Timeline of Continental Congress and American Revolutionary War
The Continental Congress (1774-1781) was the legislative body, with some executive function, for the Thirteen Colonies and—later on—the newly declared United States.
The Continental Congress functioned before, during, and after the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), which was a war for independence initiated by colonists against the kingdom of Great Britain.
1776 takes place during the Second Continental Congress, and in the midst of the American Revolutionary War. This timeline outlines some key events that led up to that pivotal year as well as some key events following it.
The First Continental Congress
March 22, 1765
Stamp Act passed
June 29, 1767
First of the Townshend Acts passed
May 10, 1773
Tea Act passed
December 16, 1773
Boston Tea Party: In protest of the Tea Act, colonists boarded tea ships anchored in the Boston harbor and dumped their tea cargo overboard
1774
Coercive (Intolerable) Acts: In response to the Boston Tea Party, Parliament passed several acts to make an example of Massachusetts, in the hopes of reversing the trend of colonial resistance to parliamentary authority.
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Boston Port Bill: Banned the loading or unloading of any ships in Boston harbor
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Administration of Justice Act: Offered protection to royal officials in Massachusetts, allowing them to transfer to England all court cases against them involving riot suppression or revenue collection
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Massachusetts Government Act: Put the election of most government officials under the control of the Crown, essentially eliminating the Massachusetts charter of government.
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Quartering Act: Allowed royal governors, rather than colonial legislatures, to find homes and buildings to quarter or house British soldiers.
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Quebec Act: Extended the borders of the province of Quebec southward to the Ohio River; also granted “the free Exercise of the Religion of the Church of Rome."
September 5, 1774
Viewing the acts as an arbitrary violation of the rights of Massachusetts, the Patriots organized a congress of all the colonies — the First Continental Congress — in Philadelphia.
Twelve of the thirteen colonies sent a total of 56 delegates. Only Georgia was not represented, as at the time, Loyalist sentiment outweighed the Patriots in that state.
The main accomplishment of the First Continental Congress was the Continental Association: a compact among the colonies to boycott British goods unless Parliament repealed the Intolerable Acts, as well as the formation of committees to enforce the boycott.
Congress also voted to meet again the following year if their grievances were not addressed satisfactorily; delegates sent letters of invitation to the colonies that had not joined this time.
October 26, 1774
The First Continental Congress was disbanded.
The American Revolutionary War: How it began
The Battle of Lexington and Concord.
February 9, 1775
In response to the boycotts (as decided during the First Continental Congress), Parliament declared Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion and instituted a blockade of the colony.
March 30, 1775
Parliament passed the New England Restraining Act, which banned trade between the New England colonies and any other country besides Britain and the British West Indies.
April 1775
After hearing that colonies outside of New England had joined the Continental Association, Parliament passed a second restraining Act to include the colonies of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and South Carolina.
April 19, 1775
Battles of Lexington and Concord: Marked the beginning of the American Revolution.
To quash potential rebellion, Royal Governor of Massachusetts Thomas Gage ordered the seizure of weapons and powder being stored in Concord, Massachusetts, twenty miles northwest of Boston. Upon learning of this plan, riders (including Paul Revere and William Dawes) gathered the militias and rushed to confront the British troops, where gunfire was exchanged. Till today, it's unclear which side fired first; existing accounts are contradictory. Regardless, the British pressed on to Concord and destroyed some ammunition, but soon found the countryside swarming with militia and were eventually forced to tactically withdraw. It's estimated that the British sustained 300 casualties versus America's 93.
Importantly, this battle resulted in more people concluding that boycotting British imports would not be enough to secure the wins that the colonists wanted.
The Second Continental Congress
May 10, 1775
Following the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Congress reconvened in Philadelphia.
John Hancock was elected President of Congress.
June 15, 1775
George Washington was nominated to lead the army in New England; he accepted the next day.
5 days prior (June 10), John Adams had recommended George Washington be named Commander-in-Chief of the forces in Boston, which Adams now regarded as a Continental army.
June 17, 1775
The Battle of Bunker Hill: Aiming to contain the British military inside Boston, American militia sought to fortify Bunker Hill against British forces, constructing an earthen fort (or redoubt) atop Breed's Hill, a hill southeast of Bunker Hill. When the British caught wind of the activity, they opened fire.
British troops casualties totaled 1,054, while colonial losses totaled an estimated 450 soldiers. However, the Americans lost the fortification, resulting in a British victory overall.
July 2, 1775
George Washington arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts to take command of the Continental Army.
July 5, 1775
Olive Branch Petition: Congress declared its loyalty to the king, George III, and emphasized their rights as British citizens, in the hopes of preventing a formal declaration of war. (Full text of the petition)
August 23, 1775
Proclamation of Rebellion: In response to the Battle of Bunker Hill, King George III declared elements of the American colonies in a state of "open and avowed rebellion," and ordered officials of the empire "to use their utmost endeavours to withstand and suppress such rebellion." (Full text)
Because King George III refused to receive the colonial Olive Branch Petition, the Proclamation of Rebellion of 23 August 1775 effectively served as an answer to it.
January 1776
Thomas Paine's pamphlet, Common Sense, was published. It presented various moral and political arguments for independence, and moved many for the cause.
It was sold and distributed widely and read aloud at taverns and meeting places. In proportion to the population of the colonies at that time (2.5 million), it had the largest sale and circulation of any book published in American history.
March 2-17, 1776
Siege of Boston: The Continental Army had received heavy guns from Fort Ticonderoga, and Washington made the bold decision to place these artillery pieces upon Dorchester Heights, from which Washington could target the British ships in Boston harbor. From this elevated position, the Americans began bombarding the British on March 2. After making several failed attempts to take out the guns, the British forces were forced to depart Boston on March 17, 1776.
The British departure ended major military activities in the New England colonies.
May 1776
The Second Continental Congress recommended that the colonies establish new governments based on the authority of the people of the respective colonies rather than on the British Crown.
1776 the musical begins here
July 2, 1776
The Second Continental Congress unanimously voted for American independence. Two days later, on July 4, the approved text of the Declaration of Independence was sent to print.
1776 the musical ends here
The American Revolutionary War: How it ended
August 27, 1776
Battle of Long Island: A British amphibious assault upon the American positions atop Brooklyn Heights led to a signal British victory. Facing the prospect of a total defeat, Washington was able to save his remaining forces by shuttling them across the East River to Manhattan.
October 28, 1776
Battle of White Plains: British and American forces met at White Plains, New York, where the British captured an important fortification. Washington once again retreated, still attempting to save his army from the full force of the British army.
December 26, 1776
Battle of Trenton: Washington launched a surprise attack against a British fortification at Trenton, New Jersey, that was staffed by Hessian soldiers. After one hour of confused fighting, the Hessians surrendered. Only five American soldiers were killed.
January 3, 1777
Battle of Princeton: British General Howe reacted to the Battle of Trenton by sending a large force of men to New Jersey. At Princeton, Washington once again launched a surprise attack, and succeeded in defeating the British. His efforts cleared most of New Jersey of enemy forces, and greatly boosted American morale.
June 14, 1777
The Second Continental Congress declared that the flag of the United States would consist of thirteen alternating red and white stripes, and a blue field with thirteen white stars.
November 15, 1777
The Second Continental Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation, which served as the nation's first Constitution and established the functions of the American government post-independence. (Full text of the Articles)
June 28, 1778
The Battle of Monmouth: When the British headed for New York, Washington left Valley Forge to follow. At the Battle of Monmouth, American General Charles Lee gave several confused orders, and then ordered a sudden retreat. Washington's arrival on the scene saved the battle, although the British escaped to New York during the night. Lee was later court-martialed.
March 1, 1781
The Articles of Confederation were ratified after being under discussion since 1777. The Second Continental Congress was disbanded — formally replaced by "The United States in Congress Assembled" or the Congress of the Confederation.
October 19, 1781
Battle of Yorktown: French and American forces joined at Yorktown, on land and at sea, and attacked British fortifications. Key British points were soon held by the Americans and French, and British General Cornwallis soon surrendered, giving up almost 8,000 men. With this total defeat, Britain lost hope of winning the war in America.
September 3, 1783
The Treaty of Paris, signed by David Hartley (Great Britain) and John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay (United States), officially ended the American Revolutionary War. Based on a 1782 preliminary treaty, it recognized the United States as a free, sovereign and independent nation.