- Adams, Abigail: The wife of John Adams urged her husband to "Remember the Ladies," else "we are determined to foment a Rebelion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation." He did not follow her advice.
- Adams, John: America's second president, he favored a strong central government. This put him at odds with Thomas Jefferson, although the two men later restored their friendship.
- American Currency: The first dollars of the "United Colonies" were issued three weeks after the Declaration of Independence was signed
- Battles, Southern Colonies: Highlights of military engagements in the Southern colonies
- Battles, Trenton: Colonials win a much-needed victory in late 1776 - (see fifth paragraph for pictures and a battle animation)
- Benedict Arnold: Willing to betray his country for money, his name is now synonymous with "traitor"
- Boston Massacre: John Adams, the future president, defended the accused British soldiers
- British Reaction: Cartoons, and other responses, to the colonie's Declaration of Independence
- Bunker Hill: The legendary battle in which the Americans were told not to fire until they saw the "whites" of the Redcoats' eyes
- Bushnell's Turtle: Americans plant explosives on British ships - (see the eighth bullet)
- Charleston, surrender of: Low point of war for Americans - (see third paragraph from bottom)
- Colonial Families: Divided between quest for independence and loyalty to Britain
- Colonies, Thirteen: Population density, 1775 - (click on "thirteen colonies," last paragraph)
- Constitutional Convention of 1787: Delegates debated the proper form of government for the new country at the State House (known today as Independence Hall) in Philadelphia.
- Continental Navy: America establishes a navy
- Declaration of Independence, Original: See the original draft and the only surviving fragment
- Declaration of Independence, Voting Record: See the original voting record and the resolution to declare the colonies free of British control
- Declaration of Independence, Where Written: See the house where Jefferson wrote the Declaration (and the traveling desk he created and used)
- Delaware River Crossing: Famous December crossings, in 1776 - (see second-to-last paragraph)
- Divinely Ordained Revolt: Belief held by many colonists
- Eighteenth-Century America: Colonial leaders believe in consent of the governed. Because they have no representation in the British Parliament, rebellion seems likely.
- Election of 1800: An extremely contentious presidential election, sometimes referred to as America's second revolution.
- Electoral College: Created by America's founders as a compromise between electing the president by Congress and electing the president by popular vote.
- Execution of John Andre: A British officer is condemned as a spy
- Federalist Papers: To persuade voters in New York to ratify the new constitution, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay (writing as "Publius") published essays collectively known as The Federalist Papers.
- Flag, Original: One of two revolutionary war flags survive - (see flag from Stoney Point battle, 6th paragraph)
- French Assistance: Key to American victory
- George III: British king who said, "The colonies are in open and avowed rebellion. The die is now cast. The colonies must either submit or triumph."
- Grand Union Flag: Colonists' flag, raised on America's first battleship
- Guilford Courthouse: Turning point for Cornwallis - (see third paragraph)
- Hamilton, Alexander: Supporting a strong central government, Hamilton was one of the authors of the Federalist Papers. He was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr.
- Highlights of the American Revolution
- "Intolerable Acts" Opposed by Colonists: Inching closer to full-scale rebellion
- Jefferson, Thomas: Biography of the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence
- Judicial Review: America's Constitution does not expressly authorize the country's Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional. The high court gave itself that power in a famous 1803 case.
- Letters of Brutus: Opposing a strong central government and urging delegates to vote against the proposed constitution, anti-federalists published essays like Letters of Brutus.
- Lexington and Concord: The American Revolution begins
- Marbury v Madison: The case which gives the U.S. Supreme Court the power to declare a law unconstitutional. Thomas Jefferson, president at the time, was upset with this decision.
- Marines, Established: The U.S. Marine Corps formed, 1775, at Philadelphia's old Tun Tavern - (see fifth paragraph)
- Mason, George: A strong proponent of individual rights, he voted against the constitution because it did not contain a bill of rights.
- Marion, Francis: Nicknamed the "Swamp Fox," his character was loosely portrayed by actor Mel Gibson in "The Patriot"
- Marshall, Chief Justice John: Appointed Secretary of State in 1800, by President John Adams, and appointed Chief Justice the following year.
- Momentum of Fighting: A turning against Britain
- Parker, Capt. John: "If they [the British] mean to have a war, let it begin here" [Lexington] - (see last paragraph)
- Paul Revere: Tried for Treason on charges of cowardice and insubordination
- Ratifying the Constitution: The much-debated constitution became law after New Hampshire ratified it on July 2, 1788.
- Reasons for War: Colonists, in August of 1775, publish "Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms" - (see fifth paragraph)
- Reasons for War: "Taxation without representation"
- Recruitment Posters: "United Colonies" recruitment poster - (click on "then" in the third paragraph)
- Surrender of British: Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown
- Tarleton, Banastre: Feared British commander led attacks in Southern colonies
- Treaty of Paris: Treaty formally ending the war
- Washington, George: Appointed Commander-in-Chief of American forces - (see last paragraph for original commission)
- Washington, George: Resigns command
- Washington, George: Only unanimously elected U.S. president