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Anthony’s NotesA personal field guide
From the notebook

American Revolution

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🧨 I. BEFORE the Declaration of Independence (April 1775 – July 1776)

🔥 1775

  • April 19 – Battles of Lexington and Concord (Massachusetts)
    • First military engagements of the Revolution. British retreat under heavy colonial fire.
  • May 10 – Capture of Fort Ticonderoga (New York)
    • Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold capture the fort and artillery.
  • June 17 – Battle of Bunker Hill (Charlestown, Massachusetts)
    • British win tactically, but suffer heavy losses. Moral victory for the colonists.
  • July 3 – George Washington takes command of the Continental Army in Cambridge.
  • Fall–Winter – Invasion of Canada
    • Americans attempt to bring Canada into the rebellion.
    • Dec 31 – Battle of Quebec: American defeat, end of major campaign in Canada.

🧊 1776 (Pre-July)

  • March 17 – British evacuate Boston
    • Washington positions cannons from Ticonderoga on Dorchester Heights.
  • June 28 – Battle of Sullivan’s Island (Charleston, South Carolina)
    • British naval assault fails; American defenders repel the attack.

🗽 II. AFTER the Declaration of Independence (July 1776 – 1783)

🔥 1776

  • Aug 27 – Battle of Long Island (Brooklyn)
    • Major British victory. Washington narrowly escapes total defeat.
  • Sept 15 – British capture New York City
  • Oct 28 – Battle of White Plains
  • Nov 16 – Battle of Fort Washington (Manhattan)
    • Crushing British win; over 2,800 Americans captured.
  • Dec 26 – Battle of Trenton (New Jersey)
    • Washington crosses the Delaware and surprises Hessians. Major morale boost.

💥 1777

  • Jan 3 – Battle of Princeton
    • Another surprise win for Washington.
  • Sept 11 – Battle of Brandywine (Pennsylvania)
    • British defeat Americans, occupy Philadelphia.
  • Sept 19 & Oct 7 – Battles of Saratoga (New York)
    • Turning point of the war. British General Burgoyne surrenders Oct 17.
  • Dec – Washington’s army enters winter quarters at Valley Forge.

🌍 1778

  • Feb – France officially allies with the United States
  • June 28 – Battle of Monmouth (New Jersey)
    • Tactical draw, but shows improved American discipline.
  • Late 1778 – British shift focus to the Southern colonies

🔥 1779

  • May – Spain joins the war against Britain (as ally of France).
  • Oct 9 – Siege of Savannah (Georgia) fails.

⚔️ 1780

  • May 12 – Fall of Charleston (South Carolina)
    • Worst American defeat of the war (5,000+ troops surrendered).
  • Aug 16 – Battle of Camden (South Carolina) – British victory.
  • Oct 7 – Battle of Kings Mountain – major American militia victory over Loyalists.

⚔️ 1781

  • Jan 17 – Battle of Cowpens (South Carolina)
    • Decisive American victory under General Daniel Morgan.
  • Mar 15 – Battle of Guilford Courthouse (North Carolina)
    • British technically win but suffer severe losses.
  • Oct 19 – 🎉 Surrender at Yorktown (Virginia)
    • Final major battle. British General Cornwallis surrenders to Washington.
    • French navy and troops played a key role in the victory.

🕊️ 1782–1783

  • March 1782 – British Parliament votes to end offensive operations.
  • Sept 3, 1783 – ✍️ Treaty of Paris signed
    • Britain recognizes American independence.
  • Nov 25, 1783 – British troops evacuate New York City
  • Dec 23, 1783 – Washington resigns his military commission to Congress.

📌 Summary Timeline by Phases

PhaseYearsKey Events
Pre-Declaration1775–July 1776Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill, Siege of Boston
Northern Campaign1776–1777New York battles, Trenton, Saratoga
French Entry & Valley Forge1778–1779France allies, Monmouth, Southern pivot
Southern Campaign1780–1781Charleston falls, Cowpens, Yorktown
Endgame & Peace1782–1783Negotiations, Treaty of Paris, British evacuation
  • Full source dossier: American Revolutions — continental context for the imperial crisis, civil war, global conflict, postwar union, western expansion, slavery, and rival revolutions, 1750–1804.