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Create a timeline to show the major events and battles during the American War for Independence

Major events and battles (names, dates, brief description of each)

include images (voluntary)

Possible/Useful Sources
•http://theamericanrevolution.org/battles.aspx

•https://www.history.com/news/battles-american-revolution-victory

•https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/major-battles-of-the-american-revolutionary-war.html

•https://www.britannica.com/study/american-revolution-battles

•https://www.nps.gov/subjects/americanrevolution/timeline.htm

•https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/american-revolution-faqs

•https://www.revolutionary-war.net/battles-of-the-revolutionary-war/

•https://american-history.net/war-of-independence/american-revolution-battles/

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April 19, 1775
Start of the American Revolutionary War
neither side expected to really fight
- a gunshot went off ("a shot heard around the world") -> forcing the British to attack

Battle of Lexington - the Americans were easily defeated = the British victory, few casualties (some were killed, the rest fled)
Battle of Concord: the British suffered heavy losses, unfamiliar and surprised by the Americans' tactics, Americans

both the Americans and the British suffered their first casualties
politically disastrous for the British
persuaded many Americans to support the cause of Independence

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May 10, 1775 (New York)
the first offensive victory for American forces
Fort Ticonderoga - strategic position between Canada and the Hudson River Valley
the British defended it lightly, not taking the Americans seriously (about 50 men)
Americans crossed the lake to surprise still-sleeping British
one of the first real victories of the Americans, boosted the colonists' morale -> able to get transported to Boston, use in the siege of British-held Boston

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June 1775, Massachusetts
American troops were defeated by the British = the British victory
- inflicted heavy casualties on the crown troops
- prepared and boosted the confidence of inexperienced Americans in the upcoming battles

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April 1775-March 17, 1776
Americans had boosted confidence, continuing the efforts to take the city of Boston from the British
- brought 50 cannons, bombarding the city's British defenders (for two days!)
general George Washington moved troops into position at Dorchester Heights, overlooking the city
- American troops were in indefensible positions - general William Howe withdrew

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July 4, 1776
Continental Congress adopted the declaration of independence
written mainly by Thomas Jefferson
summarized the colonists' motivations for seeking independence
Main ideas:
- People have certain Inalienable Rights including Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
- All Men are created equal
- Individuals have a civic duty to defend these rights for themselves and others

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December 26, 1776
losing the Battles of White Plains and Forts
December 24, 1776 - Washington loaded 2,400 men into boats and crossed icy Delaware, then marched to Trenton - caught 1,500 Hessian troops by surprise
- most were captured, and their commander Colonel Johann Rall was shot and mortally wounded
- Hessians surrendered to Washington = victory for the Americans

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1777-1778
the turning point
British - marching from Canada (general John Burgoyne), the other on the Hudson river (William Howe)
-> the Americans prevented the British from seizing control of New York's Hudson River Valley = American victory
involved France (secretly aiding Americans since 1776)
- firstly a conflict between Britain and its colonies -> became an international war
September 11, 1777 - Americans defeated

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February 6, 1778
France and America signed the Treaty of Alliance
- France provided America with troops and warships
- America receiving training and discipline from France

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June 28, 1778 (New Jersey)
Henry Clinton's troops x Washington's army
the battle ended in a draw
-> British army got to New York safely

France and America besieged Newport Rhode Island

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October 7, 1780 (South Carolina)
Americans and the British met on a rocky hilltop
Americans attacked Ferguson from all sides, shooting him off his horse, and killing him
- his force surrendered (suffering heavy casualties) = American victory
the battle demonstrated that Americans could fire, retreat and reload quickly enough to defeat a British bayonet charge
- a potent new technique

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January 17, 1781
British fought to establish control over South
- general Washington sent forces after them
-> mission to cut British supply lines
Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton (an elite British officer, a brutal reputation) - allowed his forces to massacre Americans who tried to surrender
the British underestimated how many men the Americans had
military proweness and skilled leadership, weakening the British to regain the southern colonies = American victory

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September 29 - October 19, 1781
both the British and the Americans were exhausted, struggling
- British - lack of public support
- Americans - war debt, food shortage, sagging morale
general Washington and Lt. general Comte de Rochambeau (who had French soldiers under his command) decided to march to Yorktown, Virginia (where general Cornwallis's troops were resting), instead of to New York City - about 8,000 American and French soldiers (later, 12,000 more soldiers joined them in Yorktown)
French defeated the British in the Battle of the Capes - seizing control of the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay
-> preventing British ships from coming to help Cornwallis

the Americans began bombarding the British
October 14 - the Americans and French attacked the British redoubts, capturing some fortifications
October 17 - the British sent an officer to discuss surrender terms
- October 19 - the last major battles were over

Americans had won

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September 3, 1783
signed by the Americans and the British
ending the war of the American Revolution
- recognizing the Americans' independence
- granted the Americans significant western territory
officially end of the war (there were some conflicts between the years 1781-1783)

American negotiators
- John Addams
- Benjamin Franklin
- John Jay
- Thomas Jefferson
- Henry Laurens