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Lexington and Concord
General Thomas Gage sent soldiers to capture colonial leaders and supplies at Concord, but Paul Revere warned everyone there that the "British (were) coming" before they got there and the minutemen fought the British in Lexington and afterwards in Concord. -
Battle of Long Island
General William Howe wanted to capture NYC by seizing the Hudson River. Howe defeated the Americans and forced their retreat to Manhattan Island. -
Saratoga
Lord George Germain launched a 3-pronged attack on Albany, New York and Howe went to Philadelphia to attack and hopefully dissuade the rebels, but the Continental Congress fled to the countryside. This battle was the turning point for the Americans. -
Valley Forge
Washington sent his forces to Valey Forge where the army suffered from te harshness of the winter. Many died and were injured from the cold. Baron von Steuben saved the day, though, and taught the army how to be professional fighters and thinkers, making them a better force for it. -
Yorktown
Washington devised a plan that would make the British army think they were in New York, still preparing an attack on the British, while Waskington led his army down from Rhode Island to Virginia, where they surrounded Cornwallis at Saratoga and won, victoriously! -
Treaty of Paris
This document made Great Britain formally recognize American Independence and relinquish its claims to the lands south of the Great Lakes and east of the Mississippi River. -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Created the territories that would eventually become the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The ordinance also prohibited slavery and enmarked funds from land sales for the support of schools.
