Events with tag - Independence

September 28, 481 BC

Battle of Salamis

A pivotal naval battle in 480 BC where the Greek fleet led by Themistocles defeated the larger Persian armada of Xerxes I in the narrow straits between Piraeus and Salamis Island, marking a turning point in the Second Persian invasion of Greece.

August 2, 338

Battle of Chaeronea

The Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BCE marked a crucial turning point in ancient Greek history, where Macedonian forces under Philip II and young Alexander defeated Greek city-states, ending their independence and establishing Macedonian dominance.

March 22, 1765

The Stamp Act of 1765

The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act requiring American colonists to pay taxes on printed materials without representation, leading to widespread colonial resistance and becoming a crucial catalyst for the American Revolution.

August 14, 1765

Sons of Liberty Formation

The Sons of Liberty, formed in Boston in 1765, emerged as a revolutionary organization opposing British taxation in colonial America. Led by Samuel Adams and John Hancock, they organized protests and boycotts that shaped the path to American independence.

December 16, 1773

Boston Tea Party

On December 16, 1773, approximately 116 American colonists dumped 342 chests of British East India Company tea into Boston Harbor as a protest against British taxation policies. This act of rebellion became one of the key events leading to the American Revolution.

September 5, 1774

First Continental Congress

A pivotal gathering of 56 delegates from 12 American colonies at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, establishing the first formal inter-colonial alliance against British rule and laying the foundation for American independence.

September 5, 1774

First Continental Congress

A pivotal gathering of 56 delegates from 12 American colonies who met in Philadelphia's Carpenter's Hall from September to October 1774 to address British oppression and establish unified colonial resistance.

April 18, 1775

Paul Revere's Midnight Ride

On the night of April 18, 1775, Boston silversmith Paul Revere embarked on a crucial 13-mile journey to warn colonial militia about British troop movements. His midnight ride helped mobilize American forces for the Battles of Lexington and Concord, marking the beginning of the American Revolution.

April 19, 1775

Battle of Lexington and Concord

The Battle of Lexington and Concord marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775. The conflict began when British troops attempted to seize colonial weapons in Concord, leading to armed confrontations with American militia forces.

May 10, 1775

Second Continental Congress First Meeting

The Second Continental Congress convened on May 10, 1775, at Philadelphia's Independence Hall, marking a crucial turning point in American history. This assembly brought together 56 delegates from 12 colonies and established the foundation for American independence.

June 17, 1775

Battle of Bunker Hill

A significant early battle of the American Revolutionary War where colonial forces, despite eventual defeat, proved their military capability by inflicting heavy casualties on British forces in Charlestown, Massachusetts.

August 2, 1776

Declaration of Independence Signing

On August 2, 1776, the majority of 56 delegates signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia's Independence Hall, though the document was officially adopted on July 4th. The signing process continued through January 1777, with some delegates adding their signatures months after the initial ceremony.

September 19, 1777

Battle of Saratoga

A pivotal battle of the American Revolutionary War fought in autumn 1777, consisting of two major engagements that resulted in British surrender and secured French alliance with the American colonies.

December 19, 1777

Valley Forge Winter Encampment

From December 1777 to June 1778, General George Washington's Continental Army endured a brutal winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Despite severe conditions and limited supplies, this six-month period transformed a scattered militia into a disciplined military force through Baron von Steuben's training program.

February 6, 1778

French-American Alliance Treaty

France formally entered the American Revolution by signing the Treaty of Alliance with the United States, providing crucial military and financial support that ultimately helped secure American independence from British rule.

January 17, 1781

Battle of Cowpens

The Battle of Cowpens was a pivotal engagement of the American Revolutionary War fought on January 17, 1781, in South Carolina. American forces under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan achieved a decisive victory over British troops led by Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton, marking a crucial turning point in the war's southern campaign.

September 28, 1781

Battle of Yorktown

The Battle of Yorktown (September 28 - October 19, 1781) was the decisive victory of the American Revolutionary War, where combined American-French forces led by George Washington and Comte de Rochambeau besieged and defeated British forces under General Cornwallis in Virginia.

September 3, 1783

Treaty of Paris (1783)

The Treaty of Paris was a landmark peace agreement that ended the American Revolutionary War, formally recognizing American independence and establishing new territorial boundaries in North America. Signed on September 3, 1783, it represented a crucial moment in world history that reshaped international relations.

May 25, 1787

Constitutional Convention of 1787

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a pivotal gathering in Philadelphia where 55 delegates from 12 states met to draft the United States Constitution, establishing a new system of federal government to replace the Articles of Confederation.

September 17, 1787

Signing of the U.S. Constitution

The Constitutional Convention concluded on September 17, 1787, when 39 delegates signed the United States Constitution at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, establishing a new framework for American governance after four months of intense deliberation.

July 5, 1852

Frederick Douglass's Fourth of July Speech

Frederick Douglass delivered his powerful anti-slavery speech 'What to the Slave is the Fourth of July' at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York. Speaking to 600 people, he challenged America's celebration of independence while maintaining slavery.

July 4, 1863

Battle of Vicksburg Surrender

The Battle of Vicksburg concluded on July 4, 1863, marking a crucial Union victory in the American Civil War. After a 47-day siege, Confederate forces surrendered to Union Major General Ulysses S. Grant, giving the North control of the vital Mississippi River and effectively splitting the Confederacy in two.