For over a century, England maintained control over thirteen colonies nestled along the Atlantic coast, stretching from Canada down to Florida. The British Parliament, seeking to bolster English merchants, enacted various laws to promote trade with these colonies. By 1750, numerous regulations were in place, some restricting colonial trade with other nations or even amongst themselves. However, the lax enforcement of these laws inadvertently delayed the inevitable conflict. This **American Revolution Timeline** details the pivotal events that culminated in the birth of a new nation, a beacon of freedom for the world.

The **American Revolution Timeline** showcases the growing tensions between Great Britain and its thirteen North American colonies, ultimately leading to the colonies declaring independence and fighting for their freedom. This detailed account chronicles the political, social, and military events that shaped the course of American history.

This **American Revolution Timeline** encapsulates a series of escalating tensions, legislative acts, and military engagements that ultimately led to the birth of the United States of America. From the initial stirrings of colonial resistance to the final treaty of peace, each event played a crucial role in shaping the nation’s destiny.

**British Reforms and Colonial Resistance:**

* ***1764***

* **February 1764:** James Otis emerges as a prominent voice, advocating for a unified colonial response to the recent acts imposed by England. The iconic phrase “Taxation without Representation is Tyranny” is widely attributed to Otis, encapsulating the colonists’ growing discontent.
* **July 1764:** Otis further articulates colonial grievances in his published work, “The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved.” This treatise laid out the philosophical and legal arguments against British policies.
* **August 1764:** Merchants in Boston, Massachusetts, initiate a boycott of British luxury goods, signaling a tangible form of resistance to British economic policies. This boycott served as an early example of colonial unity and economic pressure.

* ***1765***

* **March 22, 1765:** The British Parliament passes the Stamp Act, mandating that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London and carrying an embossed revenue stamp. The act incenses the colonists, who view it as a direct tax levied without their consent.
* **March 24, 1765:** The Quartering Act is enacted, compelling American colonists to provide housing and sustenance for British troops stationed in the colonies. This act is perceived as an intrusion upon colonial autonomy and a financial burden.
* **July 1765:** The Sons of Liberty, a clandestine organization dedicated to opposing the Stamp Act, is formed. This group uses various tactics, including protests and intimidation, to undermine British authority.
* **December 1765:** Over 200 merchants in Boston refuse to comply with the Stamp Tax, further demonstrating colonial defiance and economic resistance.

* ***1766***

* **January 1766:** The New York assembly resists fully enforcing the Quartering Act, reflecting the growing tension between colonial legislatures and British mandates.
* **March 18, 1766:** The Stamp Act is repealed, a victory for the colonists that temporarily eases tensions. However, the repeal is accompanied by the Declaratory Act, asserting Parliament’s right to legislate for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever,” leaving the underlying conflict unresolved.
* **August 1766:** Violence erupts in New York City between British soldiers and members of the Sons of Liberty, underscoring the simmering animosity between the colonists and the British military presence.

* ***1768***

* **July 1768:** Merchants in Boston and New York revive boycotts of British goods, demonstrating continued economic resistance and colonial solidarity.
* **September 1768:** English warships sail into Boston Harbor, and two regiments of English troops disembark to maintain order. This military occupation further inflames colonial resentment and contributes to a sense of oppression.

* ***1770***

* **March 1770:** The Boston Massacre occurs. British troops fire upon a crowd of civilians in Boston, resulting in the deaths of four workers. This event becomes a powerful symbol of British tyranny and fuels anti-British sentiment throughout the colonies.

* ***1773***

* **December 16, 1773:** The Boston Tea Party takes place. Massachusetts patriots, disguised as Mohawk Indians, protest the British Tea Act by dumping crates of British tea into Boston Harbor. This act of defiance serves as a pivotal moment, escalating the conflict and prompting a harsh response from the British government.

* ***1774***

* **1774:** The First Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies (Georgia did not send a representative) meet to discuss grievances and coordinate a unified response to British policies.
* **March 1774:** The Coercive Acts, dubbed the “Intolerable Acts” by Americans, are implemented by the British Parliament. These acts are designed to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party and further restrict colonial autonomy.

**The American Revolution Begins:**

* ***1775***

* **February 9, 1775:** The English Parliament declares Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion, escalating the conflict toward armed confrontation.
* **April 14, 1775:** The British government orders Massachusetts Governor Thomas Gage to enforce the Coercive Acts and suppress any colonial rebellion by force if necessary.

* **April 18, 1775:** General Thomas Gage dispatches 700 British soldiers to Concord, Massachusetts, with orders to seize and destroy the colonists’ weapons depot. Paul Revere and William Dawes embark on their famous rides from Boston to warn the colonists of the impending British advance, enabling Samuel Adams and John Hancock to escape capture in Lexington.
* **April 19, 1775:** The first shots of the Revolutionary War are fired at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. The ensuing skirmishes result in casualties on both sides, marking the beginning of armed conflict. Minutemen force British troops back to Boston.
* **April 23, 1775:** The Provincial Congress in Massachusetts orders the mobilization of 13,600 American soldiers. Colonial volunteers from throughout New England converge on Boston, initiating a year-long siege of the city.
* **May 10, 1775:** The Second Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with John Hancock elected as president.
* **May 10, 1775:** American forces, led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold, capture Fort Ticonderoga in New York, securing valuable artillery and supplies.
* **May 15, 1775:** The Second Continental Congress declares the colonies to be in a state of defense, formalizing their preparations for war.

* **June 15, 1775:** The Second Continental Congress unanimously votes to appoint George Washington as general and commander-in-chief of the newly formed Continental Army.
* **June 17, 1775:** The Battle of Bunker Hill, the first significant engagement between British and American troops, occurs in Boston, Massachusetts. Despite a British victory, the battle demonstrates the colonists’ resolve and ability to inflict heavy casualties.
* **July 3, 1775:** General George Washington assumes command of the Continental Army, comprising approximately 17,000 men, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
* **July 5, 1775:** The Continental Congress adopts the Olive Branch Petition, appealing directly to King George III for reconciliation and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
* **July 6, 1775:** The Continental Congress issues a Declaration on the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms, outlining the colonists’ reasons for fighting the British and asserting their determination to “die, free men, rather than live as slaves.”
* **July 26, 1775:** An American Post Office is established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Benjamin Franklin appointed as Postmaster General.
* **August 1775:** King George III refuses to even consider the Olive Branch Petition and instead issues a proclamation declaring the American colonies to be in a state of open rebellion.
* **November 10-21, 1775:** British forces besiege Patriots at Ninety-Six, South Carolina. The battle concludes in a truce.

* **November 28, 1775:** Congress establishes the American Navy, marking a significant step in building a military force capable of challenging British naval dominance.
* **November 29, 1775:** Congress appoints a secret committee to seek assistance from European nations, recognizing the need for foreign alliances to sustain the war effort.
* **December 1775:** Congress receives information suggesting that France may be willing to offer support in the war against Britain, raising hopes for crucial military and financial assistance.
* **December 11, 1775:** Virginia and North Carolina patriots rout Loyalist troops and burn Norfolk, demonstrating their resolve to suppress internal opposition to the Revolution.
* **December 22, 1775:** At Great Canebrake, South Carolina, Colonel William Thomson leads 1,500 rangers and militia in capturing a Loyalist force, securing a strategic victory for the Patriot cause.
* **December 23, 1775:** King George III issues a royal proclamation closing the American colonies to all commerce and trade, effective March 1776, further isolating the colonies and intensifying the economic conflict.
* **December 23-30, 1775:** During the Snow Campaign against Loyalists in South Carolina, Patriot militia are hampered by heavy snowfall, highlighting the challenges of winter warfare.

* ***1776***

* **February 27, 1776:** North Carolina militia defeats South Carolina Loyalists at Moore’s Creek Bridge, North Carolina, inflicting heavy casualties and bolstering Patriot morale.

* **March 4-17, 1776:** At Dorchester Heights, Massachusetts, American forces seize control of the high ground overlooking Boston Harbor. The British, unable to effectively counter the American position, evacuate Boston and sail for Halifax, Nova Scotia.
* **March 17, 1776:** The British Navy evacuates Boston, and Washington’s Army occupies the city, marking a significant strategic victory for the Americans.
* **April 6, 1776:** The Continental Congress declares colonial shipping ports open to all traffic except British vessels, asserting economic independence and seeking to foster trade with other nations.
* **April 12, 1776:** The North Carolina assembly becomes the first to authorize its delegates in the Continental Congress to vote for independence from Britain, signaling a growing consensus in favor of separation.
* **May 2, 1776:** The Continental Congress secures much-needed foreign support when King Louis XVI of France commits one million dollars to arms and munitions. Spain subsequently promises support as well, enhancing the prospects of American success.
* **May 10, 1776:** The Continental Congress authorizes each of the thirteen colonies to form provincial governments, laying the groundwork for independent statehood.

* **June 7, 1776:** Richard Henry Lee, a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress, introduces a formal resolution calling for America to declare independence from Britain. Congress decides to postpone its decision until July.
* **June 8, 1776:** Patriots attempting to seize a British position at Three Rivers, Canada, are unsuccessful.
* **June 11, 1776:** Congress appoints a committee to draft a declaration of independence. The committee members are Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Thomas Jefferson is tasked with preparing the Declaration’s first draft, completing it in a single day.
* **June 28, 1776:** Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence is ready and presented to Congress, incorporating changes made by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.
* **June 28, 1776:** At Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, a British naval attack fails due to the resilience of the palmetto log fortifications.
* **June-July 1776:** A massive British war fleet arrives in New York Harbor, consisting of 30 battleships with 1200 cannons, 30,000 soldiers, 10,000 sailors, and 300 supply ships under General William Howe and his brother Admiral Lord Richard Howe, signaling a major escalation of the conflict.
* **July 1, 1776:** Incited by British royal agents, the Cherokee initiate attacks along the entire southern frontier.
* **July 2, 1776:** Twelve of the thirteen colonial delegations (New York abstains) vote in favor of Richard Henry Lee’s resolution for independence.

* **July 4, 1776:** The Congress formally endorses Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, and copies are disseminated to all colonies.
* **July 12, 1776:** As a show of force, two British frigates sail up the Hudson River, firing their cannons. Peace feelers are extended to the Americans. General George Washington meets with General William Howe’s representatives in New York and listens to vague offers of clemency for the American rebels, which he politely declines.
* **July 15, 1776:** At Lyndley’s Fort, South Carolina, Patriots defend against an attack by Indians and British forces disguised as Indians.
* **August 1, 1776:** At Seneca, South Carolina, Americans are ambushed by Cherokee Indians, but a mounted charge saves Patriot forces.
* **August 10, 1776:** Cherokee Indians are defeated by Andrew Pickens at Tugaloo River, South Carolina.
* **August 1776:** During the Ring Fight in South Carolina, 200 Cherokee Indians attack Andrew Pickens and 25 militia. The Patriots hold off the attackers from a defensive circle until a rescue force arrives.
* **August 12, 1776:** Colonel David Williamson and Andrew Pickens defeat a large Cherokee war party and burn an Indian town near Tamassee, South Carolina.
* **August 27, 1776:** George Washington’s army suffers a defeat but manages to escape by night under cover of fog at Long Island, New York.

* **August 27-29, 1776:** General William Howe leads 15,000 soldiers against Washington’s Army in the Battle of Long Island, New York. Washington, outnumbered two to one, suffers a severe defeat as his army is outflanked and scattered. The Americans retreat to Brooklyn Heights, facing potential capture or surrender.
* **September 11, 1776:** A peace conference is held on Staten Island, New York, with British Admiral Lord Richard Howe meeting American representatives, including John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. The conference fails because Howe demands the colonists revoke the Declaration of Independence.
* **September 16, 1776:** After evacuating New York City, Washington’s Army repulses a British attack during the Battle of Harlem Heights in upper Manhattan, New York. Several days later, a fire engulfs New York City, destroying over 300 buildings.
* **September 19, 1776:** Colonel David Williamson’s patriots are attacked by Cherokee south of Franklin, North Carolina, in a gorge known as the Black Hole. The Americans eventually clear the pass.
* **September 22, 1776:** Nathan Hale, caught spying on British troops on Long Island, New York, is executed without a trial. His last words are famously recorded as, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”
* **September 26, 1776:** Congress appoints Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Silas Deane to negotiate treaties with European governments. Franklin and Deane subsequently travel to France to seek financial and military aid.
* **October 11, 1776:** Benedict Arnold engages a British squadron with makeshift boats on Lake Champlain. Although defeated, Arnold’s actions delay the British advance until winter, effectively halting their campaign.

* **October 28, 1776:** After evacuating his principal forces from Manhattan, George Washington’s Army suffers heavy casualties from General William Howe’s forces in the Battle of White Plains, New York. General George Washington then retreats westward.
* **November 16, 1776:** The American commander surrenders Fort Washington, New York, to the Hessians.
* **November 20, 1776:** Lord Charles Cornwallis captures Fort Lee, New Jersey. Nathanael Greene abandons the position.
* **December 6, 1776:** The British capture the naval base at Newport, Rhode Island.
* **December 11, 1776:** General George Washington leads his troops across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania.
* **December 12, 1776:** Concerned about a possible British attack, the Continental Congress abandons Philadelphia and relocates to Baltimore, Maryland.
* **December 26, 1776:** General George Washington recrosses the Delaware River, conducts a surprise raid on a Hessian brigade, and defeats it in what becomes known as the Battle of Trenton.

* ***1777***

* **January 3, 1777:** General George Washington secures a second victory as his troops defeat the British at Princeton, driving them back toward New Brunswick.
* **Winter 1777:** General George Washington establishes winter quarters at Morristown, New Jersey. During the harsh winter, Washington’s Army dwindles to approximately a thousand men due to expiring enlistments and desertions. By spring, with the arrival of recruits, Washington will command around 9,000 men.
* **February 6, 1777:** General Washington mandates the vaccination against smallpox of all new recruits entering Philadelphia and each troop division in 5-day intervals. This marks the first medical mandate in America.
* **March 12, 1777:** The Continental Congress returns to Philadelphia from Baltimore following Washington’s successes against the British in New Jersey.
* **April 27, 1777:** American troops under Benedict Arnold defeat the British at Ridgefield, Connecticut.
* **May 20, 1777:** The Cherokee sue for peace and cede most of their land east of the mountains in the Treaty of DeWitt’s Corner, South Carolina.
* **June 14, 1777:** The flag of the United States, consisting of 13 stars and 13 white and red stripes, is officially mandated by Congress.
* **June 14, 1777:** Congress appoints John Paul Jones to captain the 18-gun vessel *Ranger* with a mission to raid coastal towns of England.
* **June 17, 1777:** A British force of 7,700 men under General John Burgoyne invades from Canada, sailing down Lake Champlain toward Albany, with plans to link up with General William Howe, who will advance north from New York City, effectively cutting off New England from the rest of the colonies.
* **July 6, 1777:** General John Burgoyne’s troops surprise the Americans with the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, New York, on Lake Champlain. This loss is a significant blow to American morale, as Washington’s forces desperately need the fort’s military supplies.
* **July 23, 1777:** British General William Howe, with 15,000 men, sets sail from New York for the Chesapeake Bay to capture Philadelphia instead of sailing north to rendezvous with General John Burgoyne.
* **July 27, 1777:** Marquis de Lafayette, a 19-year-old French aristocrat, arrives in Philadelphia and volunteers to serve without pay. Congress appoints him as a major general in the Continental Army. Lafayette becomes one of General Washington’s most trusted aides.

* **August 1, 1777:** General John Burgoyne reaches the Hudson River after a grueling month crossing 23 miles of wilderness separating Lake Champlain’s southern tip from the Hudson River’s northern tip.
* **August 6, 1777:** A British column with Iroquois warriors attacks Oriskany, New York, from Oswego. Rescue troops are ambushed.
* **August 16, 1777:** British General John Burgoyne detaches Hessians, British regulars, Loyalists, and Iroquois against Bennington, Vermont. American militia attack and defeat the British in the Battle of Bennington.
* **August 23, 1777:** Benedict Arnold attempts to besiege Fort Stanwix, New York, but the Indians and Loyalists desert, and the British retire.
* **August 25, 1777:** British General William Howe disembarks at Chesapeake Bay with his troops.
* **September 9-11, 1777:** At Brandywine, Pennsylvania, General George Washington and the main American Army of 10,500 men are driven back toward Philadelphia by General William Howe’s British troops. Both sides sustain heavy losses.
* **September 11, 1777:** Congress, once again worried about an attack, leaves Philadelphia and resettles in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
* **September 26, 1777:** British forces under General William Howe occupy Philadelphia. Congress relocates again to York