Revolutionary War Timeline
By: Carmen Voss
The American Indian War
The American Indian war was fought by the British, Colonists, and
Native Americans on one side and the French and other Native
Americans on the other, it began in 1754. The French surrendered in
1760, a year after losing Quebec. The war was officially ended in 1763
after the Treaty of Paris was signed. This war cost the British
MILLIONS of dollars. To pay off their debt, the British began to enforce
taxes on colonial goods (Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Quartering Act, etc),
creating the first spark of rebellion.
French and Indian
War Pictures
The Boston massacre
March 5, 1770- five colonists were killed when British soldiers fired into
a crowd of mad colonists. Colonists called this attack the “Boston
Massacre,” claiming it was a deliberate British attack on innocent
civilians. The use of the word massacre is considered a hyperbole,
therefore making this the first evidence of propaganda in the United
States.
The First Continental Congress
September 1774- delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies
gathered in Philadelphia. This gathering is known as the First
Continental Congress. During the meeting the delegates agreed to form
the minute men, boycott certain goods, and create a Declaration of
Rights against British actions.
First Continental
Congress Pictures
Lexington and Concord
April 18, 1774- Thomas Gage (British general) was ordered to capture
the patriot leaders and the gum powder and weapons the patriots had
in Concord. Gage took 700 British troops to Concord. The alarm riders
notified the minutemen that “the British are coming!” 70 minutemen
responded, meeting the British soldiers in Lexington where eight
colonists were killed (Shot heard around the world). By the time the
British reached Concord, they were greeted by a stronger group of
minute men. Many of the British soldiers were killed and the
Revolutionary War had officially begun.
Battle of Bunker Hill
After the battles in Lexington and Concord, the British army fell back to
Boston where they were met by a militia of 10,000 men. The British
defeated the militia on June 17, 1775, but it gave the colonists hope in
the resistance with fighting a more experienced army.
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration formally announced the breaking away of the United
States from Great Britain. The document expressed that man has three
main “inalienable rights”: “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” It
also expressed the colonists discontent with the King’s unfair laws and
taxes on the colonies. The final document was given to the congress on
June 28, 1776 to be reviewed. The declaration was signed on July 2,
1776. Independence Day is celebrated two days later on July 4, 1776.
Cornwallis surrenders in Yorktown, VA
July 1781: Cornwallis took his army to Chesapeake Bay, after being
forced towards the coast by Lafayette’s army, to wait for the aid of a
British ship. Washington commanded Lafayette to keep the British
soldiers stuck on the bay and gathered 17,000 troops to attack the
British by sea. With no other choice Cornwallis surrendered on October
19, 1781.
Surrender of
Cornwallis
Pictures
U.S. and Great Britain Sign the Treaty of Paris
The British were officially defeated by the colonists. The Treaty of Paris
was signed on September 3, 1783. By signing the treaty, Great Britain
was finally acknowledging the independence of the United States.
Signing of the Treaty of Paris
Pictures
U.S. Constitution Signed
On September 17, 1787, the Constitutional Convention took action due
to the dissatisfaction with the Articles of Confederation and the need for
a strong central government the United States was lacking. Secret
debates and compromises took place for four months, resulting in the
submission of the Constitution to the Colonies for approval. Although it
was close in some state, the Constitution was signed and a new
Federal government was put into motion in 1789.