Key Events & Battles of
the American Revolution
1775-1781
Paul Revere’s Ride
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW
Lexington & Concord - April 19, 1775
 Captain John Parker (P)
 Thomas Gage & Major Pitcairn
(B)
 British were after the colonists
supplies (weapons @ Concord).
 They met the colonists at
Lexington.
 This was the first shot of the
Rev. War.

“Shot heard all around the world!”
Fort Ticonderoga
May 10, 1775
 Ethan Allen (Green Mt. Boys) & Benedict
Arnold (P)
 The fort was taken without a shot fired.
 59 British cannons were captured and were
on
later used in Boston. “Come
out, you
ol’ rat!”
 Henry Knox named
Commander of artillery
(cannons).
Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill)
June 17, 1775
 Col. William Prescott (P)
 Gen. Thomas Gage & Maj. Gen.





William Howe (B)
The British already failed two times
in capturing the hill.
One the third time they captured it.
The Patriots ran out of
ammunition. “Don’t fire until you
see the whites of their eyes.”
The British lose 1,000 men.
Morale victory for Colonists –
believe in themselves, showed they
could stand up to the British.
Common Sense
January 1776
 Thomas Paine - Author
 126,000 copies sold
 First widely read literature that
openly pushed for
independence from Britain.
 Simply stated that it is
common sense to break away
from England.
 Public opinion begins to swing
to independence.
Declaration of Independence - July 4, 1776
 Thomas Jefferson – wrote original draft and then




presented it to Ben Franklin and John Adams who
made revisions.
Formal statement announcing our break with G.B.
and new status as an independent nation.
Nation’s birth-date.
New motivation in fighting the British.
Act of Treason.
Long Island, NY
July - September 1776
 George Washington (P)
 General William Howe (B)
 32,000 British v. 19,000 Patriots.
 British Victory – take New York /
Colonists retreat into NJ then into
PA.
 British fail to pursue the retreating
colonists.
 Low point in the Revolution for
colonists.
 Washington almost loses his army.
Trenton, NJ
December 25-26, 1776
 George Washington (P)
 Colonel Rall (Hessians -> B)
 Washington plans surprise
crossing of Delaware River on
Christmas night.
 Hessians are partying on
Christmas day.
 Washington attacks drunken
Hessians early in morning.
 Washington saves army and gains
much needed supplies and
confidence of men. Patriot
comeback begins!
Saratoga (Turning Point)
September 19 - October 17, 1777
 John Burgoyne (B)
 Benedict Arnold & Horatio
Gates (P)
 Burgoyne is defeated by the
Patriots who used guerilla
warfare.
 7,000 British surrender.
 Continental Army used their
strengths -knowing the land.
 France enters the war due to
this Patriot win.
Winter at Valley Forge
Winter 1777-1778
 George Washington (P), Lafayette
(France), Von Stueben (Prussian)
 1,000 men die due to elements (no shoes,
clothing, shelter etc.)
 Soldiers are trained by Von Stueben
 Spirits lifted by the spring
 British are 20 mi. away, staying warm in
Philadelphia! They could have attacked!
Treaty of Alliance is Signed
Spring 1778
 Ben Franklin (P)
 Vergennes (Foreign Minister
of France)
 King Louis XVI
 France formally joins the
patriots and enters the war
as an ally.
 France’s support (money,
weapons, navy etc.) now
gives patriots the advantage.
Yorktown, VA
September - October 19, 1781
 George Washington, Rochambeau






(P)
Lord Cornwallis (B)
British are trapped at the James
River.
French Navy blocks the
Chesapeake Bay.
 Blocking the British from
leaving.
8,000 British surrender.
British decide they cannot win and
call it quits!
Last major military engagement of
the war.
Treaty of Paris
September 3, 1783
 John Adams, John Jay and
Ben Franklin
 A treaty is signed.
 Great Britain formally
recognizes the independence
of America.
 America receives all the
territory gained between the
Atlantic and the Mississippi
River.