The American Revolution

The Boston Massacre

On March 5, 1770, many people gathered around the Customs House in Boston and began teasing the soldiers guarding the building. The colonists threw rocks and other things at the guards, hitting a soldier, and making him accidentally fire in the crowd. Hearing the noise, the other soldiers started firing. When the smoke cleared, five colonists were dead. This event sparked the revolution and was used for propaganda by the Sons of Liberty.

On a warm night in 1773, a group of colonists in Boston, Massachusetts went onto British ships that were carrying tea. They dumped as many boxes of tea that they could into the Boston Harbor to rebel against a tax the British had on tea. King George III was so angered by this, that he closed the Boston Harbor and stationed many more soldiers in Boston.

The Boston Tea Party

The First Continental Congress

On September 5, 1774, representatives from all of the colonies, except Georgia, went to a meeting to discuss their complaints. At this meeting, they organize rebellions in the colonies against England. The people were very angry and upset about the way England treated them, and they demanded action.

Lexington and Concord

On April 19, 1775, a British governor sent troops to take away the weapons in military stores in Concord. Local farmers gathered in Lexington to try to fight and stop the British soldiers from taking their weapons. The British soldiers fought off the farmers in Lexington and then continued on to Concord. The farmers, also known as militiamen, defeated the British in Concord. This battle started the American Revolution.

The Continental Army

After Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress had a meeting and voted to create the Continental Army. This army started to prepare for battle against King George III and his army. The leader of the army was George Washington and there were many other leaders including Nathaniel Greene, Marquis de Lafayette, Daniel Morgan, and Henry Knox.

Declaration Of Independence

Thomas Jefferson started to right the Declaration of Independence which said that the thirteen colonies were their own nation. With the help of Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, the Declaration was completed on July4, 1776, but it wasn't signed until August 2, 1776. Even though the colonies had said that they were free, King George didn't give up and the war continued.