Timeline of the American Revolution/1776
1776
Independence?
While pens declared political independence on paper, the cause was nearly lost on the battlefield. Thomas Paine's Common Sense won many over to the cause. Congress took the dramatic step of declaring independence from Britain in July. After being pushed to the brink, the Continental Army's daring Delaware River crossing and victory over the Hessians at Trenton gave new life to the cause.
January 1
British thwart Montgomery and Arnold's assault on Quebec; invasion of Canada fails.
January 5
New Hampshire becomes the first colony to declare full independence.
January 19
Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense.
February 27
Patriots defeat a loyalist force at Battle of Moores Creek Bridge near Wilmington, North Carolina.
March 2
Americans fortify Dorchester Heights, Massachusetts, using cannon brought from Fort Ticonderoga by artillery chief, Henry Knox.
March
Congress appoints Silas Deane as diplomatic agent to France, in hopes of securing military aid.
March 3 - 4
Continental Navy and Marine raid on the British colony of Nassau, Bahamas, yields quantities of valuable military stores.
March 17
American siege forces British to evacuate Boston.
March 31
Abigail Adams issues historic plea for women’s rights, urging her husband, John to “remember the ladies” as Congress drafts new laws.
April
Continental Army leaves its first winter encampment at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Continental Army enters and begins to erect defenses in New York City.
May
The French government consents to send secret military aid to the colonies.
May 10
Congress authorizes each of the thirteen colonies to form new state governments.
June 7
Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee offers a formal resolution calling for American independence.
Congress appoints a committee to prepare a draft of a working government entitled the Articles of Confederation.
June 28
Jefferson presents his draft of the Declaration of Independence to Congress.
American defenders repulse British attack at Fort Sullivan (Fort Moultrie), Charleston, South Carolina.
June - July
British armada arrives in New York carrying over 30,000 British and Hessian troops intending to crush the rebellion.
July 2
Continental Congress votes in favor of Lee’s resolution for independence.
July 4;
Congress formally adopts the Declaration of Independence.
August 2
Delegates sign Declaration of Independence. Demonstrating the new nation’s potential for religious tolerance, the list of signers includes one Catholic, Charles Carroll of Maryland.
August 27 - 29
British commanded by William Howe defeat Washington’s outnumbered army at the Battle of Long Island, New York. Americans evacuate to Manhattan.
September
Congress appoints Arthur Lee and Benjamin Franklin to assist Deane in diplomatic mission to France.
September 12
Washington evacuates New York City.
September 16
Americans hold off British at the Battle of Harlem Heights, New York.
September 22
British hang patriot Nathan Hale for spying.
October 11 - 12
British overpower Benedict Arnold’s small fleet at the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain, New York, but this valiant action halts British lake-route invasion of New York.
October 13
British occupy Crown Point, New York.
October 28
Howe’s army achieves a costly victory over Washington at the Battle of White Plains, New York.
November 16
British capture Fort Washington, New York, on the east side of the Hudson River.
November 20
Americans forced to abandon Fort Lee, New Jersey, on the west side of the Hudson River. New York City is now in British hands.
Thomas Paine publishes The Crisis, which helps rekindle the fires of liberty during the darkest hour of the Revolution.
December 25
With army enlistment about to expire at year’s end, Washington must act. Continental Army begins daring Christmas night crossing of the Delaware River.
December 26
Washington’s victory over the Hessians at Trenton, New Jersey, gives new life to the cause. In the coming year, Congress and Washington build an army for the war based on longterm enlistment.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States federal government (see 17 U.S.C. 105).
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