Major Events in The American Revolution

1765 Stamp Act

A tax imposed by Britain on colonists, in which colonists would have to pay taxes on commercial and legal papers, newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, cards and dice. This tax was imposed after the French and Indian War so Britain could pay off their expences. The colonists resisted because they felt they had already paid with the lives of colonists who died helping in the war. The colonists also thought it was unfair for Britain to tax them without their say. The Stamp Act was a major turning point leading to the war. It was the first time the colonists felt as one body separate from Britain. The colonists seemed to be "getting out of hand" to Britain, so they sent troops to enforce the law and keep peace. The troops failed, and after several confrontations, the Revolutionary War began.

April 19, 1775 Lexington and Concord

This battle was won by Major Pitcairn [British] over Joseph Warren [American]. The Americans fought by taking hold of the Old North Bridge and refusing to let go. That was the battle of Concord. We later lost at Lexington when Major Pitcairn was assisted by a fellow Englishman, General Hugh Percy. Joseph Warren died shortly after the battle of Lexington. The battles of Lexington and Concord were the first Battles of the Revolutionary War. These battles took place in what is today Concord, Mass, west of Boston.

American soldier
As you can see, not all American soldiers wore uniforms. Some wore whatever clothes they had.

June 17, 1775 Bunker Hill

This battle was won by Sir Thomas Gage [British] over Colonel William Prescott [American]. This is the battle at which Colonel Prescott said, "Don't one of you fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" The Americans didn't, and gave the British staggering losses. Sir Thomas Gage sent two more waves of troops before we ran out of ammunition and surrendered. The battle of Bunker Hill took place in Charleston, Mass., north of Boston.

Sept. 25, 1775 Montreal

This battle took place in Quebec,Canada, north of New York state. It was won by Sir Guy Carleton [British] over Brig. General Richard Montgomery [American]. Our attack was beaten back, serving us a few casualties.

June 28, 1776 Charleston

Colonel William Moultrie [American] won out this battle over Sir Peter Parker [British]. Colonel Moultrie built Fort Moultrie on Sullivine's Island, which was in Charleston Harbor. Moultrie winning the battle kept the British from fighting in the southern states for the next two years. The battle of Charleston took place in Charleston, South Carolina, south of Myrtle Beach.

Dec. 26, 1776 Trenton

This battle was won by [American] General Washington over German [Hessian] mercenaries under the command of Sir Johann Rall [British]. This battle was not a battle against British troops, but Germans, allied with the British. Washington used his well known sly tricks to win the battle. During the fight, Sir Rall was mortally wounded. Trenton was fought at Princeton, New Jersey, south of New York City.

Hessians
Hessian troops were allied with British forces. They helped British troops fight American troops in the Revolutionary War.

Jan. 3, 1777 Princeton

The battle of Princeton was won by General Washington [American] over Sir Charles Cornwallis [British]. Washington waited until night, and left his army's campfires burning to make it seem they were asleep, while they actually surrounded the British forces. The Americans attacked just before sunrise. The victory raised morale of all the troops. The battle of Princeton took place in Princeton, New Jersey, south of New York City.

Oct. 17, 1777 Saratoga

Daniel Morgan [American] won this out over Sir John Burgoyne [British]. Daniel Morgan ordered his troops to attack until the British retreated. When the British did retreat, the Americans pinned them in their own camp and surrounded them. Saratoga took place in Saratoga, New York, just north of New York City.

June 28, 1778 Monmouth

Sir Henry Clinton [British] lost Monmouth to General Washington [American], despite a major screw-up in the battle. Washington ordered General Charles Lee to tell the troops, "Attack!" But Lee got scared and ordered a retreat. Washington had to rally the troops and send them marching back, where they fought fiercely and won. After the battle, Lee was court martialed and relieved of duty for two years. Monmouth was fought in Freehold, New Jersey, north of Trenton.

Feb. 24, 1779 Vincennes

George Rogers Clark [American] won this battle over British Forces. George Clark was not a soldier, or even in the army. He was a frontiersman sent by Virginia to obtain land northwest of the Ohio River. Vincennes took place in what is today Vincennes, Indiana, south of Kokomo.

Jan. 17, 1781 Cowpens

Cowpens was won by Daniel Morgan [American] over Sir Banastre Tarleton [British]. The Americans fought by just shooting and shooting until Sir Tarleton had to order a retreat, and a very sloppy one at that. This battle was named after some cow pens that were in the middle of the battle field. Cowpens took place in Cowpens, just north of Myrtle Beach.

March 15, 1781 Guilford Court House

The battle of Guilford Court House was won by Gen. Nathaniel Greene [American] over Sir Charles Cornwallis [British]. When Guilford Court House was won, it ended British control of both North and South Carolina. The battle of Guilford Court House took place in Guilford County, North Carolina, north of Greensboro.

Oct. 14, 1781 Yorktown

Yorktown was the last battle in the Revolutionary War, and it was won by General Washington [American] over Sir Charles Cornwallis [British]. The Americans used all the ammunition they had and blasted the British to make a siege 20 days long. Cornwallis finally surrendered after his troops were exhausted and his gunpowder gone. The siege of Yorktown was fought in Yorktown, Virginia, east of Williamsburg.

September 3, 1783 Treaty of Paris

The treaty that ended the Revolutionary War. By its terms, America had independence and owned the land south of Canada and the land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River.

Timeline of the American Revolution

Issues of the American Revolution

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