The Revolution and Constitution (1775-1789)
The American Revolution began on April 19, 1775 at Lexington. The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776 and years of war ensued before the new nation formally won its freedom. The current Constitution was ratified and went into effect in 1789.
Key Topics:
- Battles of Lexington and Concord
- Patriot (American Revolution)
- Continental Army
- Common Sense (pamphlet)
- United States Declaration of Independence
- Battle of Trenton
- Battles of Saratoga
- Articles of Confederation
- Siege of Yorktown
- Constitutional Convention (United States)
- Northwest Ordinance
- United States Constitution
Recommended Reading
- All You Want to Know About the United States Constitution: The Constitutional Convention and the Ratification... - Knowledge Products
- The Untold Story of the Battle of Saratoga: A Turning Point in the Revolutionary War (What You Didn't Know About... - Michael Burgan
- Let It Begin Here!: Lexington & Concord: First Battles of the American Revolution - Dennis Brindell Fradin
- The Winter Soldiers: The Battles for Trenton and Princeton - Richard M. Ketchum
- To Starve the Army at Pleasure: Continental Army Administration and American Political Culture, 1775-1783 - E. Wayne Carp
- A Revolutionary People At War: The Continental Army and American Character, 1775-1783 - Charles Royster
- Patriots of the American Revolution - Richard M. Dorson
The Battle of Fort Sullivan
To many, it's a great surprise that Charleston had a major part in the American Revolution. Read about the American victory at Fort Sullivan in 1776.
Timeline
- 1775 - First shots of the Revolutionary War are fired at Lexington and Concord, forcing a British withdrawal.
- 1775 - The Continental Army, Continental Navy, and Continental Marines are formed to fight the Revolution. They will cooperate with numerous state regiments and militia.
- 1776 - The Declaration of Independence is signed on July 4th and sent to King George.
- 1781 - Lord Cornwallis surrenders his army at Yorktown, Virginia. His is the second British army to be lost in the struggle, after that of "Gentleman" Johnny Burgoyne.
- 1783 - The Treaty of Paris is signed, formalizing the United States' victory.
- 1784 - United States suffers a severe depression, exacerbated by currency shortage and unpaid debts. This has sometimes been called the 'Critical Period'.
- 1786 - Shays' Rebellion breaks out in Massachusetts.
- 1787 - The Northwest Ordinance is passed, formalizing Midwest settlement.
- 1787 - The Constitutional Convention is held in Philadelphia, resulting in the current United States Constitution.
- 1788 - The United States Constitution goes into effect with the ratification of New Hampshire -- the ninth state.
- 1789 - George Washington is inaugurated as the first President of the United States.
ERAS:
Pre-Contact - Colonial - Revolutionary - Antebellum - Civil War - Gilded Age - Depression/World War II - Modern
PEOPLE:
American Indian - Anglo/Scottish - Black - Hispanic - Women - Asian - LGBT - Irish - Jewish - Children