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The Battles of Lexington and Concord
The battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military actions of the Revolutionary War. British troops had occupied Boston and were marching on Concord as they passed through Lexington. The first shot fired by the Patriots at the North Bridge became known as the "shot heard 'round the world". Both the Patriot and Redcoat troops opened fire and the Patriots were forced to withdraw. But, the Patriots had slowed the British advance. The Redcoats were forced to retreat. -
The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga occurred when a small force of Green Mountain Boys (a militia organization) led by Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold overcame a small British military base at the fort and looted the personal belongings of the military base. Cannons and other weapons from the fort were transported to Boston, used to secure Dorchester Heights, and break the standoff at the Siege of Boston. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress occured after the First Continental Congress and it was a group of 56 delegates from 12 colonies (all except Georgia) who met in Philadelphia. Things weren't going well in the war and the armed forces were disorganized. The Continental Congress created the Continental Army, naming George Washington as commander-in-chief.The Congress continued throughout the summer and resulted in the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Marine Corps. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was a two-day engagement between British forces under the command of General William Howe and American forces under Colonel William Prescott. The Americans had occupied Breed's Hill in order to protect the shipyard of nearby Boston. The next day, the British attacked. They took the hill but suffered heavy losses. The Americans fired until they were out of ammunition, then quickly retreated. The battle occured mostly on and around Breed's Hill. -
Montgomery Captures Montreal
General Richard Montgomery led American troops in the capture of Montreal. In the autumn of that same year, General George Washington ordered Benedict Arnold to capture Quebec. They did not last very long in Canada. To reach Canada, Arnold led his 700 men through the rough Maine wilderness. After joining forces with Montgomery, the Americans attacked Quebec. Montgomery, however, was killed during their attempt to capture the city. -
Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" Publication
"Common Sense" is a pamphlet that inspired people in the thirteen colonies to declare and fight for independence from Great Britain. Essentially, it explained the advantages of and the need for immediate independence. It was published anonymously at the beginning of the American Revolution, becoming an immediate sensation. It was sold and distributed widely and read aloud at taverns and meeting places."Common Sense" had the largest sale and circulation of any book published in American history. -
Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge
The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge was fought near Wilmington, North Carolina. The North Carolina Patriots and North Carolina Loyalists fought this battle. The victory of the North Carolina Patriots over the southern Loyalists helped create political support for the revolution and it increased recruitment of additional soldiers into their forces. -
British Evacuate Boston
British forces were forced to evacuate Boston following General George Washington's successful placement of cannons and fortifications on Dorchester Heights, which overlooks the city from the south. On March 17, 11,000 British troops and about 1,000 Loyalists departed Boston by ship, sailing to the safety of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
