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Take a look at the events of the American Revolution that took place in the month of September.

 

September 1

1774 – Massachusetts Bay colonists rise up in the bloodless Powder Alarm

September 2

1789 – The United States Department of the Treasury is founded. 

September 3

1777 –  During the Battle of Cooch's Bridge, the Flag of the United States is flown in battle for the first time.

1783 –  The war ends with the signing of the Treaty of Paris by the United States and the Kingdom of Great Britain. 

September 4

 1780 -- Patriot Francis Marion’s Carolina militia routes Loyalists at Blue Savannah, South Carolina, and in the process Marion wins new recruits to the Patriot cause.

September 5

1774 – First Continental Congress assembles in Philadelphia.

1781 – Battle of the Chesapeake in the American Revolutionary War: The British Navy is repelled by the French Navy, contributing to the British surrender at Yorktown. 

September 6

1774 -- The Worcester Revolt

1781 – The Battle of Groton Heights (also known as the Battle of Fort Griswold or the Fort Griswold Massacre), takes place, resulting in a British victory. 

1781 -- Arnold orders burning of New London

September 7

1776 – According to American colonial reports, Ezra Lee makes the world's first submarine attack in the Turtle, attempting to attach a time bomb to the hull of HMS Eagle in New York Harbor (no British records of this attack exist).

1778 – France invades Dominica in the British West Indies, before Britain is even aware of France's involvement in the American Revolutionary war. 

September 8

1781 –  The Battle of Eutaw Springs in South Carolina, the war's last significant battle in the Southern theater, ends in a narrow British tactical victory. 

September 9

1776 – The Continental Congress officially names its new union of sovereign states the United States.

1791 – Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, is named after President George Washington. 

September 10

1776 – Nathan Hale volunteers to spy for the Continental Army. 

September 11

1775 – Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec leaves Cambridge, Massachusetts.

1776 – British–American peace conference on Staten Island fails to stop nascent American Revolutionary War.

1777 –  Battle of Brandywine: The British celebrate a major victory in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

1786 – The beginning of the Annapolis Convention.

1789 – Alexander Hamilton is appointed the first United States Secretary of the Treasury. 

September 12

 1777 -- Congress receives news of defeat at Brandywine

September 13

1782 – American Revolutionary War: Franco-Spanish troops launch the unsuccessful "grand assault" during the Great Siege of Gibraltar.

1788 – The Philadelphia Convention sets the date for the first presidential election in the United States, and New York City becomes the country's temporary capital. 

September 14

1779 -- American Colonel Daniel Brodhead concludes an ambitious assault against the Seneca Indians throughout the Allegheny Valley of Pennsylvania. Simultaneously, Major General John Sullivan had attacked the Iroquois of New York.

September 15

1776 –  British forces land at Kip's Bay during the New York Campaign.

1789 – The United States "Department of Foreign Affairs", established by law in July, is renamed the Department of State and given a variety of domestic duties. 

September 16

 1776 – The Battle of Harlem Heights is fought.

1779 – The Franco-American Siege of Savannah begins.

September 17

1775 – The Invasion of Canada begins with the Siege of Fort St. Jean.

1778 – The Treaty of Fort Pitt is signed. It is the first formal treaty between the United States and a Native American tribe (the Lenape or Delaware Indians).

1787 – The United States Constitution is signed in Philadelphia. 

September 18

1793 – The first cornerstone of the Capitol building is laid by George Washington. 

September 19

1777 – British forces win a tactically expensive victory over the Continental Army in the First Battle of Saratoga.

1778 – The Continental Congress passes the first United States federal budget.

1796 – George Washington's Farewell Address is printed across America as an open letter to the public. 

September 20

 1777 -- Redcoats kill sleeping Americans in Paoli Massacre

September 21

1776 – Part of New York City is burned shortly after being occupied by British forces.

1780 – Benedict Arnold gives the British the plans to West Point. 

September 22

1776 – Nathan Hale is hanged for spying during American Revolution.

1789 – The office of United States Postmaster General is established. 

September 23

1779 – John Paul Jones on board the USS Bonhomme Richard wins the Battle of Flamborough Head.

1780 –  British Major John André is arrested as a spy by American soldiers exposing Benedict Arnold's change of sides. 

September 24

1780 – Benedict Arnold flees to British Army lines when the arrest of British Major John André exposes Arnold's plot to surrender West Point.

1789 – The United States Congress passes the Judiciary Act which creates the office of the United States Attorney General and the federal judiciary system, and orders the composition of the Supreme Court of the United States.

September 25

1775 – Ethan Allen surrenders to British forces after attempting to capture Montreal during the Battle of Longue-Pointe. Benedict Arnold and his expeditionary company set off from Fort Western, bound for Quebec City.

1789 – The United States Congress passes twelve amendments to the United States Constitution: The Congressional Apportionment Amendment (which was never ratified), the Congressional Compensation Amendment, and the ten that are known as the Bill of Rights. 

September 26

1777 – British troops occupy Philadelphia.

1789 – Thomas Jefferson is appointed the first United States Secretary of State, John Jay is appointed the first Chief Justice of the United States, Samuel Osgood is appointed the first United States Postmaster General, and Edmund Randolph is appointed the first United States Attorney General. 

September 27

1777 – Lancaster, Pennsylvania is the capital of the United States, for one day. 

September 28

1779 – Samuel Huntington is elected President of the Continental Congress, succeeding John Jay.

1781 – American forces backed by a French fleet begin the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, during the American Revolutionary War.

1787 – The newly completed United States Constitution is voted on by the U.S. Congress to be sent to the state legislatures for approval. 

September 29

1789 – The United States Department of War first establishes a regular army with a strength of several hundred men.

1789 – The 1st United States Congress adjourns. 

September 30

 1776 -- Washington blames militia as the chief root of his problems in the devastating loss of Long Island and Manhattan to the British.