1775
- hostilities begin between British troops and colonial (Patriot) forces
- British garrison in Boston is surrounded by Patriot forces
- Second Continental Congress assembles in Philadelphia
- attempts by Loyalists to organize forces in Virginia and North Carolina defeated by Patriot forces
- George Washington takes command of Patriot forces around Boston
- British win a very costly victory over Patriots at the Battle of Bunker Hill near Boston
- Patriot forces invade Lower Canada, but fail to capture Quebec from British
1776
- British troops evacuate Boston
- Patriot forces driven out of Canada by British reinforcements
- British attempt to seize Charleston, South Carolina is defeated by Patriot forces
- Continental Congress declares the 13 colonies to be completely independent of Britain on July 4
- Large British army lands near New York, and defeats Patriot forces under Washington's command in a series of battles on Long Island, Manhattan Island, and other places in southern New York and northern New Jersey. The remnants of Washington's forces withdraw through New Jersey into Pennsylvania
- Washington's forces defeat 2 detachments of British army at Trenton and Princeton, forcing the British to withdraw from many of their outposts in New Jersey.
1777
- British leaders develop a plan to try and cut the rebellious colonies in half by occupying a corridor of land from Canada down to New York City. Due to a series of blunders and miscommunications, the commander of British forces around NYC, General Howe, thinks that his participation in this plan is optional. He prefers another plan, a campaign to capture Philadelphia, and takes the majority of his troops to do this.
- General Burgoyne leads a strong British force south from Canada. The British capture Patriot-held Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain and then continue south. Another British force moves in from Lake Ontario to the west.
- Burgoyne's forces run into increasing difficulties. Patriot militia cut down trees and block the narrow roads that the British have to take, while harassing British outposts. A large detachment of German troops serving with the British is crushed in the Battle of Bennington when it runs into an unexpectedly large Patriot force. The British forces moving in from the west are blocked at Fort Stanwix and Oriskany, and eventually withdraw. No help comes from the south.
- Howe moves his troops by sea to attack Philadelphia from the south. He defeats Washington's army at Brandywine and occupies Philadelphia.
- Burgoyne's forces encounter the main Patriot army under General Horatio Gates. In the Battle of Freeman's farm, they suffer heavy casualties and fail to make any gains against Patriot forces. Burgoyne, suspecting that Howe will not be able to come to his aid, decides to withdraw his army to Fort Ticonderoga.
- Washington's army attacks British encampments near Philadelphia but is defeated at the Battle of Germantown.
- Washington's army withdraws to winter encampment at Valley Forge, PA
- In New York, General Gates orders Patriot positions north of New York City and south of Albany to be strengthened. General Benedict Arnold attempts to strengthen Patriot positions between Ticonderoga and Albany while sending militia to harass British outposts, supply lines, and local Loyalists.
1778
- King Louis XVI of France decides against an alliance with the Patriots in America. The Patriots have not yet won any decisive victory over the British, and a war would cost the French government, already deep in debt, far to much.
- British reinforcements arrive in New York and Canada. The British plan calls for another attempt to capture the Canada - New York corridor, while Howe moves west to York, Pennsylvania and then moves south into Maryland and possibly Virginia. Along the way, he will smash Washington's army.
- The governments of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia take steps to try and strengthen their state militias. Larger bounties and land grants are offered for people committed to serving longer terms.
- Virginia recruits a force to attempt to capture British outposts in the Ohio River area and establish Patriot claims to lands between the Appalachians and the Mississippi River.
- British attempts to move north up the Hudson and south from Ticonderoga run into heavier resistance than expected. The Patriots have created strong fortifications and their militia supported by detachments of riflemen constantly harass the British, Loyalist, and Indian forces.
- Washington's army fights an indecisive battle near York, PA, but the British are able to occupy the city. Washington's forces are reinforced by new militia from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
- After a second indecisive battle, Howe moves back to Philadelphia without making a strong attempt to capture Baltimore.
- British forces capture Savannah, Georgia.
- British forces call off New York campaign.
- hostilities begin between British troops and colonial (Patriot) forces
- British garrison in Boston is surrounded by Patriot forces
- Second Continental Congress assembles in Philadelphia
- attempts by Loyalists to organize forces in Virginia and North Carolina defeated by Patriot forces
- George Washington takes command of Patriot forces around Boston
- British win a very costly victory over Patriots at the Battle of Bunker Hill near Boston
- Patriot forces invade Lower Canada, but fail to capture Quebec from British
1776
- British troops evacuate Boston
- Patriot forces driven out of Canada by British reinforcements
- British attempt to seize Charleston, South Carolina is defeated by Patriot forces
- Continental Congress declares the 13 colonies to be completely independent of Britain on July 4
- Large British army lands near New York, and defeats Patriot forces under Washington's command in a series of battles on Long Island, Manhattan Island, and other places in southern New York and northern New Jersey. The remnants of Washington's forces withdraw through New Jersey into Pennsylvania
- Washington's forces defeat 2 detachments of British army at Trenton and Princeton, forcing the British to withdraw from many of their outposts in New Jersey.
1777
- British leaders develop a plan to try and cut the rebellious colonies in half by occupying a corridor of land from Canada down to New York City. Due to a series of blunders and miscommunications, the commander of British forces around NYC, General Howe, thinks that his participation in this plan is optional. He prefers another plan, a campaign to capture Philadelphia, and takes the majority of his troops to do this.
- General Burgoyne leads a strong British force south from Canada. The British capture Patriot-held Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain and then continue south. Another British force moves in from Lake Ontario to the west.
- Burgoyne's forces run into increasing difficulties. Patriot militia cut down trees and block the narrow roads that the British have to take, while harassing British outposts. A large detachment of German troops serving with the British is crushed in the Battle of Bennington when it runs into an unexpectedly large Patriot force. The British forces moving in from the west are blocked at Fort Stanwix and Oriskany, and eventually withdraw. No help comes from the south.
- Howe moves his troops by sea to attack Philadelphia from the south. He defeats Washington's army at Brandywine and occupies Philadelphia.
- Burgoyne's forces encounter the main Patriot army under General Horatio Gates. In the Battle of Freeman's farm, they suffer heavy casualties and fail to make any gains against Patriot forces. Burgoyne, suspecting that Howe will not be able to come to his aid, decides to withdraw his army to Fort Ticonderoga.
- Washington's army attacks British encampments near Philadelphia but is defeated at the Battle of Germantown.
- Washington's army withdraws to winter encampment at Valley Forge, PA
- In New York, General Gates orders Patriot positions north of New York City and south of Albany to be strengthened. General Benedict Arnold attempts to strengthen Patriot positions between Ticonderoga and Albany while sending militia to harass British outposts, supply lines, and local Loyalists.
1778
- King Louis XVI of France decides against an alliance with the Patriots in America. The Patriots have not yet won any decisive victory over the British, and a war would cost the French government, already deep in debt, far to much.
- British reinforcements arrive in New York and Canada. The British plan calls for another attempt to capture the Canada - New York corridor, while Howe moves west to York, Pennsylvania and then moves south into Maryland and possibly Virginia. Along the way, he will smash Washington's army.
- The governments of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia take steps to try and strengthen their state militias. Larger bounties and land grants are offered for people committed to serving longer terms.
- Virginia recruits a force to attempt to capture British outposts in the Ohio River area and establish Patriot claims to lands between the Appalachians and the Mississippi River.
- British attempts to move north up the Hudson and south from Ticonderoga run into heavier resistance than expected. The Patriots have created strong fortifications and their militia supported by detachments of riflemen constantly harass the British, Loyalist, and Indian forces.
- Washington's army fights an indecisive battle near York, PA, but the British are able to occupy the city. Washington's forces are reinforced by new militia from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
- After a second indecisive battle, Howe moves back to Philadelphia without making a strong attempt to capture Baltimore.
- British forces capture Savannah, Georgia.
- British forces call off New York campaign.