Timeline of the American Revolution
The following timeline highlights some of the events that led to the creation
of the United States of America. Click on the links to learn more. Watch for more links in the future.
1754
The French & Indian War (1754-1763)
June 19-July 11 The Albany Congress
1763
October 7 Proclamation of 1763
1764
April 5 The Sugar Act
September 1 The Currency Act
1765
March 24 The Quartering Act
May 29 Patrick Henry Speech - "If this be treason, make the most of it!"
May 30 The Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions
1766
March 18 The Declaratory Act
March 18 The Declaratory Act
1767
June 29 The Townshend Revenue Act
1768
August 1 Boston Non-Importation Agreement
1770
March 5 The Boston Massacre
1772
June 9 The Gaspee Affair
1773
May 10 The Tea Act
1774
THE INTOLERABLE ACTS
March 31 Boston Port Act
May 20 Administration of Justice Act
May 20 Massachusetts Government Act
Quartering Act of 1774
June 22 Quebec Act
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FIRST CONGRESSIONAL CONGRESS
September 5- October 26 Meets in Philadelphia
- Issues Declaration of Resolves
October 10 Battle of Point Pleasant, Virginia
October 24 Galloway's Plan - Rejected
1775
March 23 Patrick Henry Speech - "Give me liberty or give me death!"
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April 18 Paul Revere & William Dawes rides
April 19 "The shot heard 'round the world" - Minutemen and redcoats clash at Lexington and Concord.
May 10 Fort Ticonderoga seized by Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys
May 10 - December 12, 1776 THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS meets in Philadelphia
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June 15 George Washington named Commander in Chief
June 17 The Battle of Bunker Hill: Americans driven from Breed's Hill
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July 3 Washington assumes command of the Continental Army
July 5 Olive-Branch Petition sent to King George III
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November 10-12 Ninety Six South Carolina Patriots sieged
November 13 Montgomery's patriots occupy Montreal, Canada
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December 11 Virginia and North Carolina Patriots defeat Loyalists and burn Norfolk
December 22 Col. Thomson and his men capture Loyalist at Great Canebreak, South Carolina
December 23-30 Snow Campaign in South Carolina
December 20-31 Benedict Arnold fails to seize Quebec
1776
January 1 Daniel Morgan taken Prisoner while attempting to take Quebec City
January 10 “Common Sense” published by Thomas Paine
February 27 Patriots drive Loyalists from Moore’s Creek Bridge, North Carolina
March 3 The Continental fleet captures New Providence Island, Bahamas
March 17 The British evacuate Boston; British Navy moves to Halifax, Canada
June 8 Patriots fail to take Three Rivers, Quebec
June 12 The Virginia Declaration of Rights
June 28 Sullivan's Island, SC, failed British naval attack
June 29 The First Virginia Constitution
June 28 Patriots decisively defeat the British Navy at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina
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July 1 At the instigation of British agents, the Cherokee attack along the entire southern frontier
July 1-4 Congress debates and revises the Declaration of Independence.
July 4 Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence and sends it to the printer
July 8 The Declaration of Independence is read publicly
July 15 Lyndley's Fort, SC, Patriots fend off attack by Indians and Tories dressed as Indians
Aug. 1 Ambushed by Cherokees, Patriots are saved by a mounted charge at Seneca, SC
Aug. 2 Delegates begin to sign The Declaration of Independence
Aug. 10 Tugaloo River, SC, Andrew Pickens defeats Cherokees
Aug. 12 Andrew Pickens' detachment and the "Ring Fight."
Aug. 12 Col. Williamson and Andrew Pickens defeat Cherokee Indians and burn Tamassy, an Indian town
Aug. 27 Washington's army in the Battle of Long Island- escapes at night.
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Sept. 15 The British occupy New York City
Sept. 16 Washington triumphantly holds ground at the Battle of Harlem Heights
Sept. 19 Col. Williamson's patriots attacked by Cherokees at Coweecho River, NC
Sept. 22 Nathan Hale hanged by British
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Oct. 11 Benedict Arnold defeated at Battle of Valcour Island (Lake Champlain), but delayed British advance
Oct. 28: The Americans retreat from White Plains, New York.
British casualties (~300) higher than American (~200).
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Nov. 16: The Hessians capture Fort Washington, NY
Nov. 20: Lord Cornwallis captures Fort Lee from Nathanael Greene
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Dec. 26: Washington crosses the Delaware and captures Trenton from Hessians
1777
Jan. 3: Washington victorious at Princeton
Jan. 6-May 28: Washington winters in Morristown, NJ
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Apr. 26: Sybil Ludington's 40 mile ride to summon the militia.
Apr. 27: Battle at Ridgefield (Connecticut). Benedict Arnold's troops force a British retreat.
May 20: Treaty of DeWitt's Corner, SC: Cherokees lose most of their land east of the mountains
June 14: Flag Resolution
July 5: St. Clair surrenders Fort Ticonderoga to the British
July 27: Lafayette arrives in Philadelphia
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Aug. 6: The Redcoats and Iroquois, force the patriots back at Oriskany, NY, but then have to evacuate
Aug. 16: American Militia under General Stark victorious at the Battle of Bennington, VT
(actually fought in Walloomsac, New York, several miles to the west)
Aug. 23: British withdraw from Fort Stanwix, NY, upon hearing of Benedict Arnold's approach
Aug. 25: British General Howe lands at Head of Elk, Maryland
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Sept. 11: The British win the Battle of Brandywine, Pennsylvania
Sept. 16: Rain-out at the Battle of the Clouds, Pennsylvania
Sept. 21: Paoli Massacre, PA
Sept. 26: British under Howe occupy Philadelphia
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Oct. 4: Americans driven off at the Battle of Germantown
Oct. 22: Hessian attack on Fort Mercer, NJ repulsed
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Nov. 16: British capture Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania
Dec. 5-7: Americans repulse British at Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania
Dec. 18: A Day of Thanksgiving Declared - (to thank God for the victory at Saratoga)
Dec. 19: Washington's army retires to winter quarters at Valley Forge
1778
Feb. 6: The United States and France sign the French Alliance
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March 7: British General William Howe replaced by Henry Clinton
May 20: Battle of Barren Hill, Pennsylvania. Lafayette with 500 men and about 50 Oneida Indians successfully evade British onslaught
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June 18: British abandon Philadelphia and return to New York
June 19: Washington's army leaves Valley Forge
June 28: The Battle of Monmouth Court House ends in a draw
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July 4: George Rogers Clark captures Kaskaskia, a French village south of St. Louis
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Aug. 8: French and American forces besiege Newport, RI
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Dec. 29: The redcoats occupy Savannah
1779
Feb. 3: Major General Moultrie defeats British detachment at Port Royal Island, SC
Feb. 14: Patriots Andrew Pickens and Elijah Clarke beat Loyalists at Kettle Creek, GA
Feb. 23-24: American George Rogers Clark captures Vincennes (in what is now Indiana) on the Wabash in the Western campaign
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March 3: British Lt. Col. Jacques Marcus Prevost defeats Americans/Gen. John Ashe at Brier Creek, GA
May 11-13: Maj. General Augustin Prévost (brother of Jacques, above) breaks his siege when American forces under Maj. Gen. Lincoln approaches
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June 20: Stono River, SC, Maj. Gen. Lincoln inflicts extensive British casualties in indecisive battle
June 21: Spain declares war on Great Britain July 8: Fairfield, CT, burned by British July 11: Norwalk, CT, burned by British July 15-16: American "Mad" Anthony Wayne captures Stony Point, NY
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Aug. 19: "Light Horse" Harry Lee attacks Paulus Hook, NJ
Aug. 29: Newtown, NY, after two massacres, American forces burn Indian villages
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Sept. 23: John Paul Jones, aboard the Bonhomme Richard, captures British man-of-war Serapis near English coast
Sept. 28: The Tappan Massacre ("No Flint" Grey kills 30 Americans by bayonet)
Oct. 9 American attempt to recapture Savannah, GA fails
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Nov.-June 23, 1780 Washington's 2nd winter at Morristown, NJ (the harshest winter of the 18th century)
1780
May 12: British capture Charleston, SC
May 29: British beat Americans at Waxhaw Creek, SC
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June 20: Patriots defeat Tories at Ramseur's Mill, NC
July 11: French troops arrive at Newport, RI, to aid the American cause
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Aug. 6: Patriots defeat Tories at Hanging Rock, SC
Aug. 16: British beat Americans at Camden, SC
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Sept. 23: John André arrested, leading to the exposure of Benedict Arnold's plans to cede West Point to the British
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Oct. 7: King's Mountain, SC: battle lasts 65 minutes. American troops led by Isaac Shelby and John Sevier defeat Maj. Patrick Ferguson and one-third of General Cornwallis's army
Oct. 14: Washington names Nathanael Greene commander of the Southern Army
1781
Jan. 1: Mutiny of unpaid Pennsylvania soldiers
Jan. 17: Patriot Morgan defeats British Col. Tarleton at Cowpens, SC
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Feb. 1: The Battle of Cowan's Ford, Huntersville, NC
March 2: Articles of Confederation adopted
March 15: British win costly victory at Guilford Courthouse, NC
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April 25: Greene defeated at Hobkirk's Hill, SC
May 15: British Major Andrew Maxwell cedes Fort Granby, SC to patriot Lieutenant Colonel Henry Lee
June 6: Americans recapture Augusta, GA
June 18: British hold off Americans at Ninety Six, SC
July 6: "Mad" Anthony Wayne repulsed at Green Springs Farm, VA
Sept. 8: Greene defeated at Eutaw Springs, SC
Sept. 15: French fleet drives British naval force from Chesapeake Bay
Oct. 19: Cornwallis surrounded on land and sea by Americans and French and surrenders at Yorktown, VA
1782
March 20: Lord North resigns as British prime minister
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July 11: British evacuate Savannah, GA
Nov. 30: British and Americans sign preliminary Articles of Peace
Dec. 14: British leave Charleston, SC
1783
April 19: Congress ratifies preliminary peace treaty
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Sept. 3: The Treaty of Paris signed by the United States and Great Britain
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Nov. 25: British troops leave New York City
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Dec. 23: Washington resigns as Commander