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Battles of Lexington and Concord
Kicked off the American Revolutionary War.Tensions had been building for many years between residents of the colonies and the British authorities, especially in Massachusetts. On the night of April 18, 1775, hundreds of British troops marched from Boston to Concord in order to seize an arms cache. Paul Revere and other riders sounded the alarm, and colonial militiamen began mobilizing to intercept the Redcoat column. A confrontation in Lexington town had the British fleeing. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775. Three delegates added to the Congress were Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Hancock. The Congress took on governmental duties.They selected George Washington as Commander in Chief. They encouraged the colonies to set themselves up as states. On July 4, 1776 they adopted the Declaration of Independence. The Congress ended March 1, 1781 when a Congress authorized by the Articles of Confederation took over. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The first important battle of the American War of Independence (1775) which was fought at Breed's Hill. The British defeated the colonial forces. -
Failed invasion of Canada
The Invasion of Canada in 1775 was the first major military initiative by the newly formed Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The objective of the campaign was to gain military control of the British Province of Quebec, and convince the French-speaking Canadiens to join the revolution on the side of the Thirteen Colonies. -
King George III formally proclaims colonies in rebellion
The Proclamation of Rebellion was the response of King George III to the news of the Battle of Bunker Hill at the outset of the American Revolutionary War. Issued August 23, 1775, it declared elements of the American colonies in a state of "open and avowed rebellion". It ordered officials of the British Empire "to use their utmost endeavours to withstand and suppress such rebellion". It also encouraged civilians to capture traitors so that they could be punished. -
Paine's Common Sense
Published in 1776, Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. The plain language that Paine used spoke to the common people of America and was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain. -
Declaration of Independence
The document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the Colonies from Great Britain -
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776 during the American Revolutionary War. General George Washington led the main Continental Army across the Delaware to surprise and virtually eliminate the Hessian garrison at Trenton, New Jersey. This overwhelming victory helped to preserve the Continental Army and set the stage for the Battle of Princeton the following week. -
Battle of Germantown
Abortive attack in the American Revolution by 11,000 American troops on 9,000 British regulars stationed at Germantown (now part of Philadelphia). George Washington's daring dawn raid, a four-pronged attack, failed partly because of dense fog that confused the American troops into firing on one of their own columns. Despite its failure, this and the colonial victory at the Battle of Saratoga impressed the French with Washington's strategic ability and influenced them to offer military aid. -
Battle of Monmouth
Also called Battle of Monmouth Court House , (June 28, 1778), indecisive engagement in the American Revolution, fought at Monmouth, New Jersey. -
Clark's vicories in the West
George Rogers Clark for KY militia, weakened British in the Northwest (ceded to US in Peace of Paris-Northwest Ordinance) -
Articles of Confederation put into effect
Virginia was the only state to ratify the Articles by the 1778 deadline. Most states wished to place conditions on ratification, which Congress refused to accept. Ten further states ratified during the summer of 1778, but small states with big neighbors and no land claims--Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland--still refused. Maryland held out the longest, only ratifying the Articles after Virginia relinquished its claims on land north of the Ohio River to Congress. -
Battle of King's Mountain
North Carolina- Patriot victory;decisive battle between the Patriot and Loyalist militias in the Southern campaign of the American Revolutionary War. -
Lord North's Ministry Collapses in Britain
1782 resigns because of Yorktown (Conciliation Plan- Britain would eliminate grievances in exchange for peace w/ colonies; rejected) -
Society of the Cincinnati formed
The Institution was formally adopted by a meeting held at Steuben's headquarters on May 13, 1783, which is recognized as the day the Society was officially created. Copies of the Institution were thereafter made and sent to the Continental Line of each state to encourage their officers to organize state societies. The formal, engrossed copy of the Institution, written on parchment, was signed at a meeting in June. -
Treaty of Paris
1783 signed by USA & GB at Versailles; recognised US independence, granted territory to Mississippi & west, Great Lakes, Spanish Florida, US agreed not to persecute Brits, pay back Brit creditors. -
Treaty of Fort Stanwix
1784 bw pro-Brit Iroquois and US; Indians gave up most of their land -
Land Ordinance of 1785
The Land Ordinance of 1785 was adopted by the Continental Congress in the United States on May 20, 1785. Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress did not have the power to raise revenue by direct taxation of the inhabitants of the United States.
