american revolution major events

Treaty of Paris 1.0

February 10, 1763

France cedes Canada and Louisiana east of Mississippi to Britain. Victory doubles British national debt.

Britain now controls eastern North America but faces massive war debts that will drive taxation policies.

Stamp Act

March 22, 1765

Direct tax on all printed materials—newspapers, legal documents, playing cards. First internal tax levied directly on colonists.

Revenue stamps required on 50+ types of documents. Violates colonial principle of no taxation without representation.

Boston Massacre

March 5, 1770

British soldiers fire into crowd of protesters, killing five including Crispus Attucks. Paul Revere's engraving inflames colonial opinion.

Casualties: 5 colonists killed, 6 wounded

John Adams defends the soldiers in court, securing acquittals for most. Propaganda victory for patriots.

Boston Tea Party

December 16, 1773

116 men disguised as Mohawks dump 342 chests of tea (46 tons) into Boston Harbor. "The most magnificent Movement of all." —John Adams

Value of destroyed tea: £10,000 (roughly $1.7 million today). No other property damaged.

Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)

March–June 1774

Parliament's punitive response: closes Boston Port, revokes Massachusetts charter, allows quartering of troops, permits trials in England.

Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, Quartering Act, Quebec Act.

First Continental Congress

September 5 – October 26, 1774

56 delegates from 12 colonies meet in Philadelphia. Create Continental Association to boycott British goods. Agree to meet again if grievances not addressed.

Declaration of Rights asserts colonial rights. Suffolk Resolves endorse Massachusetts resistance.

Battles of Lexington & Concord

April 19, 1775
The first battle of the war. "The shot heard round the world." British march to seize colonial weapons; 77 militiamen await at Lexington Green.

Casualties: British: 273 | American: 95

Captain Parker: "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon. But if they mean to have a war, let it begin here."

Declaration of Independence

July 4, 1776

Congress adopts Jefferson's declaration: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

56 signers risk execution for treason. Franklin: "We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately."

Crossing the Delaware

December 25–26, 1776

Washington's desperate Christmas gamble. Surprise attack on Trenton captures 900 Hessians, no American combat deaths.

"Victory or Death" was the password. Followed by victory at Princeton on January 3, 1777.

Surrender at Saratoga

October 17, 1777

Burgoyne (brit) surrenders 5,700 troops after failed campaign to split colonies. THE turning point—brings France into the war.

Casualties: British: 5,700 surrendered

Benedict Arnold's heroics at Bemis Heights crucial to victory. France begins negotiations.

Franco-American Alliance

February 6, 1778

France formally allies with United States, providing troops, ships, ammunition, and crucial loans. War becomes global.

Treaty of Alliance and Treaty of Amity and Commerce. France seeks revenge for Seven Years' War losses.

Surrender at Yorktown

October 19, 1781

Cornwallis surrenders 8,000 troops. British band plays "The World Turned Upside Down." Effectively ends the war.

Casualties: British: 8,000 surrendered

Combined Franco-American siege. Cornwallis sends deputy to surrender; Washington sends deputy to receive.

Treaty of Paris 2.0

September 3, 1783

Final peace treaty signed. Britain cedes territory from Atlantic to Mississippi, Canada to Florida. The Revolution ends.

U.S. gains fishing rights, British evacuate, debts and Loyalist property issues unresolved.

Washington Resigns Commision

December 23, 1783

Washington surrenders his commission to Congress at Annapolis, returning power to civilian government. Unprecedented act stuns the world.

King George III: "If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world."

What was George Washington’s involvement?

1) Fires opening shots in 1754 French-Indian War.
2) Assumes command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts. Begins organizing ragtag militia into fighting force.
3) Commands first major American victory: fortifies Dorchester Heights with cannons from Ticonderoga, British forces withdraw to Halifax.
4) His army suffers major defeat in New York (Battle of Long Island)
5) Desperate Christmas gamble - Crossing the Delaware
6) Loses in the Battle of Brandywine
7) Rides into the New York in triumph after last British troops depart
8) Resigns commission to Congress at Annapolis, becoming Cincinnatus

What was Patrick Henry’s involvement?

1) His resolves at Virginia House of Burgesses - only colonial assemblies can tax colonists
2) ‘Give me liberty’ speech to Virginia Convention

What was Samuel Adams’ involvement?

1) Led the secret Sons of Liberty organisation
2) Wrote the Massachusetts Circular Letter
3) Established Committees of Correspondence across Massachusetts