-
Battle of Lexington and Concord
700 British Troops depart Boston under Lieutentant Colonel Francis Smith and march for Concord and encounter militiamen at Lexington. After routing the rebels the British march to concord and search the area finding nothing but the 500 minutemen who rout the british to boston. -
Period: to
The American Revolution
-
Convening of the Second Continental Congress
Delegates meet in Philadelphia to lead the colonies in their revolt. Ironically not declaring independence yet. Managed the Colonial war effort. -
Continental Army is Officially Created
Second Continental Congress create and official army out of the army units laying seige to Boston. George Washington recieves command of the army the next day. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Fought mostly on Breed's Hill, the colonists built a fort at night and killed 226 british while only losing 115. the british won a pyrrihc victory. Near Boston. -
Olive Branch Petition
Second Continental Congress Sends the Olive Branch Petition as one last attempt at peace. But the Brititsh reject enraging the moderate peace wanting delegates. -
Invasion of Canadia (Canada)
Americans launch an obviously failed invasion of canada by attacking Ft. Johns (Montreal) and then on to Quebec City. Losing a battle there prompting an counterattack on Ft. Ticonderoga and the Hudson River Valley by General Burgoyne in 1777. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
Thomas Paine publishes a pamphlet detailing reasons for secession with Great Britain. Washington had it read to his army for inspiration. -
Fall of Boston
British Evacuate boston cedeing control to the New Continental Army. -
Ratification of the Declaration of Independence
The Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia ratifies the Declartion of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson and sends it to King George III explaining the reasons for separation from Britain. -
Battle of Long Island
Washington fortifies Long Island and Brooklyn against the British and is pushed back to Brooklyn after much fighting and Washinton retreats to Manhattan allowing the British to control New York City. -
Battle of Trenton
After losing Manhattan, morale, and men Washington needs a victory and crosses the Deleware river to attack trenton, New Jersey and the 1500 man force guarding it. He succeeds with little loss and boosts american morale potentially saving the american revolution. -
Battle of Brandywine
The British under General Howe outflank General Washington and cause him to retreat leaving Phildelphia vulnerable. Howe then takes the city occupying the city until June 1778. -
Battle of Germantown
After losing the battle of Brandywine General George Washington is determined to retake philadelphia, the capitol of the colonies. Howe splits his army into two parts and washington attacks losing but were encouraged by their success against the British. The army marches to Valley Forge for the winter. -
Battle of Saratoga
General Horatio Gates defeats British General Burgoyne with significant assistance from Benidict Arnold. Burgoyne retreats and surrenders on October 17 bringing military and financial assistance from France along with Spain (financially). Major turning point in the war. -
Winter Encampment at Valley Forge
Washington Sets up his winter encampment. His troops are trained and prepared for the following year as a professional army. Facing significant hardships the americans lose 2,500 troops to the winter. Organized into a fighting unit the army was restructured. The british soon left philadelphia allowing the amercians to retake it in june 1778. -
Treaty of Alliance
an official alliance was formed with france because of their collective hatred of the british and the promising outcome of Saratoga. America would in turn honor the french carribean claims and therefore recieve monetary and military aid against the british. Spain later joins on June 21. -
Battle of Monmouth
After Valley Forge washington proved his effectiveness against the british by fighting them to a standstill forcing them to leave to a more tenable position. -
Capture of Savannah
British take Savannah Georgia with very few losses and cripple patriot control of Georgia. -
Siege of Charleston
General Benjamin Lincoln surrenders the vital port city of charleston to General Clinton and the British. Large american surrender of up to 5,000 men. -
Battle of Camden
Vital British victory in the south. Major General Horatio Gates is disgraced at such a horrific loss. -
Nathanael Greene is named Commander of the South
Washington as Supreme Commander appoints Nathanael Greene as commander in the south to attemp to reverse the situation there after Horatio gate's loss. He succeeds in protecting virginia. -
Battle of Cowpens
General Daniel Morgan defeats the British at Cowpens winning a decisive battle in the southern campaign. -
Adoption of the Articles of Confederation
The Second Continental Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation forming an (sucky) official American Government. -
Battle of Guliford Courthouse
Despite it being a loss for the americans, the british took very heavy losses and were forced after the battle to go to Virginia and eventually yorktown. Greene went deeper into the south fighting the british for control of the carolinas and georgia. -
French Imperial Navy drive British from the Chesapeake
The French navy drives the British from the Chesapeake allowing the continentals to lift the blockade and secure a more strategic position setting up for the battle of yorktown. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Americans decisively defeat the british army under lord cornwallis as he is blocked in by sea and land forcing him to surrender. British soon forced to accept the Declaration of Independence. Washington is second only to God/Bae. War is essentially over. -
British leave the colonies
Final British evacuation from Charleston and the port is retaken by the Americans. -
The Treaty of Paris 1783
All parties subject to the war sign peace and effectively end the war and establishing america as an independant nation and ending the war. -
Final British Troops leave
British troops surrender New York City and evacuate to Britain. All British troops have left the colonies. -
Washington Resigns
Washington after the war resigns and retires for a second time to return to his beloved mount vernon. -
Constitutional Convention
The United States was facing a stability crisis and needed a stronger government finally prompting the government to take action and call a convention to restructure the government. -
Ratification of the Constitution
The constitution comes into effect and the first congress comes into session.
