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French & Indian War
1754-1763 -- A long & expensive war between France & Britain & their Native American Allies for control over North America. After Britain won the King began taxing colonists to pay for the war. -
Proclamation of 1763
An order in which Britain prohibited it's American colonists from settling West of the Applachian Mountains. -
Stamp Act
a law passed by parliament in 1764 that placed tac on sugar , molasses & other products shipped to the colonies ; also called for harsh punishments of smugglers. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was Parliament's first serious attempt to assert governmental authority over the colonies. Great Britain was faced with a massive national debt following the Seven Years War. English citizens in Britain were taxed at a rate that created a serious threat of revolt. This law required all legal & commercial documents to cary an official stamp showing a tax had been paid, -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act of 1765 required the colonies to house British soldiers in barracks provided by the colonies. If the barracks were too small to house all the soldiers, then localities were to accommodate the soldiers in local inns, livery stables, ale houses, victualling houses, and the houses of sellers of wine. -
The Townshed Act
A series of laws passed by parliament in 1767 that suspended New York's assembly & established taxes on goods brought into the British Colonies . -
The Declaratory Act
A law that had supreme authority to govern the colonies . While parliament passed this law the Americans ignored it & celebrated the repeal of the Stamp Act . -
Boston Non-Importation Agreement
The heated debate between the American colonists & Great Britain over the issues of parliament's authority to tax the colonies. -
Boston Masacure
The Boston Massacre was the killing of five colonists by British regulars. It was the culmination of tensions in the American colonies that had been growing since Royal troops first appeared in Massachusetts in October 1768 to enforce the heavy tax burden imposed by the Townshend Acts. -
The Tea Act
The act was not intended to raise revenue in the American colonies, and in fact imposed no new taxes. It was designed to prop up the East India Company which was floundering financially and burdened with eighteen million pounds of unsold tea. This tea was to be shipped directly to the colonies, and sold at a bargain price. -
The Boston Tea Party
On the evening of December 16, 1773, a group of men calling themselves the "Sons of Liberty" went to the Boston Harbor. The men were dressed as Mohawk Indians. They boarded three British ships, the Beaver, the Eleanor and the Dartmouth, and dumped forty-five tons of tea into the Boston Harbor. -
The Intolerable Acts
the Intolerable acts started March 31 - June 22,1774. A series of laws enacted by parliament in 1774 to punish Massachusetts colonists for the Boston Tea Party . -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress had decided to ban all trade with England. Although not all were ready to call for independance, they were determined to hold up their colonial rights. -
Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty or give me death" speech
Henry presented a proposal to organize a volunteer company of Calvary or Infantry in every Virgina country . He adreesed himself to conventio's president Peyton Randolph . -
Paul Revere & William Dawes "Midnight Rides "
The midnight ride of Paul Revere was joined by many other Sons of Liberty blanketing Middlesex Colonies , risking their lives to warn the Minutemen that "The Regulars are out!" -
Battles of Lexington & Concord
Shots fired at Lexington & Concord "Minute Men" force British troops back to Boston. George Washington takes commands of the Continental Army . -
Second Continental Congress
A governing body whose delagates agreed in May 1775 to form the Continential Army & to approve the Delclaration of Independence. -
Washington named Commander & Cheif of Continental Army & Navy
Continental Congress comissioned George Washington as commander & cheif . They picked him because of his previous military experience . He served two terms. -
Ft. Ticonderoga Seized by Ethan Allen & Green Mountain Boys
New York fort on the western shore of Lake Champlain that was originally a French fort, called Carillion, that was seized by the British in the French and Indian War. The fort was later captured by the Americans in their first "official" victory of the Revolutionary War. The fort wasn't garrisoned very well but still held a stock of British weapons. Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys, along with Benedict Arnold, captured the fort on May 10, 1775. The capture stalled a planned British invasi -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The bloody fight between Militiamen & Briish Troops . The Red Coats won battle & mmore than 1,000 were wounded or killed . -
American forces under Bendict Arnold fail to seize Quebec
Dec.30-31, 1775 Benedict Arnold and the American forces went to Quebec in attempt to seize it. Because of harsh winter conditions the Americans were defeated. -
Continental Army wins at Princeton
Eight days after the Battle of Trenton, the Continental Army attacks Princeton and wins. Convincing the British that the American General is better than they thought. The Continental Army begins to attract new recruits. -
Thomas Paine publishes "Common Sense"
Published in 1776, Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. The plain language that Paine used spoke to the common people of America and was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain. -
British Evacuate Boston
British forces are forced to evacuate Boston following General George Washington's successful placement of fortifications and cannons on Dorchester Heights, which overlooks the city from the south. -
Declaration of Independence Adopted
The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, and declared that the Thirteen Colonies were independent of Great Britain. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, and revised by members of Congress including Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. -
Hessian Mercenaries Arrive to Fight for Britain
Since enlisting in the British Army meant to serve for life, it was discouraging. Britain needed the help of of mercenaries. 9,000 Hessian mercenaries came to their aid. -
British Win Battle of Long Island , New York
When British won , Washington's army escaped at night. British & Hessian Troops drove about 10,000 Americans from Brooklyn & forced them to evacuate nNew york . -
British Occupy New York City
British occupied New York cause it was a major trading place for the Americans & it would allow British Troops to get supplies froom ships Britain was sending over . -
Battle of Trenton
Washington's Army crosses the Delaware & captured Trenton from Hessians . -
Marquis de Lafayette Arrives in Colonies
He served for France & supported the American Revolution. He was appointed as Major General & he was on the Continental Army's side. -
Battle of Saratoga
Sept. 19 - Oct. 17 , 1777--The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point for the war because it convinced many European countries that America might actually win. Some later on decided to help them fight against the British. -
British Occupy Philadelphia
They occupied it because the British anticipated of their arrival . Many patriots &b businessmen had abandoned the city. They stayed there for one year. -
British Win Battle of Germantown
The Americans suffered 152 deaths & 521 wounded plus 400 captured. The Americans lose German town to the British. Washington's plan had gone astray. -
Valley Forge
The Continental Army camped at Valley Forge. They ran short supplies , food , & clothes. They only had blankets & shoes. A quarter of them died of illness & some got really sick. -
U.S. & France form Official Alliance
Th alliance was concluded at Paris & ratified by congress provided deffensive alliance to aid France. France & the U.S would make peace with England till they were free , -
British Abandoned Philadelphia & Returened to New York
They abandoned Philadelphia as a consequence of French's involvement in the war. British decided to abandon & concentrate on their main army in New York. -
British Capture Port of Savannah, Georgia
British held Savannah fo the durration of the war. Which they used as a base to conduct coastal raids up & the coast from Charlestown. -
Battle of Vincennes/Ft Sackville
Feb. 23-24 1779 Partiots won this battle. They were guarding a major water route from British to the Mississippi River capturing Vincennces cut off tBritish ffrom their Spanish allies. -
Spain Declares War on Britain
Spain's entry in the war ensure that the British would have to spread their resources even thinner. Spain had no alliance with America. -
Battle of Flamborough Head
John Paul Jones captures British man-of-war Serapis near English coast. It was a small battle they were protecting a large merchant convony started at 4 pm. -
British Capture Charleston, S.C.
When the British captured Charleston the soilders were in no condition to fight. The loss of the soilders had hurt the Americans deeply. -
First French Troops arrive to help American War Effort
French troops had general in population & educated classes that helped the patriots. Americans & French made a strong team. -
Gen. Benedict Arnold commits Treason
Sept. 21-25 1780 -- His plans were to cede West Point to the British. He meets up with a British major & discusses handing over West Point for the promise of a large amount of money. -
Battle of King's Mountain, S.C.
Boston lasted 65mins. It was a decisive battle between the patriots & loyalists. About 2,000 front men were assembled to resist British. About 1,000 soilders killed almost all the loyalists. The loyalists surrendered patriot attackers & surrounded the loyalists. -
Articles of Confederation Adopted
It was the first constitution & specified how federal government was to opperate. The articles set rules for opperations. -
French Fleet drives British out of Chesapeake Bay
French admirals grasses blackades Yorktown cutting off aid to Cornwallis. Continental Navy frigate congress captures the British sloups savage off the coast of Charlestown. -
Battle of Yorktown
Sept. 28 - Oct. 19, 1781 -- The last major battle of the Revolutionary war which resulted in the surrender of the British forces. -
British Troops return to Britain
July 1782 - Nov. 1783 -- After the lost at Yorktown , British gave up it's territory between Mississippi River & Alleghent Mountains doubling the size of a new nation. -
Treaty of Paris
The 1763 treaty that ended the French & Indian War Britain gained all of North America east of the Mississippi. -
U.S. Constitution Signed
Signed by 38 of 41 delegates it happened in Philadelphia . The signers were the people by the original 13 Colonies who sent delegates to constitution convention.
