Revolutionary War
Sequence of Events
Lexington & Concord
April 1775
Lexington & Concord, Massachusetts
British Won Lexington/Americans Concord
British were searching
outside Boston for the
Patriot/Rebel weapons and
militia to suppress any
uprising.
This was known as, “the
shot heard around the
world.” (signified to the
world the
Americans/British were at
odds.
British won on the field
(Lexington), American militia
rounded up more volunteers
and surprise attacked the British
on their retreat back to Boston
(Concord) and militia won
It was the first battle of
the Revolutionary War
and recruited or
convinced more colonists
to turn to the Patriot side.
This document was how the
American Patriots formally
announced grievances
against King George III and
announced severing ties
with England.
-Colonies and Britain
officially at war
-The letter was also used as
a speech around the states
to stir up support for
war/independence.
-American Colonies
become the American
STATES
-All 13 colonies/states
unanimously agreed to
declare independence.
Thomas Jefferson (Author)
Ben Franklin
Patrick Henry
John Adams
John Hancock
Battle of Saratoga
September-October, 1777
Saratoga, New York
Americans
The Americans had
more troops than the
British
This is considered the
turning point of the
war, because once
the French heard of
the British surrender,
we formally had a
French alliance in the
war (not just French
volunteers.)
Americans won the battle,
it convinced the French
that the Americans had a
This alliance was
good chance to win the
war and officially started to called the, “FrancoAmerican Alliance.”
fight with them.
Winter of Valley Forge
Winter of 1777-1778
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
-Starvation
-Started with low moral
-Freezing temperatures
-Disease
-Keep the soldiers fed
-Train the soldiers to prepare
for the spring with help of
French (Marquis de Lafayette)
-Control Small Pox
-Made the troops
mentally
stronger/overcame
adversity
-Created a more disciplined
Fighting force.
-Meanwhile British had
become complacent.
Battle of Yorktown
September-October 1781
Yorktown, Virginia
Americans
Americans blocked the
British at Chesapeake
Bay by land, the French
fleet came in from the
south and blocked them
in by sea.
British surrendered,
Americans won and
it ended the war.
It was the final
battle of the
Revolutionary
War, which
prompted the
negotiations for
the Treaty of
Paris 1783.
Treaty of Paris 1783
September 1783
Paris, France
1. Acknowledged the US to be independent.
2. Established the boundaries between US and
British territories in North America
3. Recognizing debts had to be paid to creditors on
either side.
-Officially ended the war
In attendance: Ben Franklin
John Jay and John Adams
-Americans gained independence
-Gained the land they wanted
west of Appalachian Mountains.
-Lost their control of the
colonies (not good for
mercantilism)
-Kept lands in the American
continent