American Revolution: Key Events and Figures 1754-1783

French and Indian War (1754-1763)

• This war provided Great Britain enormous territorial gains in North America.
• Disputes over subsequent frontier policy and paying the war's expenses led to colonial discontent and the American Revolution.

Key Figures in the American Revolution

George Washington

• Virginia plantation owner
• 1st President of the United States
• Served as a general and commander-in-chief of colonial armies during the American Revolutionary War.

Continental Army (aka the Revolutionary War Army)

• Led by George Washington
• Authorized by the Continental Congress

John Adams

• 1st Vice President, 2nd President of the USA
• Major figure of the American Revolution, shaping of the Constitution
• Drafting of the Declaration of Independence

Samuel Adams (Revolutionary Leader)

• Organizer of the Boston Tea Party
• Signer of the Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson (A Founding Father)

• Political leader
• President from 1801-1809
• Author of the Declaration of Independence

Key Organizations

Sons of Liberty (A Secret Revolutionary Organization)

• Created in the 13 colonies
• To advance the rights of the European colonists and to fight taxation by the British government.

Committees of Correspondence (Governments Organized by the 13 Colonies)

• American colonies maintaining communication lines in the years before the Revolutionary War.
• The Virginia House of Burgesses proposed that each colonial legislature appoint a committee for correspondence

Major Events Leading to the Revolution

Stamp Act

The tax on printed documents affected everyone. This was created to raise more money and was passed by Parliament. It taxed almost all printed material. It didn't impose trade. It was spread through colonies and a huge debate began. They boycotted all goods.

Boston Massacre

British soldiers in Boston opened fire on a group of American colonists, killing five men.

Paul Revere

An American silversmith remembered for his midnight ride to warn the colonies in Lexington and Concord that the British were coming.

1st and 2nd Continental Congress

No longer under British rule, the colonies are now independent.

Boston Tea Party

A raid on three British ships in the Boston harbor, British colonists disguised as Native Americans threw the contents of several hundred chests of tea into the harbor as a protest against British taxes on tea.

Coercive Acts

A series of laws passed by the British Parliament relating to Britain's colonies in North America. Passed in response to the Boston Tea Party, these acts wanted to punish Massachusetts as a warning to the other colonies.

Key Battles of the American Revolution

Lexington and Concord

• 1st battle of the Revolutionary War
• Fought in Massachusetts
• British troops had moved from Boston to Lexington and Concord to seize the colonists' military supplies

Declaration of Independence

A statement written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the freedom of the 13 colonies from Great Britain. It has great significance to the American people. It's what led to our independence from King George III. This was a major part of the American Revolution. They were written and passed over to the 13 colonies.

Battle of Trenton

Patriots crossed the Delaware River on Christmas to attack the Hessians at Trenton. Captured over 900 Hessians and had only 5 casualties.

Battle of Saratoga

British General Burgoyne suffered a major defeat to General Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold. Burgoyne surrendered.

Battle of Yorktown

Assault led by Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau against General Cornwallis.

Treaty of Paris

• Signed by Britain, France, and Spain.
• Ended their involvement in the Seven Years' War.
• An official peace treaty between the US and Britain that ended the American Revolutionary War.