AP/Honors American Studies
Mrs. Civitella revised 2008
Timeline of the American Revolution
May 1774 First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia
April 1775- Battles of Lexington and Concord
May 1775 Ethan Allen and his “Green Mountain Boys” from Vermont joined Benedict Arnold with some Connecticut militia to capture Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain. The Patriots were able to seize British ammunition and transport it to Boston
May 10, 1775 43 delegates from each of the 13 colonies meet in Philadelphia, PA to begin the Second Continental Congress
June 15, 1775 the Second Continental Congress votes to raise a Continental Army and elects George Washington as Commander in Chief
June 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill- Americans outnumbered, retreat after running out of ammunition
July 1775 the Second Continental Congress issues the “Olive Branch Petition”
August 1775 George III declares the colonies to be in rebellion- making skirmishes a treasonous crime
September 1775 George III hires thousands of German Hessians to stop the American rebellion
October 1775 British burn Falmouth, Maine
December 1775 Americans fail in their attempt at invading Quebec
January 1776 British set fire to Norfolk, VA
January 1776 Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense
March 1776 Evacuation Day- British are forced to evacuate Boston
June 28, 1776 Colonists beat British at the Battle of Charleston Harbor, SC forcing the British to suspend operations in the south for the next two years
July 2, 1775 British General Sir William Howe lands an army at Staten Island, NY amassing 35,000 troops
July 2, 1776 Congress passes the Lee Resolution
July 4, 1776 Congress passes the Declaration of Independence
Sept. 17, 1776 Congress approves the Model Treaty
Fall of 1776 Americans are defeated at the Battle of Long Island
Dec. 26, 1776 Battle of Trenton is an American victory- Washington took over 900 prisoners and ammunition
Jan. 3, 1777 Battle of Princeton is an American victory- two successful battles gave new hope to the Americans
July, 1777 Marquis de Lafayette arrives in America and joins the Continental Army
Sept. 1777 Battle of Brandywine is an American defeat which forces congress to flee Philadelphia
Sept. 1777 British occupy Philadelphia
Oct. 1777 Washington is defeated at the Battle of Germantown
Oct. 17, 1777 American victory at the Battle of Saratoga- 5,700 British surrender- resulting in formal French recognition of American Independence
Dec. 1777 Washington sets up his winter headquarters at Valley Forge, PA
Feb. 6, 1778 Franco-American treaties of alliance are signed
Feb. 1778 Prussian Baron Von Steuben arrives and assists in training the Continental force at Valley Forge
July 1778 Continental Army headquarters are established at West Point, NY
July 1778 Articles of Confederation are signed by Congress
Jan. 1779 British forces capture Augusta, GA
June 1779 Spain declares war on Great Britain, but makes no American alliances
Sept 1779 American and French forces are defeated at Savannah, GA
Feb. 1780 British fleet carrying 8,000 men from NY arrive in Charleston, SC
July 1780 French send 5,000 troops to Newport, RI
August 1780 Benedict Arnold is appointed commander of West Point
1780-1781 Cornwallis, Washington, and Lafayette at Yorktown
October 1781 Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown
February 1782 House of Commons votes against waging further war in America
Sept. 3, 1783 Treaty of Paris is signed