.. -
The Virginia Declaration of Rights - George Mason
George Mason wrote the Viginia Declaration of Rights, claiming that people had certain unalienable rights that were above any government. In 1787, when delagates gathered at the Constutional Convention to sign the Constitution, he refused because he thought that too much power was being given to the government and there was no bill of rights. Later, when a bill of rights was incoorperated into the constuttution, many of the ideas came from George Mason's, Virginia Declaration of Rights. -
Congress Adopts the Declaration of Independence
This is the day congress adopts the Declaration of Independence. The document is sent to the printer to make all of America aware that they are declaring complete independence from Great Britain. Four days later, the Declaration is read publicly. -
The Battle of Long Island
In this battle, the British Army successfully moved against the American Continental Army. The battle was part of a British campaign to seize control of New York and isolate New England from the rest of the colonies. Washington’s defeat could have led to surrender, like Gage was expecting, but instead Washington fleas across the East River under cover of darkness. He escapes in order to continue the fight. -
The Battle of Trenton
In order to gain control of the Hudson river, Washington takes a risk and crosses the Delaware to capture Trenton from the Hessians. Washington and his army had to fight through brutal weather conditions with high hopes of being victorious at this battle. The Hessians were not expecting Washington and his army due to the fact that it was the morning after Christmas. Washington and his army were successful and captured large numbers of Hessian soldiers. -
The Battle of Saratoga
Gate's American army was positioned between Burgoyne's army and Albany. On October 7, Burgoyne took an offensive approach and the troops crashed together near the town of Saratoga. Burgoyne's army was broken, and in the end, 86 percent of Burgoyne's command was captured by the Americans. This battle was crucial for the Americans. It gave them new hope and the victory that they needed to allow France to become confident with being an American ally. -
Baron Von Steuben
In the dark hour of Valley Forge, Baron Von Steuben raised the readiness of the American army. He was a former Prussian military officer who was appointed as inspector general of the Continental army. He instituted a strict drill system and encouraged officers to become more professional. Thanks to Von Steuben, the American army that came out of Valley Forge in the spring was a much more disciplined and tough force. -
Valley Forge
During the winter of 1777, fears reached their peak. Howe's army lived comfortably in Philadelphia, while Washington's army had to retreat 20 miles to Valley Forge. There were 12,000 soldiers that sufered horribly throughout the course of this winter. 3,000 soldiers died from malnutrition and disease, 1,000 deserted, and 200 officers resigned. The winter at Valley Forge took as many American lives as two years of fighting had. -
Treaty Of Alliance
In this treaty, France pledges their support to America. The Continental Congress agrees to recognize all French conquests in the West Indies. The signing of this treaty is exactlywhat America needed to finish out the war. -
Spain Joins The War
Spain allies with America and France against the British as long as they get to keep Florida. -
British Southern Strategy
Sir Henry Clinton of New York was to oversee Britain’s southern strategy. They planned on taking over the cash crop states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. In 1779, Clinton’s forces take Savannah, Georgia and assemble 10,000 soldiers to invade South Carolina. -
British Invades the Carolina's
In 1780, the British force the surrender of Charleston, South Carolina.
Lord Charles Cornwallis then assumes control of the southern British forces. The British invasion of the Carolina's will soon cause the American army to send their forces to re-capture the Carolina's. -
French Troops Are Sent To America
The Marquis De Lafayette persuades King Louis XVI to send 5,500 soldiers to America under the command of General Comte de Rochambeau into Newport, Rhode Island. -
The Battle of Yorktown
The American army bombarded the British for six days and then went in for the kill. 400 American soldiers were able to break through a British redoubt and the fighting was over in an hour. General Cornwallis surendered on on October 19th, 1781. -
Re-Capturing the Carolinas
In October of 1780, Washington appoints Major General Quartermaster Nathaneal Green to recapture the Carolinas and take back South Carolina’s King’s Mountain and also take 1,000 British prisoners. Greene’s soldiers fought Cornwallis’s army to
a draw at Guilford courthouse. Cornwallis retreats to Virginia. -
Treaty of Paris 1783 and Treaty of Versaille
The Treaty of Paris 1783, ends war between America and the British. Later in the year, the Treaty of Versailles makes peace between Spain and France and the British. -
U.S Constitution is signed
The Constituion was signed on this date. The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. Originally comprising seven articles, it delineates the national frame of government. -
The Constitution is Ratified
The U.S Constitution is adopted when New Hampshire ratifies it.
This is the official Constitution of the United States of America.
