American Revolution Timeline

Explore our timeline of the American Revolution and learn about the important events and battles that happened throughout this period of American history – from the Battles of Lexington and Concord to the signing of the Treaty of Paris. View the War of 1812 and Civil War timelines. 

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1754

• May 28 – The French and Indian War begins
• July 10 – Albany Plan of Union—Benjamin Franklin proposes a single government for the colonies

1763

• February 10 – The Treaty of Paris ends the French and Indian War. The English drive the French from North America, and the English national debt soars
• October 7 – Proclamation of 1763—King George III banned colonists from settling beyond the Appalachian mountains

1764

• April 5 – Sugar Act—Smugglers could be tried in Admiralty Courts, without the benefit of a jury

1765

• March 22 – Stamp Act—Tax on paper goods and legal documents
• March 24 – Quartering Act—Colonies must provide housing and food for British troops
• March 29 – Virginia House of Burgesses passes the Virginia Resolves, 7 resolutions that challenge the legality of the Stamp Act
• October 7-25 – Stamp Act Congress meets in Philadelphia to discuss the crisis

1766

• March 18 – Parliament repeals the Stamp Act and passes the Declaratory Act, which reiterates Parliament’s authority over the colonies

1768

• February 11 – Massachusetts Assembly issues Massachusetts Circular Letter, denouncing Townsend Acts
• August 1 – Boston Non-Importation Agreement—Boston merchants agree to not import British goods, or sell to Britain

1770

• January 19 – Golden Hill Riot, NY
• March 5 – Boston Massacre

1772

• June 9 – Gaspée Affair—A British ship patrolling for smugglers runs aground in Rhode Island and a local mob burns it; the mob is then accused of treason

1773

• May 10 – Tea Act—An attempt by Parliament to undercut smugglers by reducing the price of tea to the colonies
• December 16 – Boston Tea Party

1774

• March 31 – Boston Port Act— Parliament closes the city’s port in response to the Tea Party.
• May 20 – Administration of Justice Act and Massachusetts Government Act, two of the so-called Intolerable Acts, further anger colonists
• June 2 – Quartering Act is amended
• September 5–October 26 – First Continental Congress—Carpenter’s Hall, Philadelphia

1775

1776

1777

1778

• February 6 – The United States and France become allies
• February 7 – British General William Howe replaced by Henry Clinton
• May 20 – Battle of Barren Hill, PA
• June 18 – British abandon Philadelphia, Continental Army marches out of Valley Forge
• June 28 – Battle of Monmouth, NJ
• July 4 – George Rogers Clark captures Kaskaskia, in modern Illinois
• July 29–August 31 – French and American forces besiege Newport, RI
• December 29 – British capture Savannah, GA

1779

• February 3 – Battle of Port Royal Island, SC
• February 14 – Battle of Kettle Creek, GA
• February 23–24 – George Rogers Clark captures Vincennes, in modern Indiana
• March 3 – Battle of Brier Creek, GA
• June 18 – Sullivan expedition attacks Indian villages in NY
• June 20 – Battle of Stono River, SC
• June 21 – Spain declares war on Great Britain
• July 7 – British burn Fairfield, CT
• July 11 – British burn Norwalk, CT
• July 16 – Americans capture Stony Point, NY
• July 24 – August 14 – Penobscot Expedition (Castine, ME)
• July 28 – Battle of Fort Freeland, PA
• August 19 – Battle of Paulus Hook, NJ
• August 29 – Battle of Newtown, NY
• September 16 – October 19 – American/French effort to retake Savannah fails
• September 23 – John Paul Jones and the USS Bonhomme Richard capture HMS Serapis near English coast
• November – Washington’s Main Army begins camping at Morristown, NJ

1780

1781

1782

• March 8—9 – Indians attacked by militia at Gnadenhutten, in modern OH
• March 20 – Lord North resigns as Prime Minister of Great Britain
• April 19 – Netherlands recognizes American independence
• May 8 – American and Spanish forces capture Nassau, Bahamas
• July 11 – British evacuate Savannah, GA
• July 13 – British/Indian raid on Hannahstown, PA
• August 7 – Washington establishes the Badge of Military Merit, now known as the Purple Heart
• August 19 – Battle of Blue Licks, KY
• November 4 – Encounter at John’s Ferry, SC
• November 10 – George Rogers Clark raids Chillicothe, modern OH
• November 30 – British and Americans sign preliminary Articles of Peace
• December 14 – British evacuate Charleston, SC

1783

• March 15 – Washington addresses the Newburgh Conspiracy and discontent in the Continental Army, Newburgh, NY
• April 19 – Congress ratifies the preliminary peace treaty
• September 3 – US and Great Britain sign the Treaty of Paris
• November 25 – British evacuate New York City
• December 4 – Washington bids farewell to his officers in New York City
• December 23 – Washington resigns as commander in Annapolis, MD