Patrick Henry urged the Virginia Convention toward armed resistance against Britain, declaring "Give me liberty, or give me death!"

Paul Revere and William Dawes rode out from Boston to warn colonial militias that British troops were marching toward Lexington and Concord.

Paul Revere and William Dawes rode out from Boston at night to warn colonial militias that British troops were marching to Lexington and Concord.

British regulars and colonial militia exchanged fire at Lexington Green, igniting the American Revolutionary War.

The Continental Congress voted to raise an army from colonial militias besieging Boston, appointing George Washington commander weeks later.

Colonial militia inflicted devastating casualties on British regulars storming Breed's Hill near Boston, proving amateur soldiers could stand against the world's finest army.

The Second Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin the first Postmaster General, creating a unified postal system for the rebelling colonies.

The Continental Congress commissions USS Alfred as the first ship of the fledgling Continental Navy, with John Paul Jones aboard as first lieutenant.

The Continental Congress authorized two battalions of Continental Marines at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, founding what became the United States Marine Corps.