Revolutionary War Timeline
The Revolutionary War Timeline covers the conflicts and battles fought during the American War of Independence. The American Revolutionary War Timeline covers the revolution of the American Colonies against Great Britain from 1775 to 1783.April 19, 1775
Shots are fired at the Battle of Lexington. The Battle of Concord where weapons depot destroyed. "Minute Men" force British troops back to Boston. George Washington takes command of the Continental Army and the Revolutionary War begins on April 19, 1775
April 23, 1775
The Provincial Congress in Massachusetts orders 13,600 American soldiers to be mobilized and volunteers begin a year long Siege of Boston which is held by the British.
May 10, 1775
Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold lead the Capture of Fort Ticonderoga in New York which contains weapons
May 15, 1775
Congress places the colonies in a state of defence
May 27, 1775
The Siege of Boston included the Battle of Chelsea Creek
June 15, 1775
George Washington appointed general and commander-in-chief of the new Continental Army.
June 17, 1775
Battle of Bunker Hill
July 5, 1775
Olive Branch Petition aimed at reconciliation with Great Britain, which fails
July 6, 1775
Declaration on the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms stating that Americans are "resolved to die free men rather than live as slaves.
December 31, 1775
British Victory at the The Battle of Quebec
January, 1776
Thomas Paine's Common Sense published providing strong arguments for American independence.
March 4-17, 1776
American forces capture Dorchester Heights and British evacuate Boston
May 2, 1776
The American revolution gains support from King Louis XVI of France
June 7, 1776
Richard Henry Lee presents a formal resolution to the Continental Congress for America to declare its independence from Britain.
July 4, 1776
Thomas Jefferson presents the United States Declaration of Independence
July 12, 1776
A huge British force under the command of General William Howe arrives in New York harbor to crush the American rebellion.
August 2, 1776
Members of Congress sign the United States Declaration of Independence
August 27-29, 1776
Battle of Long Island - British victory
September 16, 1776
Battle of Harlem Heights where George Washington's army repulses British attack
September 26, 1776
Congress appoint Thomas Jefferson, Franklin and Silas Deane to negotiate European treaties. Franklin and Deane go to France seeking financial and military aid
October 11, 1776
American Navy defeated on Lake Champlain
October 28, 1776
Battle of White Plains force General Washington to retreat to the west pursued by Cornwallis
November 16, 1776
The Battle of Fort Washington sees another British Victory
December 26, 1776
George Washington crosses the Delaware River and captures German mercenaries (Hessians) at The Battle of Trenton in Trenton, New Jersey
January 3, 1777
American Revolutionary victory at The Battle of Princeton
April 27, 1777
American troops under Benedict Arnold defeat the British at Ridgefield, Connecticut
June 2, 1777
The second Quartering Act
July, 1777
A British force led by John Burgoyne takes Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain in a devastating loss to the Americans
July 27, 1777
Marquis de Lafayette arrives in Philadelphia and is appointed as a major general in the Continental Army
August 6, 1777
British victory at The Battle of Oriskany
August 16, 1777
American victory at The Battle of Bennington
September 11, 1777
General Washington and American forces defeated at The Battle of Brandywine
October 4, 1777
British victory at The Battle of Germantown
October 7, 1777
American Revolutionary victory at The Battles of Saratoga
October 17, 1777
Americans capture Burgoyne and his army at Saratoga.
November 15, 1777
Articles of Confederation - Congress is made sole authority of the new national government.
February 6, 1778
France signs a treaty of alliance with the United States and the American Revolution soon becomes a world war.
March 16, 1778
A Peace Commission rejected by Congress.
May 8, 1778
British General Henry Clinton replaces General Howe as commander of all British forces in the American colonies.
May 30, 1778
Iroquois Indians burn Cobleskill, New York.
June 27-28, 1778
The Battle of Monmouth occurs in New Jersey as Washington's troops and General Clinton's troops fight to a standoff.
July 3, 1778
British Loyalists and Indians massacre American settlers in the Wyoming Valley
July 8, 1778
General Washington sets up headquarters at West Point
July 10, 1778
France declares war against Britain.
September 14, 1778
Benjamin Franklin appointed American representative in France.
November 11, 1778
Loyalists and Indians massacre American settlers at Cherry Valley, New York
December 29, 1778
British capture Savannah and Augusta - refer to The Siege of Savannah
April 1-30, 1779
In retaliation for Indian raids on colonial settlements, American troops from North Carolina and Virginia attack Chickamauga Indian villages in Tennessee.
June 16, 1779
Spain declares war on England but no alliance with America
August 14, 1779
A peace plan is approved by Congress stipulating independence and British evacuation of America
August 29, 1779
American Revolutionary victory at the Battle of Newtown in Elmira, New York
September 3 - October 28, 1779
American defeat at Savannah - The Siege of Savannah
September 27, 1779
John Adams is appointed to negotiate peace with England.
March 29, 1780
British attack Charleston, South Carolina - The Siege of Charleston
May 6, 1780
British capture Fort Moultrie at Charleston - The Siege of Charleston
May 12, 1780
Charleston falls to the British
June 11, 1780
A new Massachusetts constitution is endorsed - "all men are born free and equal," which includes black slaves
June 23, 1780
Battle of Springfield American Revolutionary victory
August 3, 1780
Benedict Arnold appointed commander of West Point
August 16, 1780
British victory in South Carolina - The Battle of Camden
October 7, 1780
American Victory at The Battle of King's Mountain
September 23, 1780
Plans discovered indicating Benedict Arnold intends to turn traitor and surrender West Point. Benedict Arnold joins the British
January, 1781
Series of mutinies by American troops quashed
January 17, 1781
American Revolutionary victory at The Battle of Cowpens
March 15, 1781
Battle of Guilford Courthouse British victory
June 10, 1781
American troops in Virginia led by Marquis de Lafayette, General Anthony Wayne and Baron von Steuben oppose British forces under Benedict Arnold and General Cornwallis
July 20, 1781
Rebellion by slaves in Williamsburg, Virginia
July 20, 1781
British victory at the The Battle of Eutaw Springs
September 5-8, 1781
Victory for French fleet of de Grasse. Cornwallis cut off from any retreat by sea
September 6, 1781
Benedict Arnold leads troops who burn the port of New London, Connecticut
September 14-24, 1781
De Grasse sends ships up the Chesapeake Bay to transport the American armies to Yorktown
September 28, 1781
Siege of Yorktown begins - The Battle of Yorktown
October 17, 1781
American Revolutionary victory at Yorktown terms discussed for the British surrender
October 19, 1781
The British army surrenders at Yorktown - a devastating effect on the British
February 27, 1782
English Parliament votes against further war in America
March 5, 1782
The British Parliament empowers King George to negotiate peace with the United States
March 20, 1782
British Prime Minister Lord Rockingham starts negotiations with the American peace commissioners
April 4, 1782
Sir Guy Carleton replaces General Clinton as the new commander of British forces in America
April 12, 1782
April 12 Paris Peace talks begin
August, 1782
August Raids by Loyalist and Indian forces on American settlers in Kentucky and Pennsylvania
August 27, 1782
Battle at Combahee River marks the last fighting between British and American forces
November 10, 1782
The final battle of the Revolutionary War when Americans retaliate by attacking a Shawnee village in Ohio
November 30, 1782
Preliminary peace treaty signed in Paris recognising American independence and the British withdrawal from America |
