American Revolutionary War Timeline 1763-1784

Seven Years War
The war ended with the British and their allies victorious.

The British Prime Minister, John Stuart, Earl of Bute, decided that it would be unfair to put army officers, many of whom were members of the nobility, out of work. He therefore decided to station an army in the American Colonies.

Bute’s government introduced a Cider Tax in Britain to help raise money. The tax was met with riots and protests.

John Stuart, Earl of Bute, resigned as UK Prime Minister. He was succeeded by George Grenville.

Grenville was reluctant to further tax the British people and decided to tax the American Colonies instead.

Sugar Tax
The British government imposed a tax on all imports of sugar from the Colonies. The tax was not well received and colonists protested.

Although each colony elected representatives to their own local governing body, the colonists had no representation in the British government. The British Constitution states that subjects give their consent to taxation through sending a representative to Parliament. The American Colonists questioned the right of the British government to tax the colonies since they had no representation in Parliament. The government’s reply was that as a colony, they were ‘represented virtually’. This was not well received.

Sons of Liberty
This was a secret group formed in the thirteen American colonies to co-ordinate protests against the British Government.

Stamp Act
The British parliament passed this act which required an official stamp on all legal documents and the stamp had to be paid for. It would become effective in November 1765.

Agents were appointed to collect the Stamp Duty from the Colonies.

George Grenville was dismissed as British Prime Minister. He was replaced by Charles Watson-Wentworth, Marquess of Rockingham.

Stamp Act Repeal
In the face of widespread and violent protests, the act was repealed.

Declaratory Act
This act, passed in conjunction with the repeal of the Stamp Act, stated that parliament had the right to pass laws in the Colonies.

Rockingham’s government fell and William Pitt became Prime Minister.

Stamp Act
In the face of widespread and violent protests, the act was repealed.

Townshend Acts
Named after Chancellor of the Exchequer, Charles Townshend, this series of Acts imposed taxation to raise money to pay for the salaries of governors and judges, introduced measures to enforce trade regulations and set a precedent for the British Parliament to directly tax the colonies. The Acts which taxed all imports from Britain were met with protests and rioting.

The Liberty, a ship owned by American merchant, John Hancock, was seized by British customs officials in Boston on suspicion of smuggling goods into America. Bostonians rioted and the British sent troops into the city.

Christopher Seider, an 11 year old boy, was part of a crowd of people gathered outside the house of Ebenezer Richardson, a British customs official. Stones were thrown and a window was broken. Richardson fired into the crowd and Seider was hit in the arm and chest. He died shortly afterwards.

Boston Massacre
Tensions were high in Boston following the killing of Christopher Seider. A group of protesters gathered outside the Boston Custom House. Insults were shouted at Private White who was on guard duty. The crowd of protesters, led by former slave, Crispus Attucks, grew, and objects were thrown at Private White. White retaliated and struck a colonist with his bayonet. The army sent reinforcements led by Captain Preston which further annoyed the growing crowd who struck the soldiers with clubs and sticks. The situation became confused and one soldier thought he heard the command ‘fire’ and fired into the crowd. Other soldiers followed the lead and also fired into the crowd. Five people including Crispus Attucks were killed and six others were wounded. The crowd dispersed but anger against the British was growing.

Gaspee Affair
The British ship HMS Gaspee was used by customs officials to prevent smuggling. Colonists in Rhode Island seized  HMS Gaspee in protest against the British.

Tea Act
This act was introduced by the British to help the British East India Company by only allowing the colonies to import tea from the British East India Company. All colonies except Massachusetts refused to allow ships to dock. In Massachusetts the governor allowed the ships to dock in Boston.

Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty organised this protest against the import of British East India Company tea. Demonstrators boarded British ships and threw chests of tea into Boston Harbour.

Boston Port Act
This act of retaliation against the Boston Tea Party by the British government, set up a blockade of Boston Port refusing to allow ships to enter or leave the port until the East India Company was compensated for the lost tea.

Intolerable Acts
This was a series of measures taken by the British government to punish Massachusetts following the Boston Tea Party. The Acts included the withdrawing of the right to self-governance and the right of the British army to house troops in private property. The British hoped the harsh measures would prevent further rebellion in the other colonies but instead they increased resistance to the British.

First Continental Congress
This was the first meeting of delegates from the British colonies. They met at Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The delegates discussed a response to the Intolerable Acts and decided to boycott British trade.

Petition to the King
The First Continental Congress drafted a petition to be sent to King George III. It called for the repeal of the Intolerable Acts. The colonists did not receive a reply.

British troops were sent to seize ordnance stored at Concord, Massachusetts. The Sons of Liberty sent Paul Revere and William Dawes to warn patriots.

Battles of Lexington and Concord
Local militia had assembled in readiness for the British arrival. Shots were fired at Lexington and the militia were forced to withdraw to Concord. The British split into groups to search for the weapons. The British that were sent to Concord were outnumbered by 4:1 and forced to retreat to Boston. This battle generally marks the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.

Around 4,500 British troops led by Generals Howe, Burgoyne and Clinton, reached Boston.

The Second Continental Congress voted to assemble a Continental Army which would be commanded by George Washington.

Battle of Bunker Hill
This battle was fought in Charlestown, Massachusetts. The colonists suffered heavy casualties and were forced to retreat. The British took control of the Charlestown peninsula.

George Washington took control of the colonists’ Patriot Army that had laid siege to Boston.

Olive Branch Petition
The Second Continental Congress approved this Petition to be sent to King George III. The Petition stated American loyalty to the Crown and called on the King to grant concessions and prevent war.

Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms
The Second Continental Congress agreed this resolution, written by Thomas Jefferson, which explained why the Colonies had felt the need to take up arms against the British.

Proclamation of Rebellion
King George III issued this statement after receiving news of the Battle of Bunker Hill. He declared that the American Colonies were in rebellion against the British and ordered the suppression of the rebellion.

American forces led by Richard Montgomery captured the Canadian city of Montreal from the British.

Siege of Savage’s Old Fields
Fighting broke out between Patriots (those that wanted freedom for America) and Loyalists (those who remained loyal to the British Crown) in the town of Ninety Six, South Carolina and the Loyalists were forced to retreat.

American forces led by Montgomery and Benedict Arnold attacked Quebec but were defeated by British forces under Guy Carleton. Montgomery was killed in the fighting.

Thomas Paine published ‘Common Sense’ a pamphlet urging the American people to support independence.

Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge
This battle saw Loyalist forces defeated.

British forces landed in the Bahamas and seized gunpowder and weapons that were stored there.

Colonial troops commanded by George Washington took control of Dorchester Heights on the outskirts of Boston and fortified the region. Cannons were installed and pointed at the city and British ships in the harbour.

Washington allowed the British to leave Boston for Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Washington moved his troops to New York.

British forces forced the Americans to leave Montreal.

The British tried to persuade Indian tribes to join their side. The American Colonists tried to persuade them to remain neutral in the conflict.

Battle of Sullivan’s Island
This battle, fought near Charleston, South Carolina, saw the Patriots successfully repel a British assault.

Congress voted in favour of independence.

William Howe began landing British Loyalist troops on Staten Island, New York. In response Washington split his troops between Manhattan and Long Island.

Declaration of Independence
Largely written by Thomas Jefferson, this declaration proclaimed the independence of the Thirteen Colonies from Britain. It includes the infamous statement ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’ It was circulated to the troops and people of the Colonies.

William Howe’s troops successfully outflanked Washington and forced the Patriots to retreat from Long Island.

The British forces commanded by William Howe took control of New York City.

Battle of Valcour Island (Lake Champlain)
Patriot forces led by Benedict Arnold were defeated by the British. However, the battle delayed the British advance.

Battle of White Plains
William Howe managed to force Washington to retreat further.

Battle of Fort Washington
The British managed to take control of Fort Washington in New York. Those Americans inside the fort that were not killed were taken prisoner on prison ships.

George Washington ordered a further retreat. William Howe ordered British troops not to pursue but to take control of New York and then enter winter quarters in the city.

George Washington took the British by surprise at Trenton, New Jersey. After so many defeats this victory helped to raise morale among the Patriots.

General Cornwallis had marched to retake Trenton but was repulsed by Washington.

Washington and his army entered winter quarters in Morristown, New Jersey.

Benedict Arnold forced the British to retreat at Ridgefield, Connecticut.

The first stars and stripes American flag was produced.

John Burgoyne led British troops in the capture of Ticonderoga. He left a garrison of 1,300 men and continued towards Albany. However, he made slow progress since the Patriots adopted guerrilla tactics to continually hamper his advance.

Battle of Bennington
German troops from Brunswick, in support of the British, were defeated by the Americans.

British troops led by Barry St Ledger, that were marching to rendezvous with Albany had to retreat to Quebec after being abandoned by their native American support.

Battle of Brandywine
British troops under William Howe defeated American troops led by George Washington. However, Howe failed to destroy Washington’s troops.

First Battle of Saratoga
British troops led by John Burgoyne defeated an American force led by Benedict Arnold and Horatio Gates at Freeman’s Farm. However, the British had lost 600 men and morale was low.

Battle of Paoli
British forces under Charles Grey defeated an American force under Anthony Wayne. They decided to take no prisoners and massacred survivors of the battle.

Grey’s victory at Paoli enabled Howe to take Philadelphia.

Battle of Germantown
Washington led a surprise attack on Howe but was repulsed.

Second Battle of Saratoga
After victory on 19th September, Burgoyne had dug his forces in and requested reinforcements. Reinforcements had not arrived and with supplies running low Burgoyne ordered an assault on the American army. Burgoyne’s force of around 5,000 men were repulsed by the Patriots and then pursued.

Second Battle of Saratoga
The American force led by Gates and Arnold had managed to surround the British.

Second Battle of Saratoga
The British had run out of supplies and Burgoyne surrendered.

The British captured Fort Mifflin in Pennsylvania.

Battle of White Marsh
The forces of Howe and Washington fought sporadically for three days. Howe then made the decision to retreat to Philadelphia.

George Washington took his troops into winter quarters at Valley Forge. Over the coming winter around 2500 American troops died due to poor conditions and lack of supplies.

France formally recognised the United States and signed a military alliance with the Continental Congress.

Baron von Steuben, an experienced Prussian officer who supported the American cause, arrived at Valley Forge. George Washington appointed him as inspector general. Von Steuben quickly made changes to the camp and which improved hygiene, health and conditions for the men. He also introduced drilling and military exercises for the men.

General Howe resigned his command and was replaced by Henry Clinton.

Carlisle Peace Commission
In a bid to end the American Revolutionary War, the British government sent a deputation led by Frederick Howard, Earl of Carlisle, to offer self-rule and parliamentary representation for the colonies. The Second Continental Congress declined the terms stating they would only agree to full independence which Carlisle had no authority to grant.

The British left Philadelphia and began marching towards New York.

Battle of Monmouth
The British led by Clinton met the Americans led by Washington but were unable to make gains.

Clinton withdrew the British and continued on to New York.

American and French forces lay siege to Newport, Rhode Island.

Battle of Rhode Island
Continental troops under General John Sullivan decided to abandon the siege and withdrew north but were attacked by the British. The Americans left the island leaving it in British hands.

Battle of Savannah
After failing to make significant gains in the north, the British had moved south in the hopes of finding more support from the southern states. They successfully took Savannah.

Battle of Stony Point
The Continental army took Stony point from the British.

Battle of Paulus Hook
The Continental army took Paulus Hook from the British after making a surprise night time raid.

The war had reached a stalemate with neither side making significant gains. Morale among the American troops was poor and public support for the continuing war was diminishing. American Benedict Arnold secretly approached the British with a view to surrendering West Point in return for a position in the British Army.

Washington entered winter quarters at Morristown.

Siege of Charleston
Charleston, which had been under siege by the British for six weeks, surrendered. This victory secured the British position in the south.

Battle of Camden
Continental troops led by Horatio Gates were defeated by British troops led by Charles Cornwallis.

British spy John Andre was captured by the Americans who found out about Benedict Arnold’s plan to defect.

Battle of the Kings Mountain
This battle saw British troops defeated by the Patriots.

Nathanael Greene took over from Horatio Gates as commander of American troops in the South. He immediately began a campaign of guerrilla warfare against the British.

Raid on Richmond
The British took Richmond, Virginia and burnt the city. Governor Thomas Jefferson managed to escape.

Battle of Guilford Court House
This battle between the forces of Nathanael Greene and Charles Cornwallis saw the Americans defeated. However, Cornwallis had suffered large casualties which significantly weakened his force and he had to retreat to await reinforcements.

Siege of Fort Watson
After an eight-day siege, Continental forces took control of the fort.

Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill
The British took control of Hobkirk’s Hill after defeating the Americans. However, two weeks later the British retreated.

Siege of Fort Motte
After a four-day siege, Continental forces took control of the fort.

Siege of Augusta
After two week siege, Augusta fell to the Patriots. This victory effectively secured the south for the Americans.

General Henry Clinton sent orders to Charles Cornwallis to move his British troops and fortify Yorktown.

Battle of the Chesapeake
The British navy were decisively beaten by the French in Chesapeake Bay. The defeat cut off British supply routes to the British at Yorktown.

Despite the British naval defeat in Chesapeake Bay, Cornwallis maintained his position at Yorktown, believing that reinforcements would arrive from New York.

Siege of Yorktown
American and French forces placed Cornwallis under siege at Yorktown.

Siege of Yorktown
The British had received no reinforcements and an attempt to break out of Yorktown across the river had failed. Cornwallis decided that he had no choice but to surrender.

News of Cornwallis’ surrender reached Britain.

The British government voted to end the American Revolutionary War by 19 votes. Henry Clinton was recalled from America and Guy Carleton was sent as his replacement with instructions to suspend further attacks.

Lord North resigned as Prime Minister of Britain. He was succeeded by William Petty, Earl of Shelburne.

Peace Agreement
Terms for a peace between America and Britain were agreed with Britain agreeing independence for the colonies.

The Continental Congress ratified the Peace Agreement.

Peace of Paris/ Treaty of Paris
This treaty, which formally ended the American Revolutionary War, was signed by representatives of King George III and the United States.

The last British troops left New York City.

George Washington resigned as Commander of the Continental forces.

The United States Congress of the Confederation ratified the Treaty of Paris.