America’s 250th Scavenger Hunt – STOP ONE

KEY FIGURES
- George Washington: Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army (and future first President).
- Thomas Jefferson: The primary author of the Declaration of Independence.
- King George III: The monarch of Great Britain during the war.

KEY EVENTS

1775:
- April 19 (Lexington and Concord): The "Shot Heard 'Round the World." British troops try to seize hidden weapons, and local colonists fight back. This is the official start of the Revolution.
- June 17 (Battle of Bunker Hill): Even though the Americans eventually had to retreat because they ran out of gunpowder, they proved they could go toe-to-toe with the world’s most powerful army. It was a huge confidence booster.

1776:
- July 4 (Declaration of Independence): The colonies stop fighting just for better treatment and officially announce they are a new, independent country. There’s no turning back now.
- August 27 (Battle of Long Island): A rough start for the new nation. The British win a massive battle in New York, nearly capturing George Washington’s entire army. Washington is forced to retreat to keep the cause alive.

1777:
- Sept–Oct (Battle of Saratoga): This is arguably the most important win of the war. Because the Americans defeated a major British force in New York, France finally decided that the Americans actually had a chance to win and agreed to help.

1778–1779:
- 1778 (Alliance with France): The war goes global. France starts sending ships, professional soldiers, and much-needed money and supplies. Without this help, winning would have been nearly impossible.
- 1779 (Southern Campaign Begins): The British change their strategy. They move the fighting to the Southern colonies (like Georgia and the Carolinas), hoping to find more "Loyalists" (colonists who still supported the King) to help them fight.

1781:
- October 19 (Battle of Yorktown): The "Trap." With the French navy blocking the ocean and Washington’s army surrounding them on land, the British are trapped in Virginia. They are forced to surrender their main army, effectively ending the fighting.

1783:
- September 3 (Treaty of Paris): The paperwork is signed. Great Britain officially admits defeat and signs a treaty recognizing the United States as a free and independent nation.