3. American Revolution

1754-1763


The French and Indian War

1754

June 19-July 11 The Albany Congress

1763

Oct. 7 Proclamation of 1763

1764

April 5 The Sugar Act

September 1 The Currency Act

1765

March 22 The Stamp Act

March 24 The Quartering Act of 1765

May 29 Patrick Henry's "If this be treason, make the most of it!" speech

May 30 The Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions

Oct. 7-25 The Stamp Act Congress

1766

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

Dec. 16 The Boston Tea Party

1774

March 31 Boston Port Act, one of the "Intolerable Acts"

May 20 Administration of Justice Act, one of the "Intolerable Acts"

May 20 Massachusetts Government Act, one of the "Intolerable Acts"

June 2 Quartering Act of 1774, one of the "Intolerable Acts"

June 22 Quebec Act, one of the "Intolerable Acts"

Sept. 5-Oct. 26 The First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia and issues Declaration and Resolves

Oct. 10 Battle of Point Pleasant, Virginia (disputed as to whether it was a battle of the American Revolution or the culmination of Lord Dunmore's War)

Oct. 20 The Association (prohibition of trade with Great Britain)

Oct. 24 Galloway's Plan rejected

1775

March 23 Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty or give me death" speech

Apr. 18 The Rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes

Apr. 19 Minutemen and redcoats clash at Lexington and Concord "The shot heard 'round the world."

May 10 Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys seize Fort Ticonderoga

May 10 The Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia

June 15 George Washington named Commander in Chief

June 17 Battle of Bunker Hill: The British drive the Americans from Breed's Hill

July 3 Washington assumes command of the Continental Army

Nov. 10-21 Ninety Six, SC, Patriots sieged

Nov. 13 The patriots under Montgomery occupy Montreal in Canada

Dec. 11 Virginia and NC patriots rout Loyalist troops and burn Norfolk

Dec. 22 Col. Thomson with 1,500 rangers and militia capture Loyalists at Great Canebrake, SC

Dec. 23-30 Snow Campaign, in SC, so-called because patriots are impeded by 15" of snow

Dec. 30-31 American forces under Benedict Arnold fail to seize Quebec

1776

Jan. 1 Daniel Morgan taken prisoner in attempt to take Quebec City

Jan. 15 Paine's "Common Sense" published

Feb. 27 The patriots drive the Loyalists from Moore's Creek Bridge, North Carolina

March 3 The Continental fleet captures New Providence Island in the 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

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; it's sent 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 surrounded by 185 Cherokee Indians, forms a ring and fires outward. It is known as the "Ring Fight."

Aug. 12 Col. Williamson and Andrew Pickens defeat Cherokee Indians and burn Tamassy, an Indian town

Aug. 27 Redcoats defeat the George Washington's army in the Battle of Long Island. Washington's army escapes at night.

Sept. 15 The British occupy New York City

Sept. 16 Generals George Washington, Nathanael Greene, and Israel Putnam triumphantly hold their ground at the Battle of Harlem Heights

Sept. 19 Col. Williamson's patriots attacked by Cherokees at Coweecho River, NC

Oct. 11 Benedict Arnold defeated at the 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).

Nov. 16 The Hessians capture Fort Washington, NY

Nov. 20 Lord Cornwallis captures Fort Lee from Nathanael Greene

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

Apr. 27 Benedict Arnold's troops force a British retreat at Ridgefield, Connecticut.

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

Aug. 6 The Redcoats, with Iroquois support, 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

Sept. 11 The British win the Battle of Brandywine, Pennsylvania

Sept. 16 Rain-out at the Battle of the Clouds, Pennsylvania

Sept. 19 Burgoyne checked by Americans under Gates at Freeman's Farm, NY. This is part of the "Battles of Saratoga."

Sept. 21 Paoli Massacre, PA

Sept. 26 British under Howe occupy Philadelphia

Oct. 4 Americans driven off at the Battle of Germantown

Oct. 7 Burgoyne loses second battle of Freeman's Farm, NY (at Bemis Heights). This is part of the "Battles of Saratoga."

Oct. 17 Burgoyne surrenders to American General Gates at Saratoga, NY

Oct. 22 Hessian attack on Fort Mercer, NJ repulsed

Nov. 16 British capture Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania

Dec. 5-7 Americans repulse British at Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania

Dec. 19 Washington's army retires to winter quarters at Valley Forge

1778

Feb. 6 The United States and France sign the French Alliance

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

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

July 4 George Rogers Clark captures Kaskaskia, a French village south of St. Louis

Aug. 8 French and American forces besiege Newport, RI

Dec. 29 The redcoats occupy Savannah

1779

Feb. 3 Maj. Gen. 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

March 3 British Lt. Col. Jacques Marcus Prevost defeats Americans under Gen. John Ashe at Brier Creek, GA

May 11-13 Maj. General Augustin Prévost (brother of Jacques, see above) breaks his siege when American forces under Maj. Gen. Lincoln approaches

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

Aug. 19 "Light Horse" Harry Lee attacks Paulus Hook, NJ

Aug. 29 Newtown, NY, after two massacres, American forces burn Indian villages

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

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 crush Americans at Waxhaw Creek, SC

June 20 Patriots rout Tories at Ramseur's Mill, NC

July 11 French troops arrive at Newport, RI, to aid the American cause

Aug. 6 Patriots defeat Tories at Hanging Rock, SC

Aug. 16 British rout Americans at Camden, SC

Sept. 23 John André arrested, leading to the exposure of Benedict Arnold's plans to cede West Point to the British

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 overwhelmingly defeats British Col. Tarleton at Cowpens, SC

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

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

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

Sept. 3 The United States and Great Britain sign the Treaty of Paris

Nov. 25 British troops leave New York City

Dec. 23 Washington resigns as Commander

1787

Sept. 17 U.S. Constitution signed

1788

June 21 U.S. Constitution adopted, when New Hampshire ratifies it