• Boston citizens protest the Tea Act by dumping tons of tea into Boston Harbor

1774

• British Parliament passes the "Intolerable Acts"
• First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia
• The Royal American magazine, the first periodical to regularly use engraved illustrations, begins publication with contributions from Paul Revere

1775

• Patrick Henry proclaims, "Give me liberty or give me death"
• "The Shot Heard 'Round the World" is fired as Colonists engage the British in the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts
• George Washington named commander of the Continental army
• Congress establishes a postal service, naming Benjamin Franklin postmaster general
• British triumph at the Battle of Bunker Hill

1776

• Rhode Island declares independence from Great Britain on May 4
• Congress approves the Declaration of Independence

1777

• The Stars and Stripes becomes the official flag June 14
• Washington sets up a winter encampment at Valley Forge, Pa.

1778

• France acknowledges American independence

1779

• John Paul Jones vows, "I have not yet begun to fight," and defeats the British frigate Serapis

1780

• Gen. Benedict Arnold flees the Colonies after being discovered as a traitor

1781

• At Yorktown, Gen. Charles Cornwallis surrenders to Washington
• Articles of Confederation ratified

1782

• The Purple Heart, known as the Badge of Military Merit, is America's first military medal
• Virginia legislation makes it legal for any man "to emancipate and set free his slaves"

1783

• Treaty of Paris with Great Britain recognizes American independence
• First daily newspaper in America, The Pennsylvania Evening Post, begins publication
• Noah Webster publishes the American Spelling Book
• US population is 2.4 million