Western History 121: What were the key events of the first part of the American Revolutionary War?

The events at Concord and Lexington demonstrated that there was no turning back . A Second Continental Congress met on May 10^th 1775 in Philadelphia. At the same time Ethan Allen’s Green Mountain Boys seized For Ticonderoga. On the 15^th of June, George Washington, a veteran of the French and Indian Army was made Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. He would assume command on July 3^rd.

Ethan Allen source: findagrave.com

However by that stage the American forces had been driven from Breed’s Hill, overlooking Boston Harbor, by numerically superior British forces in what was later called the Battle of Bunker Hill (Bunker Hill was the intended site that the Americans were supposed to defend instead as a consequence of a misunderstanding the troops actually defended Breed’s Hill).

Battle of Bunker Hill source: history.com

The British victory however came at a great cost – 1054 troops killed or wounded out of a total of 2300. Its repercussions shocked the crown who issued a Proclamation of Rebellion soon afterward.

On November 13^th, the Continental Army struck back taking Montreal. Soon afterward they routed Loyalist forces at Norfolk. A further victory occurred at Great Canebrake, SC.  However the British held firm in Quebec.

On January 15^th 1776, Thomas Paine issued his Common Sense pamphlet where he spoke to the common people making the case for Independence.

Thomas Paine - author of Common Sense pamphlet. Made the case for independence. source: history.com

Battles continued for most of the year in the Carolinas , Quebec and Boston with the British navy evacuating the latter and moving to Halifax. On June 28^th the American forces dealt a decisive blow to the British navy at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina.

Between July 1^st and July 4^th 1776, the Declaration of Independence was debated in Congress. It was adopted on July 4^th and finally read public on the 8^th of July. Delegates would begin signing the document on the 10^th of August.

Declaration of Independence source: wbur.org

However at the same time the situation looked bleak for the Continental forces. The British and their Cherokee allies harassed the Americans and Washington’s forces were defeated at the Battle of Long Island. He escaped at night but the British would soon afterward occupy New York City.

American resolve was restored at Harlem Heights when Washington and his generals Nathanael Greene and Israel Putnam held their ground against the British. 

Benedict Arnold (who would later change sides) lost the Battle of Valcour Island but did help in delaying the British advance. Continental forces retreated on several fronts as the British and their Hessian Mercenary forces took White Plains, Fort Washington and Fort Lee as the year 1776 neared to a close. However a significant respite occurred when Washington crossed the Delaware and captured Trenton from the Hessians.

George Washington source: biography.com 

Washington crossing the Delaware source: mprnews.org

Washington’s troops would capture Princeton on January 3^rd, 1777 and four months later Benedict Arnold would force a British retreat in Ridgefield, Connecticut.  Unfortunately for the Americans Fort Ticonderoga was lost to the British but soon afterward the Americans received a boost by the arrival of the French general Marquis de Lafayette in Philadelphia. He would play a major role in American strategy.

For much of 1777, the British and Americans shared the spoils. The Americans won the Battle of Bennington but the British saw success at Brandywine and Germantown. On October 17^th  the American forces under Horatio Gates forced the surrender of the British  (led by General Burgoyne) at Saratoga, NY. This was a substantial morale booster and critical victory for the Continental troops.  Nevertheless the British would hit back in Pennsylvania with Washington choosing to retire to his winter setting at Valley Forge.

Washington visiting troops at Valley Forge source: businessinsider.com

On Feb 6^th 1778, France officially allied herself with the American cause. At the Battle of Barren Hill Lafayette’s troops held off a British onslaught and soon afterward the British would withdraw from Pennsylvania. Washington would leave Valley Forge in June and soon afterward the British and American forces would fight to a draw at Monmouth Court House.  There was fighting at many locales but towards the end of the year the British redcoats had occupied Savannah. More was to follow.

Horatio Gates - victor at Saratoga source: battlefields.org