1776 Timeline

January

05 - The assembly of New Hampshire adopts the first American state constitution.
09 - Thomas Paine *¢'s [b.1737- d.1809] Common Sense * is published in Philadelphia.

March

04 - American forces capture Dorchester Heights which overlooks Boston harbor. Captured British artillery from Fort Ticonderoga is placed on the heights to enforce the siege against the British in Boston. The British evacuate Boston and set sail for Halifax. George Washington + then rushes to New York to set up defenses, anticipating the British plan to invade New York City. [u. mar 17]

April

06 - The Continental Congress declares colonial shipping ports open to all traffic except the British.
12 - The North Carolina assembly is the first to empower its delegates in the Continental Congress to vote for independence from Britain.

May

28 - American Benjamin Franklin ?*+ meets with French Foreign Minister Varennes, initiating a 2-1/2 year campaign to secure French support for the American Independence movement.
02 - King Louis XVI of France commits one million dollars in arms and munitions to the American Revolution. Spain then also promises support.
10 - The Continental Congress authorizes each of the 13 colonies to form local governments.

June

28 - |SOUTH CAROLINA| American forces successfully defend Charleston against a British naval attack and inflict heavy damage on the fleet.
x - A massive British war fleet arrives in New York Harbor consisting of 30 battleships with 1200 cannon, 30,000 soldiers, 10,000 sailors, and 300 supply ships, under the command of General William Howe and his brother Admiral Lord Richard Howe. [u.jul]
07 - Richard Henry Lee, a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress, presents a formal resolution calling for America to declare its independence from Britain. Congress decides to postpone its decision on this until July.
11 - Congress appoints a committee to draft a declaration of independence. Committee members are Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin ?*+, John Adams, Roger Livingston and Roger Sherman. Jefferson is chosen by the committee to prepare the first draft of the declaration, which he completes in one day.
28 - Jefferson's Declaration of Independence is ready and is presented to the Congress, with changes made by Adams and Franklin.

July

02 - Twelve of thirteen colonial delegations (New York abstains) vote in support of Lee's resolution for independence.
04 - The Congress formally endorses Jefferson's Declaration of Independence of the USA * , with copies to be sent to all of the colonies. The actual signing of the document occurs on aug 02, as most of the 55 members of Congress place their names on the parchment copy.
12 - As a show of force, two British frigates sail up the Hudson River blasting their guns. Peace feelers are then extended to the Americans. At the request of the British, Gen. Washington meets with Howe's representatives in New York and listens to vague offers of clemency for the American rebels. Washington politely declines, then leaves.

August

27 - Gen. Howe leads 15,000 soldiers against Washington's army in the Battle of Long Island. Washington, outnumbered two to one, suffers a severe defeat as his army is outflanked and scatters. The Americans retreat to Brooklyn Heights, facing possible capture by the British or even total surrender. [u.aug 29]
But at night, the Americans cross the East River in small boats and escape to Manhattan, then evacuate New York City and retreat up through Manhattan Island to Harlem Heights. Washington now changes tactics, avoiding large scale battles with the British by a series of retreats.

September

07 - In early-morning darkness the submarine called "Turtle" , built by Yale Graduate David Bushnell and operated by Sergeant Ezra Lee, made an unsuccessful attack on a British ship in New York harbor, probably HMS Eagle.
11 - A peace conference is held on Staten Island with British Admiral, Lord Richard Howe, meeting American representatives including John Adams and Benjamin Franklin ?*+. The conference fails as Howe demands the colonists revoke the Declaration of Independence.
16 - After evacuating New York City, Washington's army repulses a British attack during the Battle of Harlem Heights in upper Manhattan. Several days later, fire engulfs New York City and destroys over 300 buildings.
22 - After he is caught spying on British troops on Long Island, Nathan Hale is executed without a trial, his last words, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."
26 - Congress appoints Jefferson, Franklin and Silas Deane to negotiate treaties with European governments. Franklin and Deane then travel to France seeking financial and military aid.

October

09 - San Francisco is established by Spanish missionaries on the California coast.
11 - A big defeat for the inexperienced American Navy on Lake Champlain at the hands of a British fleet of 87 gunships. In the 7 hour Battle of Valcour Bay most of the American flotilla of 83 gunships is crippled with the remaining ships destroyed in a second engagement two days later.
28 - After evacuating his main forces from Manhattan, Washington's army suffers heavy casualties in the Battle of White Plains from Gen. Howe's forces. Washington then retreats westward.

November

00 - More victories for the British as Fort Washington on Manhattan and its precious stores of over 100 cannon, thousands of muskets and cartridges is captured by Gen. Howe. The Americans also lose Fort Lee in New Jersey to Gen. Cornwallis. Washington's army suffers 3000 casualties in the two defeats. Gen. Washington abandons the New York area and moves his forces further westward toward the Delaware River. Cornwallis now pursues him.

December

06 - The naval base at Newport, Rhode Island, is captured by the British.
11 - Washington takes his troops across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. The next day, over concerns of a possible British attack, the Continental Congress abandons Philadelphia for Baltimore. Among Washington's troops is Thomas Paine *¢, author of Common Sense, who now writes "...These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country: but he that stands it NOW deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered. Yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."
25,26 - On Christmas, George Washington + takes 2400 of his men and recrosses the Delaware River. Washington then conducts a surprise raid on 1500 Hessians (German mercenaries) at Trenton, New Jersey.
The Hessians surrender after an hour with nearly 1000 taken prisoner by Washington who suffers only six wounded (including future president Lt. James Monroe +). Washington reoccupies Trenton. The victory provides a much needed boost to the morale of all American Patriots.

Events

- The first edition of Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations * is published