Timeline of the American Revolutionary War

The Stamp Act was passed on March 22, 1765 and served as a way to help Parliament repay its debts from the Seven Years War. Colonists objected to the Act because Colonists had no representation in Parliament

The Townshend Acts were passed on June 15, 1767. The most notable aspect of this Act was that it was the second time Colonists were taxed solely to boost the British Treasury's revenue.

Violence broke out between Bostonians and British soldiers on March 5, 1770. British soldiers killed five Bostonians in a crowd that was heckling them by throwing snowballs at them. This is known as the Boston Massacre.

The Tea Act was passed on May 10, 1773 in order to raise money by taxing the Colonists tea to raise money for the failing British East India Tea Company. Colonists were again outraged over their lack of representation.

On December 16, 1773 Samuel Adams and the Sons Of Liberty boarded three ships in the Boston Harbor and tossed 342 chests of tea into the Harbor. This became to be known as the Boston Tea Party. The Sons of Liberty acted in response to the Tea Act.

On March 28, 1774 Parliament responded to the Boston Tea Party with the Coercive Acts. These were harsh restrictions placed on town meetings in Boston, the closing of the Boston Harbor, British Officials in Massachusetts were given full immunity in all criminal prosecution, and forced Colonists to house British soldiers. These acts were the final straw for many colonists before they declared Independence.

On September 5, 1774 all of the 13 colonies sent representatives to Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The only notable result of this delegation was a deceleration of rights and grievances.

The battles of Lexington and Concord, on April 19, 1775, were nothing more than skirmishes, but serve as the official beginning of the American Revolution. Paul Revere was able to warn the Patriots of incoming British troops who were going to seize their weapons depot. Because of Paul Revere the Patriots were able to force the British to retreat to Boston.

On May 10, 1775, Benedict Arnold along with Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont stormed Fort Ticonderoga at dawn and captured the fort along with artillery that would be used in the siege of Boston.

On June 15, 1775 the Battle of Bunker Hill took place in Massachusetts. Despite a British victory, the calls for independence were encouraged by the heavy casualties inflicted on the British.

On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress voted to adopt the Deceleration of Independence which was mainly written by Thomas Jefferson.

On August 22, 1776 General Howe and his 30,000 troop army landed on Long Island. The battle of New York was an attempt by the British to divide the colonies. By August 27th the British had taken control of Gowanus Pass and was closing in on Brooklyn. Because General Howe decided to wait to crush the Continental army, on August 29th George Washington was able to retreat to Manhattan and save the Continental Army.

After being driven out of New York by British forces, George Washington and his troops set up camp in Pennsylvania. On December 25, 1776 Washington was desperate to instill hope into the Patriots so he and his army crossed the half frozen Delaware River to launch surprise attacks on Trenton on December 26 and Princeton on January 3, 1777. Little came from these victories in a tactical sense but the effect was immeasurable to the Patriot cause.

George Washington and his troops disappeared during the night and reappeared at dawn on January 3, 1777 and was able to take Princeton by surprise.

On September 19, 1777, British forces led by General John Burgoyne successfully attacked Freeman's Farm (Saratoga) after Patriot General Horatio Gates decided to retreat. However on October 7, 1777 Burgoyne launched another assault but this time was defeated thanks, in large part, to the decisive leader ship of Benedict Arnold. The British were forced to retreat, and gave France enough faith to formally enter the war in support of the Patriots.

After the fighting in the North had come to a lull, the British turned their attention to the Southern Colonies. The English believed that the South had many loyalists that needed liberation from the Patriots. On December 29, 1778, British Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell was able to capture Savannah, Georgia with ease becase he severely outnumbered the Patriots. This battle was key for the English to capture Charleston, South Carolina.

On May 11, 1780 the British, under the command of Lieutenant General Henry Clinton, were able to capture Charleston, South Carolina after a lengthy siege. Patriot Commander Major General Benjamin Lincoln was advised to abandon the city by Washington in order to save the army, but pressure from civilian leadership of Charleston forced him to stay.

On August 16, 1780, Patriot forces were routed at Camden, South Carolina even though they outnumbered the British about 2:1. This disaster caused General Gates to be removed from command and replaced with General Nathaniel Greene.

On October 19, 1781 Lord Charles Cornwallis was forced to surrender his entire army at Yorktown, Virginia after being trapped on all sides by French General Jean de Baptiste Rochambeau, George Washington's army of 14,000 , and 36 French warships. This victory was the last major conflict of the war and all but guaranteed Patriot victory.

On September 3, 1783, the American Revolution came to an official end when the Patriot and British governments signed the Treaty of Paris.