American Revolutionary War (1775–1783)

1. Fighting begins at Lexington and Concord

   Apr 19, 1775Labels: Lexington, Concord, British Army

   • Lexington MA
   • Britannica

2. Continental Army is created and Washington chosen

   Jun 14, 1775Labels: Continental Army, George Washington

   • U S Army
   • U S Army

3. Costly British victory at the Battle of Bunker Hill

   Jun 17, 1775Labels: Battle of, British Army

   • Britannica

4. Olive Branch Petition seeks reconciliation with Britain

   Jul 5, 1775Labels: Olive Branch, Second Continental

   • NPS
   • Britannica

5. British evacuate Boston after months-long siege

   Mar 17, 1776Labels: Siege of, Continental Army

   • MassHist
   • Britannica

6. Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence

   Jul 4, 1776Labels: Declaration of, Continental Congress

   • Natl Archives
   • Britannica

7. British win the Battle of Long Island

   Aug 27, 1776Labels: Battle of, British Army

   • Britannica

8. Washington’s Trenton–Princeton campaign revives morale

   Dec 26, 1776Labels: Trenton, Princeton

   • Britannica
   • ABT

9. Burgoyne surrenders at Saratoga

   Oct 17, 1777Labels: Saratoga, John Burgoyne

   • NPS
   • NPS

10. France and the United States sign a military alliance

    Feb 6, 1778Labels: France, Franco-American Alliance

    • Britannica

11. Articles of Confederation are fully ratified

    Mar 1, 1781Labels: Articles of, Continental Congress

    • Britannica
    • HISTORY

12. Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown

    Oct 19, 1781Labels: Siege of, Charles Cornwallis

    • Britannica
    • Gilder Lehrman

13. Preliminary peace articles are agreed in Paris

    Nov 30, 1782Labels: Preliminary Articles, Paris Negotiations

    • Founders Online

14. Treaty of Paris formally ends the war

    Sep 3, 1783Labels: Treaty of, United States

    • Natl Archives
    • Treaty Paris