Download Timeline of the American Revolution Notes 1. Battle of Lexington

Timeline of the American Revolution Notes
1. Battle of Lexington and Concord
Date: April 1775
Description: Colonists were hiding a large supply of gunpowder and weapons in a nearby village of
Concord so the British troops decided to head there from Boston to seize them. What they did not know,
was that the colonists had already been warned that they were coming and prepared to fire if fired upon.
The first shot rang in Lexington, no one knowing who had fired, but shots from the British and the
colonists began. After the British victory, they were off to Concord to seize the weapons, which the
colonists had moved to a different location. In the end, the British ended up retreating back to Boston
because they had fired on the colonists, expecting them to run, but it ended up to be the British that ran.
2. Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
Date: May 1775
Description: Ethan Allen and Captain Benedict Arnold of the Connecticut militia led a small force of
Green Mountain Boys to attempt to capture Fort Ticonderoga. Without any injury or incident, they
succeeded. In addition, they looted the belongings of the British garrison such as cannons and other
armaments.
3. Second Continental Congress meets
Date: May 1775
Description: A convention of delegates from the thirteen colonies that met soon after the American
Revolutionary War on May 10, 1775 in Philadelphia, PA, was known as the Second Continental
Congress. This managed the colonial war effort and began moving towards independence with the
adoption of the United States Declaration of Independence soon afterwards on July 4th. America is what
it is today because of how they raised armies, directed strategy, appointed diplomats, and made formal
treaties.
4. Battle of Bunker Hill
Date: June 1775
Description: When the Battle of Lexington ended, the patriot militia controlled the hills surrounding
Boston so when they heard that the British were planning to attack Bunker Hill, they sent 1,600 men to
set up fortifications on Breed’s Hill, which was closer to Boston. Then, General Howe led 2,600 soldiers
up Breed’s Hill to attack. In the end, Americans were forced to retreat, which meant the British controlled
Breed’s hill although they lost 226 men and 828 were injured.
5. Washington named Commander in Chief
Date: June 1775
Description: Washington was a daring Commander in Chief and being an excellent military leader, he
won victories for America by using the surprise strategy when attacking other troops and capturing
different locations.
6. Battle of Quebec
Date: December 1775
Description: This battle was fought on December 31st, 1775 between the Americans and British, who
were defending the city, Quebec. The Americans were defeated and Richard Montgomery was killed,
Benedict Arnold was wounded, and Daniel Morgan and more than 400 men were taken as prisoners.
7. British withdraw from Boston
Date: March 1776
Description: The British commander, William Howe, realized he could no longer hold the town of
Boston, and chose to evacuate it. This was because cannons were brought over, used to overlook Boston
and its harbor, but threatening the British naval supply lifeline.
8. Declaration of Independence issued
Date : July 1776
Description: The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress to state that the
thirteen American colonies were no longer a part of the British empire. July 4th is celebrated each year in
America to celebrate the day that the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Congress.
9. Battle of Long Island
Date: August 1776
Description: In the hopes of protecting New York from the British, General Washington maneuvered his
troops to Long Island. He occupied and fortified Brooklyn Heights, which was across the East River
from the city. Washington had a strong position, but very inexperienced and undisciplined troops. In
addition, the British had complete control of the water so both the East River and Long Island Sound were
filled with British war ships. Washington only had a few row boats manned by the famous Marblehead
fishermen. Therefore, they were defeated.
10. British Occupy New York
Date: September 1776
Description: After defeating Washington, General Howe landed around 12,000 of his men in Lower
Manhattan, and quickly gained control of New York.
11. Battle of Trenton/ Crossing the Delaware
Date: December 1776
Description: Washington's crossing of the Delaware River was the first move in a planned surprise attack
organized by George Washington against the Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey. The Battle of
Trenton began when The Hessians had lowered their guard and thought they were safe from the
Americans. While they were asleep, Washington's forces caught them off guard and before the Hessians
could resist, they were taken prisoner. Almost two thirds of the 1,500-man garrison was captured, and
only a few troops escaped across Assunpink Creek.
12. Battle of Brandywine
Date: September 1777
Description: This battle was fought in the area surrounding Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania and the
Brandywine River. The battle began while there was a heavy fog, helping to keep the British covered
while attacking the Americans. The goal of General Howe this time, was to occupy Philadelphia. It was a
victory for the British and Philadelphia, the revolutionary capital, was left undefended.
13. British occupy Philadelphia
Date: September 1777
Description: The British gained victory over the Americans in the Battle of Brandywine. Therefore,
General Howe and his British army had occupied Philadelphia. The British thought this would end the
Revolutionary War, but it did not.
14. Battle of Saratoga
Date: September-October 1777
Description: This was the turning point in the Revolutionary War. There were two battles in Saratoga,
New York. During the first battle, the British lost two men for every one American casualty. During the
second battle, British losses were four to one. Burgoyne, the British general, ended up surrendering.
15. Articles of Confederation issued
Date: November 1777
Description: The Congress asked for the representatives to meet in Philadelphia to discuss what could be
changed to improve the national government. This was because in the Articles of Confederation, there
were weaknesses such as that it was hard for the Congress to pass laws since 9/13 states needed to agree
before any law could be passed and that were many disputes among the states since each state regulated
its own trade.
16. Encampment at Valley Forge
Date: November 1777-June 1778
Description: Washington and his army encamped at Valley Forge, where they stayed for the six months
following. During the Winter, 2,500 men out of 10,000 died from a variety of diseases and exposure.
However, eventually, the army emerged in good order because of a training program.
17.France becomes an ally
Date: May 1778
Description: The Americans needed money, military supplies, and other things if they wanted to win the
war against the British so they needed to find an ally. France was perfect since they had lost the Seven
Years War against the British and wanted revenge. They began secretly sending the Americans supplies
and this, later on, helped them win the war.
18.Battle of Monmouth Courthouse
Description: This battle was an American
Revolutionary War battle that was fought on June
28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The
Continental Army that was led by General George
Washington attacked the British Army that was
commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry
Clinton as they were exiting the Monmouth Court
House.
Date: June 1778
19. Fall of Savannah
Date: December 1778
Description: Savannah was considered to be a key port by the British. In November 1778, Henry Clinton
sent 3500 regulars and Tories against Savannah. This port was the base where the British would have
access to the southern American colonies as well as the West Indies. Savannah was defended by about a
thousand militia from Georgia and South Carolina.
20.Spain becomes an ally
Date: July 1779
Description: Spain saw that France had allied with the Americans and thought that they had a chance of
winning so they also sided with them. Plus, Spain had had forts taken away from the British in 1763 and
wanted to get them back for it.
21.Siege of Charleston, SC
Date: March- May 1780
Description: The Siege of Charleston was a major battle that took place towards the end of the American
Revolutionary War, as the British began to shift their strategic focus towards the American Southern
Colonies. After six weeks of siege, Continental Army Major, General Benjamin Lincoln, surrendered
forces numbering about 5,000 to the British. It was the biggest loss of troops suffered by the Continental
Army in the war.
22.Benedict Arnold's Treason is Discovered
Date: September 1780
Description: Benedict Arnold was a Major General to the Continental Army and in addition, was also a
Brigadier General to the British Army. When his treason was discovered by the Continental Army, he
fled down the Hudson River to the British sloop-of-war Vulture, trying to avoid being captured by the
forces of George Washington.
23. French and British Battle in Chesapeake Bay Date: September 1781
Description: This battle took place near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay on September 5, 1781, between the
British, who were led by Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Graves and the French, who were led by Rear
Admiral François Joseph Paul de Grasse. The battle ended up being inconclusive, but it was a major
defeat for the British since it prevented the Royal Navy from reinforcing the blockaded forces of General
Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia. In addition, it prevented British interference with the transport of
French and Continental Army troops and provisions to Yorktown via Chesapeake Bay. Because of this,
Cornwallis surrendered his army after the Battle of Yorktown. The major consequence of Cornwallis's
surrender was the beginning of negotiations that eventually resulted in peace and British recognition of
the independent United States of America.
24. Battle of Yorktown
Date: September 1781
Description: This battle was a victory for a combination of the Continental forces, which were led by
General George Washington and the French forces, which were led by the Comte de Rochambeau. While
this was happening, the British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis, experienced a
loss. It was the last major land battle of the American Revolutionary War in North America.
25. Cornwallis Surrenders
Date: October 1781
Description: Lord Cornwallis’s surrender ceremony took place on October 19th, 1781. Cornwallis was
absent since he claimed to be ill. With the capture of over 8,000 British soldiers, negotiations between the
United States and Great Britain began, resulting in the Treaty of Paris in 1783.