American Revolution (1775-83)

1775 (Battle of Lexington and Concord)

First battle of the revolution

• Redcoats outnumbered minutemen, but minutemen won

• Redcoats retreated with shots fired after them

Midnight of Paul Revere: “British are coming!”

1775 (2nd Continental Congress)

Colonists met to send Olive Branch Petition to King George III

• asked the king for help

• englishmen rights

• repeal coercive acts

King ripped up the petition !!

1775 (Bunker Hill)

• “don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes”- colonists

• British attacked 3 times with many casualties

• Colonists determination scared the redcoats

1776

Common Sense (Thomas Paine)

• Advocates for a republic away from monarchy

• worded simply

Declaration of Independence

• Thomas Jefferson (Ben Franklin, John Adams)

• Lists 27 grievances

1777-1778

Battle of Saratoga

• led to France to join the war

• Supported the colonists’ cause (1778)

1781

Articles of Confederation

• first structure for government

Battle of Yorktown

• end of war

• Gen. Cornwallis surrenders after French navy blocks them

1783 Treaty of Paris

• peace treaty between Britain and Americans IN Paris

• French weren’t involved ! (Ironic)

  • planning on stealing land back from America