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Revolutionary War
The events that lead up to the Revolutionary War, and the War itself, were the bedrock of the formation of the United States.
Events During The Revolutionary War
- 03/05/1770: British troops killed five people in a brawl between troops and civilians, which led the troops to firing their musket into the rioting crowd. This event, called the Boston Massacre, was a powerful spark that led to the Revolutionary War.
- 12/16/1773: A band of men, dressed like Mohawk Indians, boarded ships in the Boston Harbor and dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor, becoming known as the Boston Tea Party. The harbor turned brown for several days. This rebellious act was done in protest against the British Tea Act, which was another form of taxation (without representation) on goods imported into America.
- 09/05/1774: Continental Congress convened in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia. The Congress played an important initiating role in uniting the thirteen colonies in dealing with Great Britain, including the American Revolutionary War
- 03/23/1775: At St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia, Patrick Henry gave his famous quotation, "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!"
- 04/19/1775: Battles of Concord and Lexington occured. British were easily defeated in the first battle of the Revolutionary War.
- 06/14/1775: The Second Continental Congress created a Continental Army in an attempt to coordinate the military efforts of the 13 colonies.
- 06/15/1775: General George Washington was appointed Major General of the Continental Army by the Second Continental Congress, after being nominated by John Adams. He served in that capacity until 1783.
- 06/17/1775: British General William Howe defeated the Americans in the Battle of Bunker Hill.
- 09/16/1775: Brigadier General Richard Montgomery and 1700 American militiamen marched from Fort Ti to invade Montreal.
- 11/16/1775: American forces under Brigadier General Richard Montgomery captured Montreal from the British
- 01/24/1776: Colonel Henry Knox with his cannon train from Fort Ticonderoga arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts and met up with Major General George Washington's forces. Knox completed a 300 mile/56 day journey to bring 59 cannons weighing 60 ton to support the American defense of Boston. These cannons were positioned on Dorchester Heights and were a pivotal part of the city's defense. Soon after the arrival of the cannons, the British gave up its hopes of invading Boston.
- 07/04/1776: Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, declared the independence of "the United States of America" by signing the Declaration of Independence
- 07/08/1776: After ratification by the Second Continental Congress, the Declaration of Independence was first publicly read outside of Independence Hall.
- 08/27/1776: British defeated the Americans in the Battle of Long Island, driving American forces back to Brooklyn Heights
- 09/15/1776: British General William Howe shipped 12,000 men to lower Manhattan and takes control of New York City
- 09/11/1777: American forces are defeated in the Battle of Brandywine
- 09/19/1777: The British defeat American forces during the first Battle of Saratoga. The battle, which took place on Freeman's Farm, yielded a victory for the British but left them weakened due to a significant cost of life.
- 09/20/1777: Brigadier General Anthony Wayne's forces were devastated during a midnight British attack during what became known as the Paoli Massacre
- 09/26/1777: British forces marched into Philadelphia, occupying the city, unopposed
- 10/07/1777: During the second Battle of Saratoga, located at Bemis Heights, American forces killed or captured 400 men. This battle left British General Burgoyne surrounded and defeated in Saratoga.
- 10/17/1777: British General John Burgoyne surrendered his sword after suffering devastating losses in the Battles of Saratoga
- 04/24/1778: Captain John Paul Jones, in his USS Ranger sailing for the Continental Navy, captured the HMS Drake, a British Naval vessel. This was the first and most decisive American victory over the British Navy in British waters.
- 12/29/1778: British captured Savannah, Georgia
- 10/02/1780: British Major John Andre was hung for his involvement with Benedict Arnold's treason.
- 10/19/1781: After being pinned in Yorktown, Virginia for several weeks by assaults from American and French forces, British General Cornwallis surrendered in Yorktown. This was the last major battle of the war.
- 09/03/1783: Treaty of Paris signed, thus bringing an official end to combat in the Revolutionary War. The treaty still had to be ratified.
- 11/25/1783: The last British troops remaining in America left New York City
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