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The French and Indian War
The colonist and Britain fought against the French and Indians for control over the Ohio River Valley. Britain won and a peace treaty was signed. The British and Colonist controlled the land west of the Appalachian Mountains. -
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Colonial Taxation Period
The king and parliament created a string of acts and taxes that they put on the colonist. It resulted in the colonist protesting, boycotting, and eventually breaking away from Britain -
The Boston Massacre
A group of colonist formed a mob and began to tease the British soldiers, they began to throw rocks and they started to push the soldiers. The British panicked and fired upon the colonist. 5 Bostonians were killed. This caused the colonist to believe that the British will kill innocent people and should not be trusted nor be allowed in their colonies. -
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Intolerable Acts
The intolerable acts was Great Britain way to punish the colony of Massachusettes for the Boston Tea Party. The first law closed the harbor until the tea was paided for. The second law placed the government of Massachusetts under British control. The third law stated that the soilders charged with murder would be tried in England, and finally more English soilders were sent to Boston to make sure the colonist followed the rules. This caused the colonist to start to come together. -
First Continetal Congress
Fifty leaders from 12 colonies met in Philadelphia to discuss the current situation with Britain. Most delegates were still loyal to king, and very few were true patriots. However, all the delegates believed that the taxation and tyranny was just. This meeting got many important leaders together to start debating the idea of leaving Britain. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
General Gage was informed that the colonist were hiding gunpowder and weapons in Concord. Gage sent his troops to march up there in the night and sneak attack the colonist, but the colonist were well aware of the plan. A small group of minutemen intercepted the men but ended up lossing.The British soilders began to search for the supplies, but there was already moved. The minutemen began to surround the British, making them retreat. This proved that the colonist were prepared to die for freedom. -
The Second Continetal Congress
The delegates met once again and they decided they need to form an army. John Adams nominated George Washington, and everyone unanimously elected him to lead this new army. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The British defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts on Bunker Hill. Even though the patriots loss, they still wounded and killed many British soilders and lost only half of what the British loss. -
Common Sense is Written
Common Sense was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine, that stated that the colonist owned no loyality to the King and how their trade worsened under British control. This caused many colonist to began realizing that it may be time to become free. -
Decleration of Independence is Signed
On July 2nd all the colonies (except for New York) voted for indepence. The delegates were ready to sign it, but the issue of slavery came up. The passage “sacred rights of life and liberty . . . of a distant people [by] carrying them into slavery.” Troubled many Southerners because they feared that the slaves may think they are free. In the end, 56 delegates signed the decleration, knowing that if it failed, they would all die. -
Battle of Brooklyn
In the city of Brooklyn, New York, the British and the Americans faced off in a decisive battle. The Americans were no match for the much more experiened British army. The Contenital army lost 1,407 men compared to the 377 men lost on the British side. General Howe thought that George Washington would surrender, but instead Washington planned an escape route that ended up saving the army. -
Trenton and Princeton Victories
Washigton's army crossed the semi-frozen Delaware River. They sneaked up on the Hessians in Trenton and took 868 prisoners without lossing a single man. A week later at Princeton the Americans took another 300 troops prisoner. These battles proved that there was still hope in the Contenital Army. -
Battle at Saratoga
In Saratoga, on the Hudson River, the miltia men surrounded Burgoyne men. They greatly outnumber the British, but Burgoyne still ordered an attack. Burgoyne finally surrendered, this proved that the American cause was not loss. Shortly after, France became an ally of the United States. -
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Winter in Valley Forge
Washington's troops marched to Valley Forge to make camp in the winter. There was little food, very little clothing, and alomst no blankets. In order to take the men out of missery, Washington put Baron Friedrich von Steuben in charge of training the men. Marquis de Lafayette. a very rich French man, also helped the army, by training and buying clothing. By the end of the spring, the army was trained and much stronger. -
Battle of Monmouth
Washington chased the army across New Jersey, they finally caught up with the retreating British army and defeated them. Washigton was gathering men everywhere and “Cheering them by his voice and example.” The British slipped into New York City, Washingotn camped nearby. The war in the North was finally over. -
Battle of Yorktown
France sent 5,000 troops to fight with the patriots and 3,000 more were on the way. Washington decided to sneak attack the British and trap them in Yorktown. He took 16,000 and surronded Yorktown. The French navy also showed up and cut off any hope of being freed by the sea. This battle helped end the war and gave even more hope to everyone. -
General Cornwallis Surrenders
Cornwallis thought that the British could sill when the Battle of Yorktown, but when he had no way to escape, he finally surrendered. The French and the Americans formed two lines, 8,000 British soilders came to surrender their weapons, Cornwallis did not attend the ceremony. Many British soilders wept bitter tears, but to the Americans it was a day to celebrate victory. -
Treaty of Paris
Representives from both America and Great Britain met in Paris to create/sign a peace treaty. The treaty had three main parts: First, Britain agreed to recognize the United States as an independent nation. Second, Britain gave up its lands between the Atlantic Coast and the Mississippi River, and from the border of Canada south to Florida. Third, the United States agreed to return all rights and property taken from Loyalists during the war. This treaty marked the end of the Revolutionary War.