forces Revolutionary War Events
Key Events in the Revolutionary War

 British surrender at Yorktown by John Trumbull
(Yale Art Gallery)

Event Date Location Significance
Lexington-Concord April 1775 Massachusetts First armed conflict. British destroy supplies at Concord but suffer numerous casualties on way back to Boston. Propaganda victory for U.S. Casualties: U.S.:95. British: 273.
Ft. Ticonderoga May 1775 Lake Champlain Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold captured fort and 60 cannon later dragged 300 miles and used in defense of Boston
Breed's Hill (Bunker Hill) June 1775 Boston British succeed but suffer huge losses (1000 casualties) 1/6 of all British officers killed in war die here. Americans lose 400 dead and wounded.  Only battle in long siege of Boston.
Invasion of Quebec Winter 1775-76 Maine/Canada Gens. Arnold and Montgomery attack Quebec prematurely and fail in invasion attempt of Canada
Dorchester Heights March 1776 Boston British forced to evacuate New England after cannon put in place.
Declaration of Independence July 1776 Philadelphia Following the success of Thomas Paine's Common Sense, many colonists urged their delegates to the 2nd Continental Congress  to call for independence. The Declaration starts with an assumption (all people have equal, inalienable rights), states two premises (people establish governments to protect rights & George III has failed to defend American rights), and concludes with an assertion: Americans can rightfully overthrow British rule.
New York (Brooklyn Heights--Long Island, White Plains )
August 1776 New York U.S. forces forced to retreat to Manhattan, then New Jersey. British General Howe offered generous terms of surrender to the Americans, but they demanded independence and talks broke down.
Trenton December 1776 New Jersey Hessian army crushed in Washington's raid across the Delaware River. Casualties: U.S. :4, British: 900
Princeton January 1777 New Jersey U.S. recovers New Jersey from British in 10 days. British retreat to New New York, where they remain for the war.
Brandywine Creek
Germantown
September 1777
October 1777
Pennsylvania British seize Philadelphia after these victories.
Saratoga October 17, 1777 Upstate New York Turning point of war. Convinced French of U.S. strength. Burgoyne surrenders 5800 men.
Monmouth June 1778 New Jersey U.S. army almost captured British but cowardice allowed British forces to escape
Savannah December 1778 Georgia Beginning of British push in the South. British are at first welcomed in Savannah and colonial government is restored.
Kaskaskia and Vincennes February 1779 Western territories Clark captures British forts which proved important in negotiations with British after the war
Charleston December 1779 South Carolina British gain control of South with victory here. 5000 Americans surrender and the single largest loss of troops until the Philippines in 1942.
King's Mountain October 1780 South Carolina Bloody victory for U.S. 
Cowpens
January 1781
South Carolina
Gen. Greene divided his forces and scored a victory over Cornwallis, who had a larger army.

Guilford Court House
March 1781
North Carolina
In fierce fighting, Americans frustrate British, who control Southern cities, but not the rural areas. While winning the field, Cornwallis finally gives up attempt to defeat Greene's army and plans to link up with British supplies and reinforcements in Virginia.

Yorktown October 19, 1781 Virginia With 7800 French soldiers and the French fleet in the harbor, Washington accepts Cornwallis' surrender as major fighting ends.

Please cite this source when appropriate:

Feldmeth, Greg D. "Revolutionary War Events," U.S. History Resources <http://www.polytechnic.org/faculty/gfeldmeth/chart.rev.html>  (Revised 25 June 2004).



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