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Date |
Event(s) |
| 1 | 1774 | - 31 Mar 1774: Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts),In response to the Boston Tea Party, Parliament passed a series of punitive laws, including the Boston Port Act and the Quartering Act.
- 5 Sep 1774: First Continental Congress,Delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia to coordinate a response to the Coercive Acts.
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| 2 | 1775 | - 19 Apr 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord,The "shot heard 'round the world" was fired, marking the start of the American Revolutionary War.
- 10 May 1775: Second Continental Congress,The Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia, assuming the role of a provisional government for the colonies.
- 17 Jun 1775: Battle of Bunker Hill,British forces defeated the American colonists in a costly battle in Boston, demonstrating the colonists' determination.
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| 3 | 1776 | - 4 Jul 1776: Declaration of Independence adopted,The Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, formally severing ties with Great Britain.
- 26 Dec 1776: Battle of Trenton,General George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River and defeated a Hessian garrison in a surprise attack.
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| 4 | 1777 | - 17 Oct 1777: Battle of Saratoga,American forces defeated the British at Saratoga, a turning point that convinced France to enter the war as an American ally.
- 19 Dec 1777—19 Jun 1778: Winter at Valley Forge
The Continental Army endured a brutal winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, suffering from disease, cold, and starvation.
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| 5 | 1778 | - 23 Feb 1778: Treaty of Alliance with France,The United States and France signed a treaty, formally recognizing American independence and creating a military alliance.
- 29 Dec 1778: British capture Savannah,British forces captured the city of Savannah, Georgia, as part of their "Southern strategy."
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| 6 | 1780 | - 12 May 1780: British capture Charleston,The British captured Charleston, South Carolina, a major defeat for the Continental Army.
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| 7 | 1781 | - 1 Mar 1781: Articles of Confederation ratified,The states officially ratified the Articles of Confederation, the first government of the United States.
- 19 Oct 1781: Battle of Yorktown,The combined American and French forces trapped and defeated the British army at Yorktown, Virginia, a decisive victory that led to the end of the war.
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| 8 | 1783 | - 3 Sep 1783: Treaty of Paris ends war,The Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the American Revolutionary War and recognizing American independence.
- 23 Dec 1783: Washington resigns his commission,George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief, a rare act of a military leader voluntarily giving up power.
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| 9 | 1787 | - 25 May 1787—17 Sep 1787: Constitutional Convention
Delegates met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation, but instead drafted a new Constitution.
- 13 Jul 1787: Northwest Ordinance passed,The Northwest Ordinance established a process for admitting new states to the Union and banned slavery in the Northwest Territory.
- 17 Sep 1787: U.S. Constitution signed,Delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the United States Constitution in Philadelphia.
- 7 Dec 1787: Delaware ratifies Constitution,Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
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| 10 | 1788 | - 21 Jun 1788: New Hampshire ratifies Constitution,New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, putting it into effect.
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| 11 | 1789 | - 4 Mar 1789: U.S. Constitution goes into effect,The new U.S. government was formally established under the Constitution.
- 30 Apr 1789: George Washington inaugurated,George Washington was sworn in as the first President of the United States in New York City.
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| 12 | 1791 | - 15 Dec 1791: Bill of Rights ratified,The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution were ratified, guaranteeing fundamental rights and freedoms.
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| 13 | 1794 | - 1 Jan 1794: Whiskey Rebellion,Farmers in western Pennsylvania protested a federal tax on whiskey, leading to a military response by President Washington.
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| 14 | 1795 | - 10 Aug 1795: Treaty of Greenville,A treaty was signed between the United States and a confederation of Native American tribes, ceding a large portion of what is now Ohio.
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1774 - Aft 1794 (> 21 years)