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Battles of Lexington and Concord
Marking the beginning of the Revolution, General Gage sent 700 British soldiers to capture colonial leaders and supplies at Concord. However, due to early warning, the patriot militiamen were able to confront the British at Lexington and then again at Concord. Resulted in British retreating to Boston. -
Second Continental Congress
Gathered in Philedelphia, the approval of the Olive petition is granted. A colonial army is created and George Washingon is appointed as commander. The congress also decides to invade Canada in order to prevent British from coming in from the north. -
First battle of Ticonderoga
Led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold, American militia seized Fort Ticonderogs. This was significant because the fort held many valuable supplies desperatly needed such as cannons and ammunition. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
3000 British troops attacked Bunker Hill overlooking Boston. British won but with huge casualties. American militia displayed clever tatics that broke the rules of a gentleman war, but proved highly effective. -
Olive Branch Petition
John Dickinson drafted the Olive Branch Petition, which was submitted to King George on July 8, 1775. It was an attempt to assert the rights of the colonists while maintaining their loyalty to the British crown. -
Common Sense Published
This was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. It aided in arousing the colonies in a call for independence and a republican form of government. With the help of the print revolution. the message traveled rapidly. -
Declaration of Independence
Mainly written by Thomas Jefferson, the declaration proclaimed a series of self-evident truths and the unalienable rights. It also promoted popular soverignty which believed that power should be in the hands of the electorate. The declaration also listed all the crimes commited by Britian against the colonies. -
Battle of Long Island
British forces planned to seize New York City. The americans lost and were forced to retreat to Manhattan Island. The British then proceeded to surround Washington's troops. George Washingrton was able to amazingly lead his troops across the Delware reiver -
Battle of Trenton
On Christmas night, George Washington marched his army 9 miles in the freezing conditions to Trenton for a suprise attack. Because it was winter, Christmas, and the middle of the evening, the Hessians were caught off guard and eventually surrendered. -
Marquis de Lafayette
Lafayette was a French aristocrat who joined the American Revolutionary War at his own request because he really sympatized with the American cause. He also played a part in persuading French officials to form an alliance. -
Battle of Saratoga
The battle took place in New York. The British were outnumbered and were forced to surrender. The colonist victory was a turning point in the war because it inspired the French to help the colonists fight the British. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation served as the written document that established the functions of the national government of the United States after it declared independence from Great Britain. It established a weak central government that mostly, but not entirely, prevented the individual states from conducting their own foreign diplomacy. -
Baron von Steuben
As Washinton's army camped at Valley Forge in the winter of 1778, Baron von Steben raised the readiness of the American army. A former Prussian military officer, von Steuben instituted drills and improved the perfessionalism of officers. -
Treaty of Alliance
Confirmed France's commitment to American independence. In return, the Continental Congress agreed to recognize any French conquests in the West Indies. -
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Southern Stradegy
Starting in 1778, Britsh government revised its military stategy to defend the West indies and capture the rich tabacco and rice growing colonies: Virginia, Carolinas, and Georgia. Henry Clinton was appointed to implement the Britan's southern stradegy -
Phillpsburg Proclamation
Created by Dunmore, the Phillipsburg Proclamation declared any slave who deserted a rebel master would revieve protection, freedom, and land from Great Britian. More than 30,000 slaves took advantage of this offer taking refuge behind British lines. -
Guerrilla Warfare in Carolinas
Led by General Greene and General Francis Marion, the less experienced America militia adopted guerilla warfare succeeding in winning several small battles. This new style of fighting involved soldiers to appear suddenly, shoot for a short time, and retreat. -
Battle of Yorktown
A French fleet of some 3,000 soldiers under sailed up from the West Indies and combined with army forces under the command of Washington and Rochambeau surround the British. No way to escape, the British is eventually forced to surrender. This marks the last battle in the American Revolution -
Surrender at Yorktown
Isolated diplomacy in Europe, stymied militarily in Anerica, and lacking public support at home, the British ministry surrendered at Yorktown. -
Treaty of Paris
Great Britian formally recognize American independence and relinquished its calims to lands south of great lackes and east of mississippi river. Also granted americans fishing rights off Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. -
Consitution created
At the 1787 convention, delegates devised a plan for a stronger federal government with three branches–executive, legislative and judicial–along with a system of checks and balances to ensure no single branch would have too much power. -
Constitution is ratified
The consitution is ratified by the states. Although some atates opposed ratification, the majority were in favor so the Consitution was put into effect.
