Timeline of the Revolutionary War

The timeline of the Revolutionary War that gained American independence is an important timeline in the history of the present day. If you look at America today, it may not have achieved what it has if it had stayed a British colony for a hundred or more years than it did.

Below is a timeline of the events in the Revolutionary War.

Prior to the American Revolutionary War

1764 and 1765 saw many acts by the British put into force to gain more income from the Americans and to make it harder for them to do trade, the most notable of these were the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act.

These acts were following in 1766 and 1767 by the Declaratory Act and the Townshend Revenue Act causing further financial hardship and unrest.

In 1770, on the 5th March the Boston Massacre occurred when a group of people from Boston who were unhappy with the British in the region attacked a lone guard. The British called up more soldiers who were also attacked so the soldiers fired into the civilians killing three and wounding more.

In 1773 the final British act to be passed actually caused the straw that broke the camel’s back. Interestingly this was not an act to cause more financial burden but an act to support the British tea trade by bringing it to America and selling it at reduced prices. This act caused the Boston Tea Party where in December 1773 angry Americans dumped 342 crates of tea into the harbour.

Throughout 1774 the British passed more acts angering the Americans further.

In 1775 the American Revolutionary War starts.

The American Revolutionary War Timeline

The first clash in the war occurred on the 19th April 1775 when Minutemen and British troops clash in the infamous battle of Lexington and Concord. A month later the British are overrun by the Americans at the battle of Fort Ticonderoga.

By June 15th George Washington is named the Commander in Chief of the war for the Americans.

Two days later on June 17th at the Battle of Bunker Hill the British push the Americans away from Breed Hill.

In July George Washington takes control of the Continental army putting him in full control of the American war effort.

The Americans manage to capture Montreal from the British, but attempts to capture Quebec fail miserably. American General Morgan is taken prisoner in the proceedings.

1776

1776 starts with Loyalists to the British being forced from North Carolina by American Patriots. The Americans also take control of the New Providence Island in the Bahamas.
By March 17th 1776 the British are forced out of Boston and the British Navy retreat to Halifax in Canada.

In June the Virginia Declaration of Rights is signed.

On June 28th 1776 the British Navy is routed at Fort Moultrie in South Carolina.

Between July the 1st and 4th 1776 the American Declaration of Independence is revised. This is then confirmed and adopted on July 4th.

Throughout late July and early August battles between Cherokee Indians and the Americans, the Americans fight off the Cherokee threat.

On August 27th the army of George Washington is beaten in the Battle of Long Island, the American forces retreat and escape in the night.

The Battle of Valcour Island occurs on October 11th and sees a British victory, but the battle holds up British advance helping the Americans.

The Hessian troops supporting the British captures Fort Washington followed by the British capturing Fort Lee from Nathanael Greene between the 16th and 20th July.

On December 26th George Washington and his troops capture Trenton from Hessian forces.

1777

1777 saw some of the fiercest battles of the war.

January 3rd 1777 sees Washington victorious at Princeton.

April sees the British forced into a retreat at Ridgefield in Connecticut by Benedict Arnold and his troops.

July 5th sees the British gain Fort Ticonderoga back from the Americans.

On August the 6th British force back the Americans back in New York but then have to leave the area of the battle. This is followed up by the Battle of Bennington on August 16th which sees the British lose to a militia group.

On August 23rd the British then withdraw from Fort Stanwix hearing the Americans marching towards them.

The battles move into Philadelphia where they gain decisive victories at the Battle of Brandyvine, followed by the Paoli Massacre where the British routed the Americans in their camp in September 1777.

October saw the British take control of Philadelphia and beat the Americans back in the Battle of Germantown. The British however lose the Battle of Saratoga in New York and General Burgoyne is taken prisoner.

November sees the British capture Fort Mifflin.

December sees the British lose at Whitemarsh.

1778

1778 starts with France entering the war on the side of the Americans.

May 20th sees the Battle of Barren Hill, where the Americans managed to stop the British from slaughtering them.

June sees Philadelphia given up by the British as they move back to New York. Later in June the Battle of Monmouth Court House occurs but finishes in stalemate.

August sees a combined American and French force lay siege to Newport, Rhode Island.

In December the British manage to take control of Savannah.

1779

The Americans gain victories in Port Royal Island, SC and Kettle Creek, GA along with capturing Vincennes in present day Indiana in the month of February.

The Americans lose in the battle at Brier Creek, GA on the 3rd March.

A battle in Stono River, SC on June 20th ends with what looks like a stalemate but ends up being an indecisive American victory. On June 21st Spain joins the war by declaring war on Britain.

In mid July Stony Point, NY is captured by General “Mad” Anthony Wayne for the Americans.

In September the Battle nears Britain as the Americans manage to captures British man-of-war Serapis just off the English coast line. A week later the Tappan Massacre occurs with 30 Americans bayoneted.

The Americans try to recapture Savannah from the British but the attempt fails in October.

1780

May 1780 sees Charleston and Waxhaw Creek victories for the British. This is followed up by an epic win at Camden in August.

In October the King’s Mountain battle sees the Americans rout the British in a little over an hour.

1781

January 17th sees Morgan win the pivotal battle of Cowpens.

The Battle of Cowan’s Ford happens in early February.

March sees the Guilford Courthouse Battle which the British win with great losses. This is followed up by a British victory at Hobkirk’s Hill in April.

May sees the British secede Fort Granby to the Americans and then lose Augusta in June.

July and September sees the British beat General “Mad” Anthony Wayne defeated at Green Springs Farm and Greene defeated at Eutaw Springs.

In September the British Navy is forced to withdraw from Chesapeake Bay by a larger French Naval force.

October 19th sees a decisive victory to the Americans as American and French forces surround Lord Cornwallis and cause his surrender.

1782

The British leave Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC as well as starting the peace process with America by signing the Articles of Peace.

1783

The Americans agree to the Peace Treaty and the treaty is signed in Paris. Following this the British leave New York and Washington seeing his work is done retires his command of the American army. The American Revolutionary War finishes in an American victory.

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