Let’s take a look at what happened in the American Revolutionary War in its first year. Here are some — but certainly not all — of the most important and notable events, starting with the beginning of the war in April, 1775:
April
- The war starts at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts.
- New England militia besiege Boston. Some soldiers from other colonies arrive later. The siege will last almost a year.
May
- The Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia, as had been agreed the previous fall. Georgia does not send delegates at first.
- Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold capture Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain.
June
- The Continental Congress takes charge of the army (which becomes known as the Continental Army), and appoints George Washington as commander-in-chief.
- A sea fight takes place near Machias, Massachusetts. This is sometimes referred to as “the Lexington of the sea.”
July
- The Continental Congress sends a petition to King George III, asking him to intervene and repeal the British laws that are oppressing the colonists. This becomes known as the Olive Branch Petition. (When the petition reaches England several weeks later, the king ignores it.)
- Congress also publishes an address to the people of Britain, and an official declaration of why the Americans have taken up arms.
August
- King George III proclaims the colonies to be in rebellion.
September
- Americans invade Canada from two directions: the main force goes by way of Lake Champlain, while a smaller force under Benedict Arnold goes through the wilderness, hoping to capture the city of Quebec by surprise.
- Delegates from Georgia join the Continental Congress.
October
- Congress authorizes construction of two warships, thus establishing the beginnings of a navy. This becomes known as the “birthday” of the Continental Navy.
- The British Royal Navy bombards and burns most of Falmouth (now Portland), Maine.
- The British Parliament meets and takes measures to suppress the rebellion in America.
November
- Congress establishes the Marines.
- Benedict Arnold’s forces reach Quebec but are unable to effectively attack or besiege it, so they withdraw to meet the American forces that are coming up the St. Lawrence River.
- Other American forces capture St. John’s and Montreal, Canada. The governor, Sir Guy Carleton, manages to escape to Quebec before Montreal is captured.
December
- American forces under Richard Montgomery besiege the city of Quebec.
All in all, it was quite an eventful year, and many of the important events are unknown to most people today. But even though the colonies didn’t declare independence until the next year, the events of 1775 had far-reaching consequences.