Important Events and People of the American Revolution

By: Tom Blanton

George Washington

• George Washington served as general of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.

• Born in 1732 and died in 1799

• First president of the United States

• Washington returned to his farm at Mt. Vernon after leading America to victory over the British, making him the “greatest man in the world”.

• He presided over the Philadelphia Convention

Lexington and Concord

• Forewarned by Paul Revere, American militiamen fought 800 British troops on April 19th, 1775.

• The battle took place at Concord.

• Seventy-three British soldiers were killed and over 200 were wounded.

• The Americans lost 49 soldiers and suffered 39 wounded.

• This marked the beginning to Revolutionary War.

Battle of Yorktown

• General Cornwallis arrived in Petersburg in May of 1781.

• After receiving conflicting instructions, Cornwalis went to Yorktown and began preparing a naval base there.

• General Washington moved south and, together with French ground and naval forces, surrounded the British army.

• This forced the British to surrender, ending the American Revolution

• Hostilities would continue for another year