The American Revolution
The American Revolution was a time when the British colonists in America rebelled against the rule of Great Britain. There were many battles fought and the colonies gained their freedom and became the independent country of the United States. The American Revolutionary War lasted from 1775 until 1783.
Timeline of the American Revolution
The First Continental Congress Meets (Sept. 1774)
Representatives from the colonies get together to unite and oppose British taxes.
The First Continental Congress took place from September 5 through October 26, 1774. Delegates from each colony, except Georgia, met at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They discussed the current situation with Britain including the Intolerable Acts, which the British Parliament had imposed on Boston as punishment for the Boston Tea Party. The delegates took two major actions:
1. They sent a letter to King George III explaining the issues the colonies had with the way they were being treated. They demanded that the King stop the Intolerable Acts or they would boycott English goods. However, the King chose to ignore them and the Americans began the boycott.
2. They made a plan to meet again in May of 1775 if the British did not meet their demands. Members of the First Continental Congress included John Adams, Patrick Henry, and George Washington. The President of the First Congress was Peyton Randolph.
The First Continental Congress
Paul Revere's Ride (April 18, 1775)
The Revolutionary War starts and Paul Revere makes his famous ride to warn the colonists that the "British are coming".
Paul Revere's Ride - Biography.com
Battle of Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775)
The actual fighting starts with the first "shot heard around the world". The Americans win as the British retreat.
The Battle of Lexington & Concord - Ducksters.com
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga (May 10, 1775)
The Green Mountain Boys led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold capture Fort Ticonderoga from the British.
Fort Ticonderoga - Ducksters.com
Battle of Bunker Hill (June 16, 1775)
Major battle where William Prescott told the American troops "don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes".
The Battle of Bunker Hill - Colonial America
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress first met on May 10, 1775. After that, the delegates continued to meet in different sessions until March of 1781, when the Articles of the Confederation were ratified. The first meeting was at the State House in Philadelphia, which would later be called Independence Hall, but they also had sessions in other locations including Baltimore, Maryland and York, Pennsylvania. Unlike the First Continental Congress, this time the colony of Georgia would join and all thirteen colonies were represented.
Much had happened in the previous months since the end of the First Continental Congress including the start of the Revolutionary War with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The congress had some serious business to take care of immediately including forming an army to fight the British. Independence Hall in Philadelphia by Ferdinand Richard.
The Second Continental Congress was led by John Hancock. Other new members included Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. This congress acted much more like a government sending ambassadors to foreign countries, printing its own money, getting loans, and raising an army.
Major accomplishments of the Second Continental Congress:
The Second Continental Congress
The Declaration of Independence is Adopted (July 4, 1776)
The Continental Congress agrees to Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence - Congress for Kids
George Washington Crosses the Delaware (Dec. 25, 1776)
George Washington and his troops cross the Delaware River on Christmas night and surprise the enemy.
George Washington Crosses the Delaware - Social Studies for Kids
America Chooses a Flag (June 14, 1777)
The Continental Congress adopts the "Stars and Stripes."
The United States Flag - PBS
Battles of Saratoga (September 19 - October 17, 1777)
British General John Burgoyne surrenders his army to the Americans after suffering defeat at the Battles of Saratoga.
The Battle of Saratoga - Ducksters
Valley Forge (Winter of 1777-1778)
The Continental army under George Washington spends the winter training at Valley Forge.
Valley Forge - Mr. Donn
Articles of Confederation (March 2, 1781)
Defined the official government of the United States.
Articles of Confederation - Mr. Donn
Battle of Yorktown (Oct. 19, 1781)
The last major battle of the American Revolutionary War. British General Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown was the unofficial end to the war.
Battle of Yorktown - Ducksters.com
Treaty of Paris (Sept. 3, 1783)
Treaty that officially ended the war.
Treaty of Paris - Social Studies for Kids
Representatives from the colonies get together to unite and oppose British taxes.
The First Continental Congress took place from September 5 through October 26, 1774. Delegates from each colony, except Georgia, met at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They discussed the current situation with Britain including the Intolerable Acts, which the British Parliament had imposed on Boston as punishment for the Boston Tea Party. The delegates took two major actions:
1. They sent a letter to King George III explaining the issues the colonies had with the way they were being treated. They demanded that the King stop the Intolerable Acts or they would boycott English goods. However, the King chose to ignore them and the Americans began the boycott.
2. They made a plan to meet again in May of 1775 if the British did not meet their demands. Members of the First Continental Congress included John Adams, Patrick Henry, and George Washington. The President of the First Congress was Peyton Randolph.
The First Continental Congress
Paul Revere's Ride (April 18, 1775)
The Revolutionary War starts and Paul Revere makes his famous ride to warn the colonists that the "British are coming".
Paul Revere's Ride - Biography.com
Battle of Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775)
The actual fighting starts with the first "shot heard around the world". The Americans win as the British retreat.
The Battle of Lexington & Concord - Ducksters.com
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga (May 10, 1775)
The Green Mountain Boys led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold capture Fort Ticonderoga from the British.
Fort Ticonderoga - Ducksters.com
Battle of Bunker Hill (June 16, 1775)
Major battle where William Prescott told the American troops "don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes".
The Battle of Bunker Hill - Colonial America
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress first met on May 10, 1775. After that, the delegates continued to meet in different sessions until March of 1781, when the Articles of the Confederation were ratified. The first meeting was at the State House in Philadelphia, which would later be called Independence Hall, but they also had sessions in other locations including Baltimore, Maryland and York, Pennsylvania. Unlike the First Continental Congress, this time the colony of Georgia would join and all thirteen colonies were represented.
Much had happened in the previous months since the end of the First Continental Congress including the start of the Revolutionary War with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The congress had some serious business to take care of immediately including forming an army to fight the British. Independence Hall in Philadelphia by Ferdinand Richard.
The Second Continental Congress was led by John Hancock. Other new members included Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. This congress acted much more like a government sending ambassadors to foreign countries, printing its own money, getting loans, and raising an army.
Major accomplishments of the Second Continental Congress:
- On June 14, 1775 they established the Continental Army.
- They made George Washington General of the Army.
- On July 8, 1775 they tried again for peace by sending the Olive Branch Petition to the King of Britain.
- On July 4, 1776 they issued the Declaration of Independence declaring the United States as an independent country from Britain.
- On June 14, 1777 they passed the Flag Resolution for an official United States Flag.
- On March 1, 1781 the Articles of the Confederation were signed creating a real government. After this, the congress was called the Congress of the Confederation.
The Second Continental Congress
The Declaration of Independence is Adopted (July 4, 1776)
The Continental Congress agrees to Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence - Congress for Kids
George Washington Crosses the Delaware (Dec. 25, 1776)
George Washington and his troops cross the Delaware River on Christmas night and surprise the enemy.
George Washington Crosses the Delaware - Social Studies for Kids
America Chooses a Flag (June 14, 1777)
The Continental Congress adopts the "Stars and Stripes."
The United States Flag - PBS
Battles of Saratoga (September 19 - October 17, 1777)
British General John Burgoyne surrenders his army to the Americans after suffering defeat at the Battles of Saratoga.
The Battle of Saratoga - Ducksters
Valley Forge (Winter of 1777-1778)
The Continental army under George Washington spends the winter training at Valley Forge.
Valley Forge - Mr. Donn
Articles of Confederation (March 2, 1781)
Defined the official government of the United States.
Articles of Confederation - Mr. Donn
Battle of Yorktown (Oct. 19, 1781)
The last major battle of the American Revolutionary War. British General Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown was the unofficial end to the war.
Battle of Yorktown - Ducksters.com
Treaty of Paris (Sept. 3, 1783)
Treaty that officially ended the war.
Treaty of Paris - Social Studies for Kids
Important People During the American Revolution
Below are a list of important Founding Fathers during the American Revolution. Click on the pictures to find out more about each Founding Father.